Diane took a shower. Even after discussing her strange experience on the phone, she couldn't get it out of her head. She knew it had something to do with Sadie. Nothing supernatural had happened, per se, like earlier that week in her classroom — but the way the feeling came on, the way it coursed through her without any self-stimulation put the strange girl at the front of her mind.

She had mostly dressed, and was blow drying her hair when she heard a knock on her door.

"One second!" She called from her bathroom, showing her blow dryer off and tossing a sweater over her undershirt. She walked up to her apartment door and looked out the peephole to see a woman standing outside. She was wearing a dark skirt suit, and her brown hair was done up. The top two buttons of her white blouse under her collar were undone, revealing substantial cleavage underneath. She was wearing what looked like designer glasses, and sharp-looking black high heels. She looked…oddly, a little like Sadie. Diane opened her door a crack.

"Can I help you?" Diane asked, looking the woman up and down. The woman smiled warmly at her, clearly sizing her up as well.

“I think we can probably help each other," the woman said. "You have a…connection with my daughter. You might not appreciate the fact at the moment, but I believe that connection helped her immensely." Diane could feel the heat rushing through her. While she didn't appear to be here to antagonize her, this woman looked serious, and if this had something to do with Sadie…

"Um, is she…one of my students?" Diane asked. The woman laughed a little, rocking her head back and forth.

"Ah, so you're her teacher...” The woman looked away for a moment. I suppose the girl was destined to test the status quo of authority structures, she thought. “I don't mean to intrude unannounced, but this is something of an unusual day, and I didn't have any other way to reach you. May I come in?" Diane panicked, looking behind her and checking to see whether she should be embarrassed by the state of her apartment or not.

"I don't mean to be rude, but, can you tell me who your daughter is — and what this might be about? It's just that — if this is in regards to my behavior towards one of my students — the school is probably a more appropriate place for us to talk.” In front of witnesses... Diane continued in her mind.

The woman grinned at her now, holding her thumb under her chin and her pointer finger against her lower lip.

"Darling, what I'm going to explain to you will probably be the second strangest conversation you've ever had, the contents of which I'm certain both of us would prefer your employer not hear.” Diane swallowed hard when the woman said this. The woman closed her eyes slowly for a second, seemingly in thought, and popped open again abruptly. "No, no! You're not in trouble in any way,” the woman laughed. “I'm sorry, I know how awkward this must be — but you have to believe me when I say there was no better way for me to reach you." Diane nodded a little, clearly uncomfortable now.

"Sadie," she said simply. “You're Sadie's mother." The woman beamed, nodding her head and pursing her red lips. Diane took a deep breath and swung the door open. "Come on in," she relented. The woman trailed her through an entryway and past a modest living room to a small kitchen, where Diane pulled out a chair. "Can I get you something to drink?" Diane asked. The woman shook her head.

"Don't worry yourself," the woman said. "Please, just have a seat with me." The woman motioned to the chair opposite hers, and Diane shrugged, pulling it out and sitting down.

“Listen," Diane said, leaning forward. “I know you said I'm not in trouble, but in my experience, parents showing up at a teacher's house—though I admit it's never happened to me before—doesn't really bode well for the content of the conversation.” The woman looked down, apparently unsure of what to say at first.

"Actually, in this capacity — Diane, is it?” Diane nodded at her. “In this capacity, Diane, we'll actually be discussing your position as Sadie's student.” Diane narrowed her eyes. “Her first, actually. The occasion on which a mother in my position is extremely proud." Diane took a deep breath, running her hands through her hair and licking her lips.

"Okay,” Diane coughed out a single nervous laugh. "Even if you don't care for something to drink right now, I'm pretty sure I'm going to need one." She began to stand up, but some force seemed to push down against her shoulders — firmly, but gently—with a slowly increasing pressure that was just enough to keep her in her chair.

"Would you…allow me?" The woman said. She met Diane's eyes, and Diane detected a sort of glint in them — one that kept her focused on the beautiful but extremely intimidating woman sitting across from her. "Ooh, it's been a long time for me,” the woman said, raising her eyebrows. "I think I'll have one of those as well." She raised her hand, making a short swirling motion with her pointer finger as she looked behind Diane.

Diane's face dropped to shock as she heard cupboards and the clinking of glass behind her. At first, she didn't turn around to see what was happening. She just stared at the calm woman, trying to accept that this was all happening.

"Oh god, I didn't dream it," Diane said, looking straight at the woman. "That afternoon with her, it — it really happened, didn't it?” The woman seemed delighted at Diane's realization, winking at her.

"Mmm...that giddy, hazy feeling that there's more to the universe then you suspected,” the woman said, seeming to revel in it. "That moment when your mind has to accept that there are wonders in this world beyond the scope of your academics…" The woman shut her eyes, biting down on her lip a little. "I miss it, Diane. I miss revealing it to wonderful people like you, willing enough to suspend their skepticism to indulge in their senses — to truly feel adrift from understanding without succumbing to the basest of self rejection or abject terror…"

"Magic," Diane said.

"You have a good name, Diane,” the woman said. “Your wisdom serves you well.” Diane didn't bother turning around to see the magic in action. She didn't need to. Two of the coasters on her kitchen table shuffled themselves out, her eyes watching in wonder as two of her Collins glasses placed themselves atop them. A line of six ice cubes hovered through the air, three of them placing themselves in her glass as the other three placed themselves in the glass across from her.

“It's…wisdom to just look stupid as I watch all this happening?" Diane replied, watching her bottle of Puerto Rican rum uncap itself and pour a little into each glass.

“It's wisdom to accept that it's happening without… Well, 'flipping out', I guess you'd say.” The woman laughed a little. "I'm sorry for speaking in such a stilted way to you—I learned the dialect here pretty well, but it's been a long time since I've been back." The woman's glass lifted into the air as the bottle of rum hovered next to her. As Diane's bottle of cola entered her field of vision, opening and pouring into her glass to mix her drink, the woman opposite her unceremoniously grabbed her glass of iced rum and tipped it back. Her face pursed, and she swallowed hard, making an exaggerated 'ahhhh' sound after she gulped it down. “And it is been so long since I've had liquor!” She said, giggling as she let go the glass again. It remained in the air, and she pointed a finger at the bottle of rum, which poured her another quarter-glass. This time, the rum capped itself, placing itself on the table as the cola bottle poured into the woman's glass.

“So, you know about what she said to me?" Diane asked. "On that day in my classroom?" It seemed strange to her that Sadie's mom would be proud that she basically made a pass at her teacher. The woman across from her grabbed her glass again, shaking her head.

"No—not exactly. I know that she's chosen you, and I know that your connection helped her with a very important trial. An event I've been waiting quite some time for." The woman sipped her drink.

"But she really only talked to me,” Diane said. "She showed me that she could do that same kind of magic that you just did with our drinks, except — with my clothes. My boots in particular." The woman smiled a little, glancing side-wise. "I mean, that's the extent of our connection. I'm not really sure how I helped her..."

"Outside of that, you didn't experience anything strange, then?” The woman asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "Possibly recently? Possibly something like a telepathic signal…minus the language?" Diane's face reddened visibly, and the woman grinned now.

"I mean, there was something," Diane said, taking a long draught of her drink. “Something I certainly couldn't explain, but it's—I'm sorry, but I don't even know your name." Even if the woman could do magic, this was all getting a little bit personal for Diane.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Diane—I'm Lu.” Lu took a sip of her drink and continued. “I'm Sadie's mother, but I also occupy a certain position where I come from…which, isn't precisely here.”

“You don't say,” Diane said behind her glass, downing the rest of it.

"There are things in this world most people aren't privy to; things a normal person will never experience, let alone take notice of. But, for her own reasons — and beyond your beauty I'm not privy to what those are —" Diane made a curious face at this complement, “Serafina—Sadie—placed her trust in you." Lu ringed a finger around her drink. "And although you're not completely conscious of how you've helped her, the something that you're describing indicates a reciprocation of that trust…of that connection." Diane almost felt like pouring another drink, but she held off, not wanting to put off her strange guest. She was conjuring up pictures in her mind of a coven of witches, engaging in some kind of strange sexual ritual.

"I'm trying, Lu, but this is just a really weird conversation for me." Diane took a deep breath, shaking her glass so that the ice cubes resettled. "The connection I felt earlier… I mean, you're her mother. I really don't know how to put this." Lu held up a hand, making a 'shhh' shape with her lips.

“You surrendered to her, Diane. You gave her what she needed in the moment she needed it." Diane put a hand up to her face. She'd handled this pretty stoically so far, but…

“I mean, now I know we're talking about the same thing, but — why me? Why would this involve me? If I'm just a normal person, and there's this veil over everything that you're cryptically talking about… Again, I'm not trying to be rude here, but, what are we doing? Why wouldn't you talk to her first? Why come to me?" Lu looked at Diane with compassionate eyes, knowing that she had to be patient.

"Because, Diane, if she wants to pull that veil away for you — then so do I.” Lu smirked, motioning to the rum. “Another?”

“Please god, yes—and just rum on the rocks this time,” Diane said. The bottle lifted into the air again, and the mortal woman could only stare at it as she continued talking. "Lu, you're intimidatingly gorgeous. Your daughter is bright—and every bit as intense. What you can both do is — unbelievable. Like you said before, I'm in awe. And, no, I never thought there was anything in the world like you or her. But, I mean, I'm a Catholic for fuck's sake — pardon the language — and as much is I'm flattered that she felt she could trust me, I feel like this is the start to me being involved in something I can't handle. Something...that has repercussions or obligations I can't even begin to see. I feel like… You're asking something of me. Something that I can't promise, and you haven't even asked me for anything yet.”

Lu shrugged, grabbing her refilled drink again.

"Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom.” Lu held out her drink. "A toast to your generosity and honesty." Diane smiled and just the slightest and clinked against Lu's glass. They both took sips. “Diane, I promise: any obligation you have is completely voluntary...and though I don't share in your faith, I promise you that I, Sadie, and anyone else like us that you might meet don't claim ourselves as the one above all — nor do we serve a force that would seek to oppose it.” Diane laughed a little, shaking her head and drinking down half of her new glass.

"Then what are you selling me, Lu?" Diane asked, punctuating the question by placing her glass back on the coaster like she was banging a gavel. Lu held up her hands.

"Gratitude," Lu said. "And an offer to peer—maybe to dance—behind the veil we're talking about. To whatever extent you're comfortable,” she added. "There are a couple of you who helped her to succeed—her best friend and her stepmother, for instance—but you're my first stop because you're the first person Sadie trusted her magic to that wasn't already part of her family.”

“I mean...” Diane huffed. She may as well say it. “All I did is come, Lu.” Diane put her drink down and held her face in her hands. “I'm sorry, I can't believe I just said it.” Lu started laughing. It was almost musical.

“Diane, that's the thing — if you hadn't already let her in...if you hadn't reciprocated her trust, that wouldn't have been possible.” Diane made a face.

"But, you're her mother. I'm not sure my mother would ever be okay with talking about my...'relationships' quite like this,” Diane said. “And, I don't want her to get the wrong idea...I'm—I'm straight, you know? And probably seven or eight years older than her. I just—"

“Diane, no. No, no, no...that's what you're worried about?” Lu held her drink up, tipping the rest back again as she waved with her other hand. “This isn't about monogamous devotion, darling. It's not that kind of obligation at all. It's more like...oh, how do I put this... Having a 'spot on the team'? It's a support system, more or less.” Diane thought about it, looking a little more relieved.

“Well, I—thanks for at least giving me an anchor point to come to terms with this,” Diane said. "I don't want to disappoint anybody, but — I just need a little time, I think. It's a lot to take in." Lu smiled, nodding her head.

“Like I said, no obligation. There's no answer you need to give me.” Lu waved her glass away, and it drifted out of Diane's sight, into the kitchen. "But I do want you to know, Diane, even if you want nothing to do with all this— which I seriously doubt will be the case—you will always have my gratitude for helping her." Diane half-closed her eyes, feeling something as Lu said the words. A hug? It was strange. She was still on the other side of the table, but there was a warmth—some kind of embrace that she couldn't enumerate.

"I'm...glad I could help,” Diane said, smiling.

Lu stood up. "I should go, darling; I have quite a few stops to make. I'm glad you were my first, though. It was a pleasure to meet you.” Diane stood up, too—holding her chair to make sure her two or three drinks in quick succession hadn't affected her too much.

“It was good to meet you too,” Diane said. “And, however I helped, I'm glad Sadie's okay.” Lu stepped around the table, reaching her arms out. Diane was plied just enough to accept, stepping toward the woman and hugging her. There was a hum in Lu's embrace, something powerful. Something ethereal that was more comforting than she thought a hug from a relative stranger could be.

“If you ever need anything—let me know,” Lu whispered. After their hug, Lu was holding a card out, which Diane took. It looked like a normal business card. It had a single name on the front: Lucretia, but had a simple symbol on the back in the center.

“What's this?” Diane asked.

“Think of it as a pager,” Lu said. “If you're ever in a situation that you can't bear, just hold that card and ask for me.”

“What kind of situation?”

“Your open heart might have rescued my daughter today,” Lu said, her eyes seeming to glow. “My blood. In return, I will rescue you, or yours. That card is my promise.” Diane squinted as the glow from Lu's eyes became brighter, seeming to fill the room. In a flash of light, the woman was gone.

Diane took a moment, blinking a couple of times before she began looking around. Her glass was still on the table. The rum was still on the table. Was Lu's glass...

Diane went to the kitchen, and as soon as she passed through the doorway, her sink turned itself on as Lu's glass rinsed under it. She slowly walked closer, watching as the sponge raised into the air and scrubbed off Lu's lipstick. Once the glass was soapy and clean, it rinsed itself under the sink, and the sponge rang itself out. Diane smiled as she watched the rinsed glass place itself carefully in the dish strainer.

“I just...can't believe people like you really exist in this world,” Diane muttered to herself. It was something like believing in Santa again—except that she'd actually seen the magic instead of simply believing in it. “I don't suppose you could make it so my kitchen does that on its own all the time...” Diane joked.

We can do all kinds of things, echoed a voice from all around her. But it's like lotto, you gotta be in it to win it... Diane laughed.

“There's a phrase I haven't heard in twenty years,” Diane said.

Like I said—I haven't been back in a while, the voice responded. Don't deny your curiosity, my dear. Sadie can teach you things that make what you've seen seem like corner-shop magic tricks.

“And here I thought you weren't trying to sell me anything, Lu,” The young woman said, looking around her kitchen for any other sign that this magical woman was still there. She didn't answer. Diane took a deep breath, looking at Lu's card again. "Jesus, Sadie, you made me come and somehow that saved your life. I'm not gonna pretend I'm not curious how that works…"

* * *

In the grand entry, Maddie looked at the folded red latex dress in the gift box on the stand, where Sadie had placed it. She ran her hands over it, but she couldn't feel anything. Whatever was inside was apparently dormant until Sadie asked it to awaken again. Satisfied, she placed the top on it. She looked up at Gabby and then to Alaina. Both were watching her.

"I'm sorry about everything, Alaina,” Maddie said. The McCune's maid was in a loose T-shirt and a pair of black yoga pants now. “I went way too deep way too quickly.” Alaina reached her arms out to Maddie, a slight frown on her face.

“Madeleine, you couldn't have known about Sandra,” Alaina whispered. “This kind of power can't be without its risks,” Maddie nodded.

“I guess so, but maybe I'm not the best teacher, you know?” Maddie buried her head between Alaina's neck and her shoulder. “Maybe you should let Sadie teach you instead.” Maddie sobbed a little, and the woman hugged her harder, rocking her back and forth.

“Maddie, she beat Sadie, too.” Gabby said. “She and Bev had to regroup. We couldn't come at her head-on at all. Sadie had to ask Jen—and your mom—for help.”

“She—she talked to Mom?” Maddie asked, slowly breaking away from Alaina. She wandered toward the double doors leading to the living room, then back toward the kitchen. Alaina followed behind her.

Gabby picked up the box holding the governess dress. “I mean...I know you basically tried to ruin the twins and usurp their powers, but...from what I heard, you certainly throw a hell of a party,” Gabby joked. She thought about the tight red latex form wrapped around her body, toying with her alongside Sadie's enchanted boots as the head princess of sorcery dominated them all—directing the scene. Gabby bit her lip and put the box down again. “Control, Gabby. Self control,” She mumbled.

Maddie found Sadie in the kitchen, still working with Sandra while Stacie watched. A teapot hovered in the air, a mug hovering next to it as Sandra seemed to concentrate. Sandra bowed her head toward the objects with the slightest motion, and the teapot turned, pouring some of its contents into the cup.

“I—I did it!” Sandra laughed. “I did it!” Both objects wobbled, the teacup spilling a bit of its water as Sadie stabilized them.

“Easy,” Sadie said. “Concentrate on getting both of them back on the counter.” She smiled at her sister. Maddie smiled back, waiting for Sandra to finish her task before she interrupted.

“You're...going to be okay without us, Mrs. McCune?” Maddie asked. Sandra nodded a little, not looking Maddie in the eye.

“Yes, I think I will. I just...have to practice while the boys are asleep. Sadie thinks it's best if we keep this from them for now, at least to give them some time to...recover. I don't know what on earth I'm going to tell Doug.” Sandra looked to Alaina. “But Alaina's here to keep me in line, too, so...I should be okay.”

“Maddie, can I just ask something?” Stacie said. Maddie shrugged, nodding. "If mom's a witch, like, somewhere up the lineage — doesn't that make me a witch?" The sisters exchanged glances, and Maddie nodded again.

"That makes sense," Maddie said, "But I'm not sure if this effect is more from your lineage, or from the fact that she was possessed. I don't how long this will last, but we wanted to make sure she at least had control over it."

"So there's no way... I would be able to do stuff like this, right?" Stacie asked. Sadie smiled a little, rolling her eyes.

"I honestly don't know," Maddie admitted. "But between me and Alaina, I guess we could work on it with you and find out.”

* * *

Rachel and Bev were in the kitchen when they heard the footsteps creaking down the stairs. Rachel looked at Beverly, who narrowed her eyes—trying to work out what it was she was sensing.

“Sadie?” Rachel called out. “Maddie?” No one answered. Bev stood up, eyes narrowed. “Should we—” Bev held her hand up, shaking her head.

“It's...magic,” Bev whispered. “Powerful—not one of the enchantments.” Bev's eyes darted around, and suddenly she placed the sense. “Rachel, I think it's...”

“Hello, Rae...” Said an ethereal voice from around the corner. A form stepped into the doorway from the living room, and Rachel's face dropped. Her lips trembled.

“There's no...it's not really—Lu? Lu?”

“Rae, my dear—you've become such a beautiful woman...” The figure stepped forward into the room, this time dressed in nothing more than jeans and a sweater. Rachel approached, glassy eyed, reaching out her arms.

“Are you—are you really home, Lu?” As her eyes adjusted to the backlit figure, she could see the same face she remembered from almost two decades before. Young. Vibrant. Practically unchanged. “Lu, you—you haven't aged a day.” The two embraced each other, and Rachel gasped as Lu pulled her off the ground, rising up into the air and spinning slowly with her, clutching Rachel to her chest.

“There's so much I wanted to say to you, Rae. So much I wanted to explain—to show to you—but I couldn't. It's—”

“I know,” Rachel said. “I already know. You had to protect them.” Lu spun her around again, laughing as they sailed higher into the air.

“My sister. My love...I have so much to repay you for what you've done for my family.” Lu let go, and the two remained in the air. She held Rae's cheeks, kissing one of them as a tear fell down her face. “I couldn't have asked for a better mother to my babies, Rae—and I promise that I will give you back all the years that—”

“Lu, stop,” Rachel said, smiling at her. “Our family, Lu. They're our family. Whatever you had to be involved in, you're home. You're home now.” Lu looked back at Bev, who was still behind the bar at the kitchen. Once she saw that she'd been noticed, she waved a little.

“Jen's friend, aren't you? Beverly?” Lu asked.

“Holy shit, you remember me?” Bev laughed a little, blushing red before she faded out, leaving visible clothing behind when she did. “I should probably get back to Sorgina and let you two—”

“No, no—not at all,” Lu said. “You had a hand in teaching my girls, didn't you, Bev?” The shoulders of Bev's shirt shrugged a little.

“I mean—if it wasn't me, Rosa or anyone else at the tower could've—”

“No, Bev, I'm here to celebrate my daughters—and to give my thanks to everyone who brought them this far,” Lu said. She and Rachel drifted toward the ground, and she kissed Rachel on the lips. Rae looked shocked at first, but let it happen—a sweet, innocent kiss from the woman she hadn't seen since the girls were young. Since she was barely a college graduate. And then she began to feel it—something strange, something warm—firming. She couldn't understand it at first, but she could feel herself altered in some way...

“Holy hell,” Bev muttered as she watched, fading back into visibility. When Lu released her, Rachel's eyes fluttered open, her expression lost for a moment. She looked down at her hands, then felt her face.

“You spent the years well, Rae. Spend them well again,” Lu said. Rae didn't have to look in a mirror to know what had just happened. Her breasts were firmer. Her legs and her ass were more toned.

“Lu, I told you that you didn't have to—”

“Bev, explain the perks of knowing a council member,” Lu said. Bev snickered.

“It's different for me,” Bev said. “Jen locked me onto 32 for as long as I want to stay there. I've never seen anyone have their years melted away quite like that, though,” She looked Rae up and down. Do you feel 18 again, Rae?”

“I—I don't...know what to say.”

“Twenty-two,” Lu said. “Like the day I left. And you don't have to say anything, Rae. Just forgive me for making you do all this,” Lu told her. “I owe you so much more for what you've done for my girls.” Rae smiled at Lu, tears rolling over her cheeks.

“Lu—you didn't make me do anything,” Rachel said. “George and Sadie and Maddie are...I mean, they were my family.” She looked a little worried now, coming to a disorienting realization. “George, Lu. How will we tell George? And if—”

“This is still your home, Rae. I still have work to do, and I can't stay on this side for long—but even if I could, this is our family. No one can replace you. Now that the girls have grown—I can be with them without putting them in danger, but most of our contact will be on the other side. Where my work is.

“And George?”

“If you're okay with it, I will...appraise him of some critical details, when the time comes. For now, though, it's best he only knows what he has to.” Lu perked up just then. “My...my girls. They're here. I—do I look okay?” Lu asked, fretting with her hands a little. Bev laughed again, fading back out as she did. Rae nodded to Lu.

“A nervous soveriegn,” The invisible woman said. “You look divine, Lucretia, and you know it.” The woman blushed a little, waving off Beverly.

“Jen always did keep company that wasn't afraid of a little shit-talking,” Lu said to Rachel. Bev and Rae both giggled at that. “See, see? I'm getting my dialect back pretty quickly.” She added.

She turned toward the doorway, waiting to hear the front door. When it burst open, Sadie was first to speak.

“Rae, we made it! No need to...” Sadie stopped midsentence.

“Oh my god, Sadie—you feel it too!” Maddie's voice cried out from the doorway. “Rae, is—”

“The kitchen, girls,” Rae said, beaming at Lu, watching her smile grow as tears formed in her eyes. “Come to the kitchen.”

“Rae, we...” Sadie was the first figure in the doorway, and she went silent, putting her hand to her mouth. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

“Mom...?” Came Maddie's little voice behind her sister as she looked over her shoulder. “MOM!” Maddie jostled Sadie forward, and the two burst from the frame, running into the kitchen and practically piling on Lu. “MOM!”

“Girls,” Lu cried. “My little girls.” They went to either side of her, all three embracing as Rae stood back, watching the reunion between these twin sorceresses and their estranged mother. Rachel thought it might be more awkward—she thought at first like she didn't know how she'd still fit here—but the energy in the room more than dissolved all those doubts. Lu was home, and however else things proceeded from here, there was a space in the girls hearts that had finally been filled.

Rachel's too, she had to admit.

After a long embrace, the girls' questions came pouring out, one after another. Where had she been? Could she see what they'd been doing? Was meeting Jen part of the plan all along? As soon as Lu tried to answer one, they'd ask another.

“Girls, girls—there's so much I want to tell you, and we have time for it all. Before that, though—I'd like to go to Sorgina Tower and give you both the induction you deserve.”

“Rae's coming too, right?” Sadie asked. “Rae, you...” Gabby entered the kitchen slowly, feeling the weight of the inevitable reunion. She met the threshold of the room just in time for Sadie to notice that Rae wasn't quite the same. Gabby's mouth hung open, looking at the woman she'd always known as Sadie and Maddie's mom.

“Rae, is that...you?” Maddie asked. Rae looked at each of the twins, then around at the room, a little self-conscious now.

“It's me,” Rae said, her voice a little softer—the register a little higher. “Your mom gave me...a little welcoming gift.” She shrugged a little, not sure of what else to say.

“I mean, I always thought you were pretty, Rae,” Gabby said from the doorway, “But...it's almost like you're...our age.” Rae grinned, looking down. Of all three of the girls, Sadie was speechless. Rae could feel her stare, and at the moment, she couldn't stand to stare back. Whatever had been going on between the two of them before—now it was practically dangerous to acknowledge. She knew why she'd reached orgasm in the living room earlier, when Sadie was psychically tied to her final victory against the witch. She knew why Sadie's belongings seemed to favor her when the girls were away—why their enchanted things seemed to play together when no one was around to stop them.

“You're...going to come to Sorgina with us...to the other side...right, Rae?” Sadie asked. Rae swallowed hard and nodded, glancing at her for just as long as it took to acknowledge her.

“Of course!” Rae said. “Of course I am,” She beamed. “But, um—I need to, uh, I need to find some clothes that fit me. One of you can come get me when I'm set, okay?” She headed out toward the stairwell, running up the stairs.

Before the girls could react, Lu smiled, pointing at the laundry-room door. “Bev, get a head start and let Jen know it's induction time. She'll know what I'm talking about.” The door burst open, and instead of the laundry-room, it opened right up to one of Sorgina's corridors.

“Sure! Sure thing,” Bev's voice said from the apparently hollow outfit.

“The three of you should go with her,” Lu said. “Girls—call your familiars and take them with you. And once you're established there, Maddie—collect Alaina; Sadie—invite Diane as well.”

“The, uh...the three of us, Mrs...uh—” Gabby trailed off.

“The three of you, Darling. Which also means you, Gabrielle. And call me Lu.” Sadie's best friend smiled, nodding at the beautiful woman she'd never met.

“What about you?” Sadie asked her mother.

“I'll stay here and bring Rae when she's all set,” Lu said. "You go on ahead.” Sadie nodded.

When the girls both ran upstairs, Lu spoke to Bev and Gabby.

“Thank you for everything you've risked to keep them safe,” Lu said. “Both of you.”

“Anything for a sovereign,” Bev said, her hollow-looking sleeve saluting. Gabby simply gave her a humble nod. When the girls came back down with their boots, all four departed, leaving Lu with Rae.

Lu walked up the stairs, nearly reaching the top when she closed her eyes.

“Their hearts supply their wills,” Lu said. A purple glow formed in both of her hands, and the doors to both Rachel and Sadie's rooms opened.

“L-Lu?” Rae said from her room. “I'm just—I'm not ready yet! I'll be down in...” Rae sat at her vanity with glassy eyes, watching as her drawers began to open one by one. “Lu?”

“We are well beyond shame, Rachel—well beyond denial,” Lu said, her voice seeming to come from everywhere. Rae watched as her underwear began to rise out of her vanity, taking shape as they hovered into the open space, forming one line after another. Her invisible hips filled the panties, and unseen breasts swelled the cups of her bras. “You see that your essences are intertwined in a way that does not meet the expectations of the outside world—and so, you do your best to deny it.”

“Lu, wh-what are we talking about?” Rae asked. Now, just as before, Sadie's clothes began parading into the room.

"She wants us, Rae," a set of red satin underwear said. Rae watched as her enchanted lingerie began to fidget and wiggle at the site of Sadie's clothing, her own intimates being most of the things entering now.

"She's calling to you," a black lacy Teddy said, pushing itself against Rae's body before hovering into the air and circling Sadie's intruding laundry. "She's calling to us."

"You felt it when you came for her," Rachel's silk robe said. It reached its sleeves out to one of Sadie's corsets, and Rae watched as invisible fingers began to ply the tightly filled silver cups.

"You feel it when you come for us," a voice below her said. Rae moaned a little as her own blue cotton panties played against her clit. "You know it's her magic playing with you, and you call for it to play. You want to serve her…"

"I — I raised her," Rae protested. "I can't –"

"You were a splendid caretaker, Rae,” Lu's voice said. "But my daughter is a woman now; a woman with gifts far beyond even most of those who dwell on the magical side of reality.” Sadie's clothes continued filing into Rae's room, maintaining a focus on pieces either intimate, or designed for titillation. "What she needs from you now is your honesty, and the power that comes with your surrender." Rae's own sexually-charged clothing now filed out of her closet and drawers, the cuffs of her knee and thigh high boots feeling tightly with invisible legs and marching out to the room. Her skirts and pants in leather joining them, mingling with Sadie's outfits like flirtatious lovers.

A pair of her pantyhose swayed against Sadie's shiny blue gym leggings, and Rae felt herself hoist into the air. She hovered into the center of the room, watching as Sadie's laundry basket hovered in, looking like it was being carried by one of her tight T-shirts and a pair of her painted on jeans.

“This...this is what Sadie wants?” Rachel asked, watching Sadie’s clothing surround her as Rachel’s own clothing readily gave into the situation.

“This is what you want,” Sadie’s tee and jeans outfit said. “This is where everything has been leading, Rae. You felt it happening.” Sadie’s clothing began rising out of the basket, assembling into full outfits from their worn components. A skirt and polo shirt were filled with a tanktop and panties, and thigh-high socks pulled up its invisible legs. The outfit approached Rachel as her own panties began tugging off of her hovering form.

Rachel watched the outfit approach her, her body rotating toward it. The sleeves of the polo shirt reached out to her, and she gasped as she felt hands on her breasts, manipulating them.

“Lu--it’s not that I don’t trust you--both of you, but…” The outfit leaned in, and Rachel was silenced with an invisible kiss. She moaned through the act, her chest still heaving and lifting as the invisible hands continued working her over.

At Sorgina Tower, Sadie was flushed. Distracted. Gabby was talking with some clothes that were presenting themselves in Sadie’s suite, in contemplation of what she’d wear for the ceremony.

"Sadie? Do you think it should be more formal, or...?" Gabby had her arm around a black cocktail dress, which posed in response to Gabby's question. Sadie knew that she had to be alone.

"Gabby, do you mind working it out with them?" Sadie asked. "The enchantments here should know what's appropriate for an induction ceremony — probably better than I would." Gabby's brows knitted.

"Is something wrong?" Gabby asked.

"No, nothing's wrong…but I can feel something…that I have to respond to." Sadie said. "It can't wait." Sadie hovered off her chair, landing on her feet and casting against one of the doors in her apartment. "I'm sorry, I promise I won't be long." The door opened on its own, and Sadie hurried through it, with Gabby looking after and seeing a darkened space that she thought she recognized. The door closed a second later, and Gabby turned back to the black cocktail dress.

"You're really cute, but do you think we should have something that goes a little lower than the knee?"

Meanwhile, Sadie looked around the darkened space. She examined the symbols on the floor of Jen's hall, hoping that she wasn't disturbing her.

"You don't need to ask," Jen's voice said. "Don't worry — I'm tending to business elsewhere and I promise you're not disturbing me. Use the hall as you need, dear. I can guarantee your privacy here for the time that you'll be needing it."

"Thanks," Sadie whispered. She gestured to one of the plush couches on the other side of the room, and one of its seat cushions hovered out toward her. While it hovered in front of her, she focused on it and spread her hands apart. She watched as the single cushion stretch to the length of a cot. She climbed onto the red velvet, laid atop it with her back to the plush material, and held her palms upward. The cushion reoriented, rotating Sadie so that her head was at the North point of Jen's table. Sadie took a deep breath and whispered again. “I'm coming, Rae."

By now, Rachel had given in to the force occupying Sadie's outfit. Her arms were wrapped around the polo shirt, and the two forms embraced each other. The invisible hands well beyond the end of the short sleeves firmly held Rachel's ass now, and Rachel threw her head back, inhaling Sadie's scent from the outfit as unseen lips kissed down Rachel's neck and along her collarbone. Rachel pushed a thigh against the center of Sadie's skirt, gripping the outfit around its skirt as the short arched its back, and the ghostly lips went still lower.

“Please," Rae panted, "kiss them. I want to feel your lips on them.” Rae watched as the ghostly impressions at her breast went lower, through the swell of her bust, and just above one of her nipples. She gasped a little as she felt suction around her areola. “Yeahhhh...” Rae sighed. Her eyes rolled back as she and the outfit hovered, slowly rotating as all around them-- sets of their own clothing engaged in similar sensual expressions.

A pair of Rachel's leather pants had its legs tangled with those of a pair of Sadie's tight jeans. Although neither item had a top to go with it, that didn't stop emulated hands grabbing and caressing the ass and thighs of the opposing article. The teddy that had bumped against Rachel earlier was now playing against a matching set of Sadie's underwear, a delicate red lace bra and a pair of thong panties. A deep purple gown of Rachel's danced in the arms of one of Sadie's white blouses, the two swaying together to an inaudible rhythm. Socks from Sadie's laundry basket played against a pair of Rachel's brown leather boots, engaging in a ghostly game of footsie.

“You--you're so fucking amazing Sadie,” Rae said, her breathing quickening with her pulse. “I tried to fight this — to fight the way all of this made me feel, but…” Rae shuddered as the invisible mouth began sucking on her breast harder. The outfit pulled away from her grip just enough for its emulated hand to fall between her legs, stroking over her mound and sliding a single unseen finger between her moistened labia. “The magic, the way your enchantments seemed to seduce me, their absolute freedom from every physical rule I knew — their power – your power… I can't fight it anymore. I don't want to." Rae lifted her hands to Sadie's polo shirt, grabbing a hold of its breasts and tweaking its own emulated, hardened nipples beneath the fabric with her thumbs.

Rachel could see down the empty collar of the shirt, through to the camel-toed panties beneath the filled-out skirt.

“I know Lu told me to let go," Rachel said, "But I don't know exactly how to tell you all of this. Even if you want me this way, even if you have wanted me this way — I'm still mortal. I guess it's just not as easy for me to let go. I want to say all these things in front of you,” Rae said, watching a pair of her yoga pants and a pair of her silk pajama shorts each riding against one of Sadie's empty white go-go boots. “I want to be as wild and free with you as I am with these enchantments when you're not around,” Rachel panted. “I want to tell you my terrible, delicious secrets while you command reality and bring all my fantasies to life.” The invisible ministrations were soaking Rae's pussy now, and she bucked her hips against the ghostly attention as she reached down toward the shirt collar and pulled an unseen but completely tangible head against her chest-- silently commanding to suck her breasts harder.

“I want to give you all of me, Sadie,” Rachel growled. “I want to play in your forbidden fantasies and be everything you want me to be.”

"And I want to taste every drop of your surrender,” said a voice from all around her. Rae looked around the room. It didn't seem to come from one particular enchantment, but instead from all around her. "You don't have to wonder how you're going to say all of this to me, Rae,” the voice said. “You just did.”

Behind the tangle of Rae's body and Sadie's empty outfit, a smoky figure appeared in a slightly blue glow. As it took shape, Rae could see that it was some kind of ethereal copy of Sadie herself.

“S-Sadie?” Rae asked, watching the figure. It just smiled back at her for a moment — fading a little and flowing like smoke into Rachel's red lacquer boots.

"I'm here, Rae.” Sadie's voice echoed. “Some part of me is all around you, in essence, but I'm going to occupy one of your favorite things — one of my favorite things — and we can both have what we want in this moment.

Rachel watched the boots swell — watched the glossy material tighten as the bulk of Sadie's focus occupied them. The invisible hand retreated, and one of the lacquer boots rose up between Rachel's dangling thighs. She gasped as she felt the cool lacquer against her pussy, and the angle of the boot flexing itself so that its smooth, rigid toebox played against Rachel's asshole.

“Oh, fuck...” Rachel squirmed, gripping the long boot shaft in response. “Are — are you inside of them?"

“Uh-huh,” Sadie's voice responded, “and I want you to ride me, Rae.” The other lacquer boot hovered so that its vamp was level with Rachel's face. “I want you to worship me, squeeze me between those thighs, and ride me until you come.” Rachel bit her lip, nodding at the boot in front of her and wrapping one hand around the back of its bulging calf. With her other hand, Rachel pushed the top of the other boot shaft between her breasts.

“Give me more, Sadie...” Rachel moaned. “I've seen what this magic can do, give me more!"

“Ask of me,” Sadie responded, "and receive of me."

"Take me to the living room,” Rachel panted. “We need higher ceilings. I want to ride you—I want to fly...” Sadie's voice laughed as Rachel's wish was made reality. Rachel gripped the lacquer boots tighter as they flew her to her bedroom door and straight down the hall to the guest bedroom. They passed a dozen pairs of outfits, each composed of one of Sadie's and one of Rachel's — all engaged in carnal lust.

Some outfits followed behind them as they flowed into the guestroom and over the loft railing. Rachel giggled joy as she bucked against her lacquer boot, feeling a fluttering feeling in her stomach as she saw the expanse of the living room below her.

“Yes, oh my god...” Rachel's toes curled as she bucked against the boot, throwing her body back and trusting in Sadie's magic. “Spank me,” Rachel pleaded. "Spank me and play with my tits again — please…” As she bobbed up and down in the living room, Rachel expected to see satin or leather gloves descend from the loft in front of her. Instead, a pair of pink rubber kitchen gloves clamped around her breasts. Rachel moaned, grabbing onto the rubbery pink wrists and holding them tightly as the possessed kitchen gloves began massaging her tits. “Pinch me...” Rachel growled. “Pinch my nipples, Sadie!" The pink gloves held Rachel's perking nipples between their forefingers and thumbs, and Rachel sighed as the hollow gloves teased her. Rachel felt a slap on her ass, and she looked over her shoulder to see a pair of yellow rubber gloves squaring up to smack her again. She squeezed her thighs around the lacquer boot, pumping against it harder. "It's…true...that you're a goddess, isn't it?” Rachel asked between breaths.

“A demigoddess,” Sadie responded. “It's hard to get used to the term, but it's true.” Rachel looked at the red boot shaft in front of her, letting go of one of the pink gloves and stroking down the back of its calf.

"Can you feel this, Sadie?"

“Mmm...every bit of it,” Sadie's voice said. “Every inch of your warm touch." Rachel leaned into the boot, kissing the red glossy vamp. She planted kisses along the foot, working her way to the toe.

“Then let me worship you,” Rachel whispered. She looked from the toe of the boot up, working her way through the vamp and the lower shaft. One of the yellow gloves behind her groped her ass as the other continued spanking. “Fuck,” Rachel said. “This is so unreal…" She licked up the boot shaft, caressing the lacquer calf with her hand as she did.

“I want this from you so bad,” Sadie said. “I watched you, you know – playing with the enchantments." Rachel's eyes went wide, her thighs squeezing tighter as she rode harder against the floating red boot. The thought of Sadie secretly watching her engage in sexual play with their wardrobes turned her on even more, and she didn't know much of this she could take.

"Your father would never forgive me for this," Rae said, kissing the boot shaft again.

"My father will never know about this," Sadie said.

"No one else needs to know,” Rachel panted. “This type of devotion... is for you alone.” Rachel thrust her hips slower now, deeper — more completely. "I want to come for you, Sadie.”

“You're so fucking beautiful,” Sadie's voice said, trembling. “You were always beautiful before, but…”

“No, I know what you mean. It's an energy that came with Lu's gift...this absolute fire of youth — we take it for granted, and to have it back, it's just...” Rachel moaned.

“Yes, Rae...” Sadie cried out. “Come for me, give me everything!” Rae could hear Sadie's voice moaning, despite the lack of her body. Sadie could feel the sensations through the boots, and Rachel's peak arousal paired with the magical energy coursing through the house. The furniture on the floor began trembling, and the boots bobbed Rachel through more pronounced arcs.

Sadie was in heaven. She wasn't just watching Rachel engaging in boot play this time. This time, Sadie was the boot that she was riding. She was the boot Rae was kissing and licking. She was the gleaming, enchanted shape — the subject of her worship. She could sense Rachel's scent inside of her — her sexually charged sweat, and the honey from her pussy. She was Rachel's plaything, and Rachel was hers. What seemed so wrong to her just weeks ago felt so elementary now. Sadie could feel herself issuing new commands to the enchantments embodying her and Rachel; empowering them to feast on this draw, this energy between the two of them.

As Rachel cried out in orgasm, Sadie's voice echoed the same — extending Rachel's nerves through every living enchantment in the house. Rachel and Sadie's mimicked voices could be heard in several rooms, moaning and smacking sounds emulating their bodies through nothing more than their worn clothes. As Rachel moaned, Sadie formed a pair of invisible lips once more, making one of the yellow rubber gloves grab a lock of Rachel's hair and pull it back, pointing Rachel's lips precisely were Sadie wanted them as she kissed her with emulated lips.

“Oh goddd, Rachel...I never thought we would do this. I never expected you to be so open,” Sadie's voice said. As Rachel began to come down from her orgasm, she wrapped her arms around the boot shafts in front of her and laughed as her panting subsided. She was spent—but fulfilled. Her fantasies, even those that she'd been denying since the start of this strange, magic-filled phase of her life, were vindicated. Her surrender had been absolute.

“You know hard it's going to be to look at you without thinking of this?" Rachel giggled. The blue hued smoke flowed back out of the boots as the shafts shifted. Rachel let go as the glowing haze began to surround her. Her thighs released the boot under her, and the red lacquer boots hovered next to each other next to each other as Rachel felt phantom lips kissing all over her body wherever she was touched by the haze.

As it condensed further, it flowed away from Rachel again, becoming the shape of the ghostly Sadie, whose legs were still occupying the lacquer boots.

“We're just going to have to try extra hard to keep our secret,” Sadie said. "You're so incredible, Rae.” Rachel felt herself drifting down and back over the banister into the guest room. Sadie's ghostly form followed behind, and now, everywhere there had been a pair of outfits, they were in various poses of embrace.

“Incredible doesn't come close to explaining what you are,” Rachel said, letting Sadie's magic carry her back into her bedroom. “Are you sure you want me at your induction?” Rachel laughed. “We're really going to have to fix me up in order for me to be any kind of presentable.”

"The enchantments will take care of that,” Sadie said. "When you're ready, just follow the glowing door.” Sadie's misty form hovered toward Rae once more, looking into her eyes. “Thank you so much for this,” The misty Sadie said as the shape began to dissipate.

“God, Sadie — thank you,” Rachel said. “See you at the ceremony.”

* * *

It was like a magical Who's Who. Sadie had never sensed so much power. The audience was dotted not just with enchantments, but with elementals, beautiful-but-intimidating women that looked like fairies, and magically-empowered human representatives. When her eyes met Rae's, no more than two rows back with Gabby, Sadie stifled a giggle — unable to keep their secret out of her mind.

Maddie beamed pride. They were in the auditorium-like space that the girls had landed when they first accidentally teleported here. Jen, Lu, and a gorgeous woman with blonde hair named Concordia were seated above the crowd. Bev, Rosa, Luscious, and a few others were on the stage with the girls.

“You have shown yourselves—empowered for only a short time, and with little more than apprenticeship, to command great power...passed to you through the very blood of this council,” The blonde spoke. She looked about the same age as the girls, but she spoke with an authority that seemed to be on the level of Jen. “You have also stopped, even under peril to yourselves and your compatriots, a rouge force inadvertently awoken by the same power you are gifted with.” Concordia's eyebrow arched. “This council has determined, with the vote of the grand arbiter replacing the vote of your mother — who in the interest of fairness must abstain from this action — to unanimously recommend your induction to the Guardians of Archoa.”

Bow, girls... Came Jen's voice in both their heads. Sadie in a sharp grey pantsuit, bowed with a hand at her waist and one behind her. Maddie took up her gown and curtsied.

“The decision to grant your guardianship, however, lies not with this Council — but with the wisdom of the Assembly. Before you are 518 members of the Archoan Assembly Chamber numbering 636, and on such short notice, the remaining absent must defer the decision to the present. The role of guardianship is a sacred one to the Council and to the Assembly, and as such, the offer of this role is granted only to those who enjoy the favor of four-fifths of the Assembly. The Council chair is aware that the requirement today is that you receive the confidence of no less than 509 of the assembled, regardless the number absent.”

Suddenly, Maddie was worried. She had no idea that the ceremony would be this formal. Lu hadn't prepared them for these proceedings, and Jen only told him not to worry — that she would communicate any custom they needed to know directly…the bow, for example. Now they stood in front of 518 people and entities who would vote yea or nay — and only ten responses of 'no' would halt their new role.

“I shall call first for a vote of yes, with no reservations. Make your signals.” Sadie and Maddie watched as the crowd began to raise their hands high. Elementals held shimmering or glowing limbs aloft. Some were simply hooded figures with nothing but empty clothing inside. “A count please, register.” A gentle-looking being with larger eyes and ears — something like an elf, Maddie thought — scanned the crowd quickly and nodded.

“Four hundred, sixty and seven, Lady Concordia,” Came the metered, but perfectly projecting voice.

Maddie winced, and Sadie braced her with a hand on her shoulder. Relax, came Jen's voice. It's not over.

“I shall call now for a vote of yes, with reservation. Make your signals.” The hands of the former voters went down, and now others sprung up, predominantly in two groups, with two lone individuals. “Register?”

“Fifty and one, your grace. All present are accounted,” The large-eyed clerk responded. Concordia seemed to ponder this with a satisfied expression.

“To be certain, I shall call for a vote of no. Make your signals.” The fifty-one hands and magical spires went down, and the crowd was silent. No hands went up. “The generosity of the Assembly pleases this Council,” Concordia said. “I lend two minutes time to the floor, that you may determine who shall speak to satisfy the queries of the reserved.”

“It's two groups of a couple dozen,” Maddie whispered to Sadie, “And one of these really scary fairy-looking girls with crystal wings...who has just been staring me down,” she added.

Hush, Jen said in their minds. Sadie couldn't help but smile a bit as Maddie quietly mouthed a 'sorry'. She was far more tense than Sadie, worried about what came next. Was it going to be some form of questioning? If so, how would she explain herself? She was the one that put her sister and the whole McCune family in danger.

“The speakers will proceed to the lectern,” Concordia said. Four figures raised their hands and came forward, heading to the left aisle, where a podium in dark wood and silver stood. There was a beautiful raven-haired woman in silk robes matching her hair, some ethereal-looking figure in red, translucent with shifting facial details, a large, dark-eyed man in a green cloak and hood, and finally—the fairy that Maddie had mentioned before. Her wings flitted, and she hovered down the aisle behind the other three.

“The inducted will answer all, except by my instruction,” Concordia said. “No explicit conference or silent communication may be made as you answer the reservations of the assembled. Do the inducted understand?”

“Yes, your grace,” Sadie said, without a beat.

“Y-yes your grace,” came Maddie a second later, slightly off-guard.

“The speaker may proceed,” Concordia said to the podium. The Raven-haired woman gave a slight bow.

“We heard that this force you faced in Archoa was once in a sisterhood, a coven — that she was awoken by ancestral memory, by the mitochondrial archive and the use of your newfound abilities,” The woman said. “Did you destroy her?” Maddie looked immediately over to Sadie.

“She's safe,” Sadie answered, staring the woman in the eyes. “Bound in contract to me, to make restitution for her actions.”

“And what were the actions that would justify this obligation?”

“She made threats to usurp the abilities of me and my sister,” Sadie responded, “to absorb and destroy those under our charge and protection, and to do the same to her own descendants.” The raven-haired woman softened, nodding at Sadie as she continued. “My first attempts at diffusing the situation were met with threats on my life.” The woman looked back to her cadre, mostly other women in grey and dark robes.

“Our reservations are lifted, your grace,” The woman declared to Concordia. “Our body numbers twenty-two, and our vote is 'yes'.” Concordia simply nodded.

“The next speaker may proceed.” The hazy red figure seemed to doff an ethereal hat or headpiece of some kind to honor Concordia, and continued.

“What was your first action in response to the threat that you encountered?” The figure asked. Once more, Maddie turned to Sadie to answer. Sadie opened her mouth, but was stopped by the speaker before she could say a word. “With apologies—I'd like to hear from your sister,” the figure said.

“I, uh—I...” Maddie's anxiety was palpable. “I hadn't considered her a threat,” Maddie said. “It was naïve, but I shared my power without considering what she might do with it. I just didn't know. I didn't know there were forces like that on our side,” She covered her mouth, quickly rephrasing, “I mean—on the Archoan side.”

“And your sister came to your rescue?”

“She did...and a friend we made on the other...I mean, here in Aetara. And, one of our Archoan friends helped too.”

“Your Archoan friend...” The figure asked. “Another magic user?” Maddie shook her head. “So that you are bringing uninitiated Archoans into an open knowledge of our existence?” Maddie's lip trembled. She was about to answer when Sadie stepped forward.

“This uninitiated stands before you,” Sadie said, motioning to Gabby. A few in the Assembly gallery reacted audibly.

“The Assembly will quiet...” Concordia said. The murmurs stopped, and Concordia nodded to Sadie.

“I trust her with my life,” Sadie said. “I'm new to these customs—to the expectations here and of our fellow empowered in Archoa. We both are. But we're learning quickly, and if it wasn't for this uninitiated, as you call her, you might now be gathering guardians to rescue us both from the entity we faced.”

“Your grace,” The figure addressed Concordia. “May I query the present party signified by our inductee?” Concordia's tongue ran over teeth, as if she was stressing about something. She looked down to Gabby, and Gabby's eyes went wide.

“You are not subject to this proceeding,” Concordia said to Gabby, “And cannot be forced to speak. You may answer if you wish, but I warn you – your responses may be used to speak for the actions of your friend, interpreted for benefit or detriment, and that anything short of the truth from your lips before this council may bring with it your banishment from Aetara for all time.”

“Uh...I'll speak—your grace,” Gabby answered, trying to use what she'd gleaned from the conversation so far.

“Then join your host on the stage, speak your name for our Register, and answer,” Concordia said. Gabby swallowed hard, doing a little bow and walking right past the figure, whose eyes burned into her. Passing by it, he seemed to resolve into a man – a rather attractive man – though once she was on stage and looking down at the lectern, his translucent, red features seemed to flicker and shift again like flame.

“I'm G-Gabby...Gabrielle Martin,” Gabby stuttered, looking out at the audience.

“Gabrielle Martin, what is your relationship to our inductees?” The figure asked.

“Maddie and I are friends,” Gabby said. “but Sadie and I are...well—she's...” Gabby wasn't sure how to put it. “I'm closer to Sadie than anyone else I've ever known—except maybe my family.”

“You have been to Aetara before?” Gabby nodded.

“A few times,” She said. “But only here in the tower. Sometimes I watched them train in their magic.”

“You are aware that our kind are not readily received by the masses of uninitiated Archoans? That confirmation of our very being is shrouded in myth for their protection, and ours?”

“It's...actually a pretty common theme for our stories,” Gabby said. “Even the uninitiated that wouldn't tend to believe that you—that all of this exists—I'd say that even they know that.”

“How many have you told of your friends here? Of your times beyond the veil?”

“No one,” Gabby said, staring into his eyes.

“And why—knowing that you have no defense against such a power—would you put yourself in the path of a violent rogue?” Gabby didn't have to think about it.

“Because she needed me,” Gabby said. The figure seemed to put his hands up on the lectern. Gabby couldn't tell from the shifting shape of his face—but was he...smiling?

“You are rare among your kind, Gabrielle Martin,” The figure said. “He motioned to Gabby, looking to his group. Gabby watched as they silently raised their hands, elbows to their sides with their palms perpendicular to her. She'd never seen the gesture before. It didn't seem like a 'no', though. “Our reservations are lifted, your grace,” He said to Concordia. “Our body numbers twenty-seven, and our vote is 'yes'.” Concordia nodded again.

“Though the number is secured, we will bear witness to the remaining reservations of this Assembly,” Concordia said. “The next speaker may proceed.” Gabby headed down the steps when the man held a hand up to her, giving her a stern face.

“Stay, Miss Martin. If you would.” Gabby swallowed and bowed slightly to the man, going back up the stairs.

“Sovereign,” The man said, looking right at Sadie. “Your power is clear—even as I stand here. You will be a tremendous force, and a service to Archoans both learned and ignorant. Your blood is the Council's blood. Noble, and strong.” He pointed at Gabby. “But had she been harmed, what would you have done?” Sadie swallowed, looking away. Hesitating. “You've seen Aetara, yes. Trained here at the tower with Xenthe and her students, yes. But have you been outside the city?” Sadie shook her head no. “You and your sister—have you even so much as left the tower square?” Both girls shook their heads. The man took a breath and turned to the Council.

“Lucretia, your grace, I mean no disrespect to you, or to your daughters — who I believe, without doubt, will follow you in your service to the Grand Council.” He stared at Sadie, who was staring with tension at him now. “But now, in their training, in their inexperience, I believe we can thank fate that no great harm came to Miss Martin—or to the familial descendants of the awoken rogue.” He stared at Concordia now. “The sacrifice Miss Martin spoke of earlier is noble and...touching — but we are able here to sing its praises only as a result of the fortunate outcome. The power of these sovereign twins is such that their training and the appraisal of their abilities should be so rigorous that we are never again left to the luck and determination of an uninitiated child of Archoa to resolve what could have been a disastrous outcome for their kind.” Maddie could sense tension in Concordia now. He wasn't coming after her and Sadie—though no one would be able to tell that looking at Sadie's death stare—he was actually going after the council itself.

“I am a hunter,” He continued. “We are authorities in discretion. We are swift in action. We are certain in decision. And when our betters keep us from the opportunity to exercise our gifts in the protection of both the initiated and the uninitiated, we set a dangerous standard.” He turned back to Sadie again.

“Your contract with the rogue. Is it sealed with a power greater than your own?” Sadie nodded.

“Our mother saw to that,” She said. The man smiled — more like a grimace, really — and continued.

“Of course. But had something gone wrong – had the rogue's corruption gone beyond your sister and continued to you — what recourse had you anticipated?” Sadie tried to look tough, but she knew she didn't have an answer. The hunter looked back out to the assembly. “The merits of inborn talent and birthright are not enough to maintain the protection of Archoa,” He said. “Were my brethren given the proper foreknowledge of this induction, I have no doubt they would meet my mind,” He said, looking back at the council again. My reservations are founded. My body numbers one and my vote is 'no'.”

Concordia's expression had shifted. Both sisters had noticed it now, and the anger had drained from Sadie's face. There was so much to this side of the world that they still didn't know about, and whoever he was, he was furious about the danger their inexperience represented. Though she hated to admit it, she actually made his point for him in her words to the previous speaker. If things had gone just a little bit differently, if something terrible really had happened to Gabby — Sadie might've ended up exactly like her sister. She was going to need a long talk with Mom.

“The next speaker...may proceed,” Concordia said. She was thrown off balance already, and she knew that this wasn't going to get any better. The porcelain-like face of the woman at the podium bowed politely to Concordia, who nodded back—still just as tense.

“Do ye know not how to detect dormant magicks?” Maddie looked over to Sadie again. “No, yiu. I'm askin' yiu. Ye're the one who released the rogue, are ye not?” Maddie nodded. “Then answer the question, and speak up.”

“I could feel something, but it didn't read like —“

“It dinna read like anything because yuir not havin' the knowledge yiu need to ply these uninitiated,” She said. “Do ye know what I am?” Maddie shook her head.

“I don't...formally, but I have some idea...”

“We whisper to them. Quietly. Invisibly. Sometimes we lead them to glory—sometimes we lead them to ruin. Most of us are just content to play with them, if we can keep a home territory to ourselves; if we can maintain a keep that won't be disturbed. Most of us have retreated to this side, but those of us still makin' our homes on yuir side—as you know it—we depend on nobility like yiu to protect us.”

Maddie nodded. Sadie was long past her angry defense now. There was so much more to this place than she could have expected, and this woman in front of her, lecturing to them...she really was a--

“I like fun, girl. I adore it. Play is almost everythin' I know, which is why so many o' my sisters can be in this assembly an just vote their 'ayes', fluff their wings and go 'Ooooh, but they're lovely! So powerful. So adorable. I wanna meeeeet them.' “ The girl snorted, and serious as she was, Sadie almost laughed at the last comment. “How can ye be charged with protectin' us if ye dunna know what DANGEROUS magic really means?”

Maddie just looked down, and Sadie took a step forward. Maddie held a hand up to her.

“You're right. You are right,” Maddie said. “And we don't...want this because we're her daughters,” She said, pointing to Lu. “I don't want it because I think we deserve it, or because of...” Maddie frowned, looking up at the council, “political favors...if that kind of thing goes on here.” Concordia visibly winced, but Lu seemed to brighten. “I want to be taught. We both do,” Maddie said. Sadie nodded.

“We were unaware that we had any magic abilities in us...for years,” Sadie said. “I think the best thing we can do, going forward—is to take your advice, and that of the Hunter's...and get the training we need for you to believe in us,” Jen looked over at Concordia, smiling. “If there's anyone else not here today that you KNOW would have voted us down, I want to know them,” Sadie said.

Lu put her hand on Jen's forearm, trying to maintain her poker face now. The girls' speech was probably earning them even more ground with the assembly, but she needed to shut up before she said too much or promised something without knowing it.

“I am proud to be a sovereign,” Sadie said, looking back at the girl on the lectern, “but I want to earn that pride. And I don't want you or your families or your friends to hold back in showing us where we need to improve,” Sadie said to her.

“Oh, we won't, yiu silver tongue, ye.” The girl smiled, somehow still looking at Sadie with determinable anger alongside some strange kind of respect. “Venture out the city sometime an' we'll show ye where you lack.” Sadie smiled mouthing a 'thank you'. The girl stuck out her tongue.

“My reservations are beyond founded—the inducted bloody admits them!” She snarled.

“Cerise...” Concordia rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“Apologies, yuir grace. I mean to say...my reservations are founded. My body numbers one and my vote is 'nay'.”

Cerise stormed off the lectern, heading straight down the aisle instead of returning to her seat. Sadie looked at where some of the others were seated, bright faces, shining wings and all. A couple of them waved to her. She smiled and nodded, holding back a laugh. Even if one of them clearly didn't like her, she'd somehow just made friends with Faeries she hadn't even met yet.

“The speakers have made their reservations known,” Concordia said. “The assembly has spoken with a vote of 516 to 2, with 118 absent. Through their favor, this council is honored to induct you both as Guardians of the Archoan Plane.” Concordia raised her hands, and in a flash of light, bronze-looking bands appeared over the girl's heads with a yellow center stone, shining like the sun. The bands descended, crowning them.

The assembly cheered, and Sadie looked out to see that even the hunter was applauding. She focused on him for a moment.

You are dangerous until you know the brutal extent of wild magic—and what you are capable of when you need defend yourself from it, his voice echoed in her. If you aren't just a silver-tongue, as the pixie says, come find us at the Order, and face a challenge that will truly introduce you to yourself. Sadie nodded, still looking at him, and he nodded back, slowing his applause and heading out of the hall.

* * *

“Sadie, is that you?” George said over the phone. “I haven't been able to get a hold of anyone's cell all day! I'm gonna be home in two hours—I've been driving from Pittsburgh. They couldn't get me into NYC, PHL or DC because of the storms. Are you guys okay? What's going on over there?”

“We were...actually out of service, George. And it's not Sadie...but we're back now. All of us are back. Can't wait to see you.”

There was a long silence over the phone. George made a little sound, but it was almost as if he'd dropped the phone.

“George? You're still there, right?”

“L...Lu?”

END OF BOOK ONE