The Strangers of Precedent

Hecate took a deep breath, staring at the dark empty ceiling above her bed.

“Why would you get up this early?” a man complained beside her in the bed, “When I heard you were hidden on Earth, I assumed you at least had the skill to avoid menial tasks like these.”

Running on instinct, she grabbed the man by the neck and squeezed. It wouldn’t be enough to shut him up, but there was satisfaction in hurting him.

The pressure under her fingers disappeared and the lights turned on.

The black-haired man loomed large by the door, the horns on his head giving him even more inches above her. His fingers were covered in bone plates that scraped as he bent them. His left eye had a scar down it from when she’d sliced his face open centuries ago.

“It’s been a long time, little Charmer,” Ripper said.

“Not long enough.”

She stood up, stalking toward him until he disappeared again. she elbowed behind her to hit his teleporting form into the window. Something shattered.

“All that effort and you don’t even wonder why I’m here,” he said from further behind.

She turned toward him, getting in his face.

“You’re here because Shifter told you I was here.”

She pushed him out the window again. He reappeared behind her and she flipped him onto the bed.

“Aren’t these familiar circumstances?” he asked.

She reached past him to grab her daggers from her headrest, but they were gone.

“Ah, that look of confused terror, how I’ve missed it.”

He was gone. He had her by the neck. He was pushing her to the mirror vanity.

She wasn’t wearing her nightdress. No, she’d long since lost the dress of midnight blue she wore now. His memories had betrayed him.

“If you want me gone,” he said, fiddling with one of her daggers near her face, “You know what you have to do.”

As evidenced by the way he held the dagger, Ripper still didn’t know how to fight.

She grabbed her dagger from his hand and gave him a new slice on the untouched side of his face. He staggered back. Hecate kicked him away for good measure.

She felt the fabric of her dress in her hands. It had been a long time since she’d felt that material, but she knew it felt wrong. She’d missed this dress, but she preferred reality.

“Get out of my mind.”

“Finally realized, have we?” he asked, face as smug as ever.

She stabbed him in the heart.

She woke up panting for breath.

She checked beside her in the bed. Nothing.

She checked the window. It was whole, and the outside lighter than she expected, but it was her day off.

Her monster was walking up to the cabin.

She pulled on a robe and walked down to greet him.

In her years since leaving her kind, she’d only suffered this nightmare a handful of times, and every single one was someone else’s doing.

The more people were aware of the problem, the worse it could potentially get.

Pushing the thoughts out her head, she opened the door for her old friend.

“Darling,” she said.

“My dear,” her monster replied, “How is your day off?”

She sighed.

“It is strange to wake up with the sun already out, but that makes for less I have to fill the day with.”

He gave a consoling smile.

“And how fare things with your librarian?” she asked.

He grimaced.

“The old one, or the young one?”

“The one that is, not the one to be.”

Her monster sighed.

“Things fare as they have, my dear.”

She hated the sound of disappointment in his voice. She held his face between her hands.

“You will have to speak of it, darling. I know how terrifying the prospect is, but trust me when I say it is the best option.”

He hugged her tightly.

“Perhaps I’ll believe you next time.”

She groaned.

“Must I use my silver tongue on you, darling?”

“I know you never will, not for this.”

Her monster was right. He finally released her and she saw, for just a moment, a horned man behind him.

“How fare your dreams?” Hecate asked.

“They are dreams, they fare every which way all at the same time.”

She shook her head.

“Remember the patterns of your dreams, please.”

Frank was still stuck on what Hecate told him. It was so consuming he was grateful not to have classes, though the papers he had to grade were going to be delayed.

He never really remembered his dreams, let alone their pattern. She’d sounded concerned, desperate, from the moment she brought them up. She hadn’t been either of those things in the time he’d known her.

He held himself from invoking her just to ask a question, especially since he’d done so for Bobbi.

She’d stayed using titles the whole time as well, as if she was afraid what would happen if she said anyone’s name, even one that wasn’t true.

The smell of smoke interrupted his thoughts.

His legs moved unconsciously toward Drake’s room where a pile of ashes now laid on the bed .

“What?”

He had no time to think as he ran to his room, finding a body on his bed, beaten and half-dead.

“No, no, no, no…”

He ran to Thoth’s side, catching a weak smile.

“Franklin,” he said, “It’s been a long time since I was in your house.” Thoth’s eyes closed, and his hand went cold.

“It’s about time you suffered for your actions.”

Frank was almost relieved at the voice, because it was enough to snap him to the reality that he was dreaming.

He turned to the voice, still enraged it could even show him this.

“You’re dead,” he insisted.

“You were supposed to die too,” his creator said.

“My death was never going to do anything but assuage my guilt. The real Victor would be mad I’d deny myself such pain,” he could see the shadows of horns around the man’s skull, “You want me to beg for it though.”

Hecate knew this thing was around. It was one of her kind.

“You know her name…” it said.

He tore at it.

Thoth had dozed off at his post. The library was mostly empty, so nobody seemed to notice.

“Dozing off again?” young Syren Eves asked.

“You are not supposed to enter campus premises unless it’s an emergency, Ms. Eves. At least until you’re old enough to attend.”

“Actually I’m an alumnus—alumna? Does the gender matter?”

Thoth sat up. The woman in front of him was one he hadn’t seen in years except through her niece. Syren Eves the elder was noticeably older than her younger counterpart, obviously, but otherwise much the same in appearance, even down to the tendency to wear black.

“It’s been a long time, Ms. Eves. I’m not sure you’re supposed to be on campus either.”

“I wasn’t the one you told to never come back.”

“No,” Thoth shook his head in agreement, “You were the one who threatened to never to come back after I banned him.”

Syren rolled her eyes, and all Thoth’s frustration with her washed away. He’d missed her charm.

“Have you left him?” Thoth asked.

Syren shook her head.

“I can’t help how my heart feels, M.”

Thoth frowned.

“You know I only made that name up for legal purposes.”

Syren laughed at him, walking her fingers up to boop him in the nose. Thoth took her hand in his.

“Leave him. He doesn’t care about you.”

“And run into your arms after you chose my brother over me?”

The lights in the library flickered until one sparked enough to set a shelf on fire.

“No!”

Thoth stayed still as he tried to run and save his books while trying to escape the flame.

“But you did choose him.”

Syren held him by the chin.

“You gave me no choice,” Thoth insisted.

“I gave you the choice, and I’m giving it to you again. Me or my brother. Choose the one you really wanted.”

She kissed him, and he was finally able to move away, realizing the fire shouldn’t have sparked on his metal shelves.

“However she viewed me, she knew that was never my interest in her.”

“So sure of yourself, little librarian.”

Syren grew taller, paler, thinner, with a scar over the left eye. Though clearly unrelated, this was definitely the same species as Charmer.

“Whatever it is you want, you won’t find it among us.”

The demon shrugged.

“First I’ll have to pay a visit to a certain Changeling.”

 “Wake up,” Solomon said.

Syren groaned. She’d had this dream many times since the impostor incident. Every time she got angrier.

“You’re not real, and even if you are, you aren’t my brother.”

“Well even if I were him, you wouldn’t be my sister, would you? You’re just a slime capitalizing on your father’s loneliness.”

That did it. She got up and charged at him, landing on the floor as he appeared on the other side of the bed.

“Touchy subject, I see.”

“My brother wouldn’t accuse me of that.”

Not-Solomon nodded.

“But you’ve certainly thought it.”

“No I haven’t.”

This dream was weird. She thought of the lesson Sarah taught her, closing her eyes.

Show yourself, she insisted. It wasn’t in a language, what she was really doing was forcing a need for truth on the other party of the dream.

She opened her eyes to someone taller than Frank, with horns like Shifter, skin as pale as hers too. He still wore her brother’s clothes, thankfully. She stopped on a scar running over and through his left eye that pulled all the attention.

He didn’t seem the least bit disturbed by Syren’s actions.

“Just like little Charmer, always giving tools to those beneath her.”

She stood up, and the Demon appeared behind her, touching her shoulder.

“You know they all think of her every time they see you.”

“Think of who?” Syren asked.

“Your aunt, of course, the one you pretend to be. Your brother barely remembers her, but Charmer, her Monster, the Librarian.”

“So?” Syren asked, turning around, only to find him on the bed now.

“Aren’t you curious what she was like? Shifter said you were dangerously curious.”

“Dangerous for who?” Syren asked.

The demon smiled.

“I’ll answer that for a favor,” he said, “Or if you’d like, I can get your Aunt’s journals for you, help you find out about her.”

“We lost Aunt Syren’s journals,” Syren informed him, moving closer.

“But did you ever bother asking how?” the demon asked.

Syren shook her head. She wasn’t a demon. If she owed a favor, she’d have the worse part of the bargain.

“No.”

“No to what?”

“No to all of it. I’m not doing a favor for you, whatever you offer me.”

He moved behind her, mouth at her ear.

“A wise decision, but should you ever wish to change it, you’ll have my name, once.”

Bobbi was looking down at her.

“Surprise field-trip, the boys are downstairs.”

Syren pinched herself. The pain felt real enough.

“I need to talk to Sarah.”

“Good news, that’s the field-trip. We’re going to her cabin overnight because something’s targeting you or Drake. We’re not sure which yet.”

So Charmer already knew about the demon.

“I think it already targeted me.”

“How? When?” Bobbi’s eyes widened like they were searching for a predator.

“In my dream, and just now. I’ll explain more when we get there.”

Syren grabbed her overnight bag and shook the fear out of herself.

“Let’s go.”

Singe and Bobbi took the rear. Bobbi was quietly humming some tune Singe was unfamiliar with.

“What are you singing?” Singe asked.

“I’m not singing, I’m humming, and it’s just a comforting tune I’ve always had in my head.”

“I’ve never heard it before,” Singe said.

“Well, you did grow up on another world, so I imagine there’s quite a bit you’ve missed out on.”

Singe made sounds of agreement.

“I actually used to come visit my Uncle every year until—” he stopped himself from revealing his quest.

“Until what?”

“Until I had a goal that required staying in Magek long-term, no family trips.”

“What goal?” Bobbi asked, “You don’t really keep much about yourself secret, not for this long.”

“Well maybe my goal isn’t just about myself. There’s a bit of a mandate to keep it secret.”

“A mandate, huh? So does Charmer know?”

Singe stopped in his tracks.

Charmer.

“You only know her as Sarah,” Singe said.

“What did I say?” Bobbi asked.

“You said Charmer.”

“Who’s that?” Bobbi asked, “Is that some codename Sarah uses?”

Singe grabbed her by the arm.

“Mages have used this technique for years. Who are you?”

Bobbi gave a wry smile.

“The Changeling knew how to make me reveal myself. Strange Charmer never taught you. I guess you aren’t the favorite you hoped to be.”

Singe didn’t care.

Bobbi tutted.

“Thoughts can lie, Little Dragon.”

Singe threw her back, landing her on the ground a few yards away from him.

“That struck a nerve,” Bobbi said, somehow behind him. He turned to face her.

“What do you want?”

“I want a deal, obviously. I won’t give you Charmer, but there’s some things I can clear up for you.”

“I don’t want Charmer,” Singe said.

“No, you want something else red.” she threaded her hands through her pink hair, “A bit like this one. You do enjoy her company, and I have a vested interest in getting the vampire out of your way.”

“I don’t like Bobbi like that.”

Bobbi sighed.

“No, you don’t. You’re a bit boring when it comes down to it. You have one secret, two if you count the red thing, but neither of them are very useful. I could offer you knowledge, but you’re too foolish to do anything interesting with it. If I’m being honest, you’re a waste of time, but I’ve gotten some use out of you.”

“What—”

“—use?”

He was on the couch in Hecate’s cabin, Bobbi was on the floor, and everyone was watching one of the two of them.

“Dreambreaking,” Singe said, “Who’s doing it?”

Hecate turned her attention to him.

“I’ll explain after you get off the couch. We need to get Bobbi on.”

He easily scooped up the small woman and set her on the couch.

“I suspect she prefers to sleep on her side,” Frank said. Everyone stared at him.

“He’s not wrong,” Syren said, “I’ve seen her sleep. She’s always on her side.”

“Creepy for him to know that though,” Singe said, rolling Bobbi over a little.

“Singe said Dreambreaking,” V. said, “What does that mean?”

Hecate sighed.

“It’s an old Demon strategy. People’s minds are most sensitive while they’re asleep, but also the most dangerous. A skilled demon uses the dreams as a way to torment someone until they make whatever deal the demon wants, but it’s not as difficult to remove them from your mind.”

Syren’s eyes shifted around the room.

“What kind of deal?” V asked.

“The demonic kind,” Thoth said, “So nothing good—no offense to Ms. Charmer of course.”

Hecate smiled. She was probably a little bit offended.

“I have a history with this particular demon,” Hecate admitted, “He appeared to me first, so I know his goals have something to do with me.”

“What history?” Singe asked.

“What goals?” Syren asked.

“He has a scar on his face. I gave it to him. As for his precise goals, I don’t know, but I assume it has something to do with vengeance.”

“For the eye?” Syren asked.

“For many things.”

“So what can he get from Bobbi?” Singe asked. Bobbi was a little odd, but she wasn’t powerful by any account.

“Bobbi’s here on scholarship,” Thoth explained, “My scholarship.”

“Officially it’s The Eves Scholarship,” Syren said with a hand beside her mouth, “But Thoth came up with the idea.”

“He doesn’t need to know this,” Hecate said.

“Both of them deserve to know this,” V said, “If Singe and Bobbi are being attacked by enemies of The Coven, they deserve to know what we do.”

“Drake…” Frank threatened.

“It’s not The Coven anymore,” Thoth said, “The other side stole the name, and I’d rather not be associated with them. Besides, we aren’t an organization or society, we’re the dregs of a polluted stream.”

“What are you talking about?” Singe asked.

“Singe,” Hecate said, “You know a lot more about this circle than most others do, but there’s a lot we keep to ourselves for a reason. Your uncle is one of ours, but he recommended against your participation, didn’t want you bound by secrets.”

She extended a hand.

“I already know a secret that could harm you,” she said, “If you really wish to know about Bobbi, and anything else we hide, know that secret will be held like a weapon against you. Do you wish to join our circle?”

Everyone watched him expectantly.

Did he want to be part of whatever secrets were happening? These people were all effectively stuck here, with nowhere better to go. He wouldn’t be much help to them where the path he planned to follow led.

Singe shook his head.

“Your secrets are yours. I don’t think there’s much more I can do if I know about them.”

Everyone pulled back.

“So we take shifts until Bobbi wakes up?” Singe asked.

“I’ll be awake anyways,” V said.

“I can’t sleep this anxious,” Syren said. Everyone else made agreeing noises.

Bobbi opened her eyes.

Bobbi leaned on the back of the couch, staring at an unconscious Singe.

“He’s not a light guy, is he?” she asked.

Drake shook his head.

“You say that like you did any of the work,” he said.

“I’m physically frail. I revealed that the first night.” she put her arms up.

“I mean, that can’t be all there is to it,” Syren said, “For someone so frail, you sure have the energy to make a lot of things.”

“And you look better than our Vampire here,” Frank said.

“Thanks?” Bobbi asked. Drake looked so bad the bar was underground. She looked at his torso, as if his hoodie would disappear and she’d see the emaciated form from before.

Drake gave a smile that made Bobbi step away.

“I don’t think this much scrutiny is necessary,” she said, “What’s going on with Singe? Why are we here?”

Everyone stared at her, moving closer.

“I don’t think we’ve given you enough scrutiny,” Drake said, “We know you aren’t Human.”

“You think that,” Bobbi held her arms over her chest as she tried to back away.

“We know that,” Professor Monstro said, pulling at the fabric of her jacket, “I’ve seen what you hide under there.”

Bobbi tried to pull away, but she didn’t have the strength to.

“Please,” she begged, “I’m not—I can’t—please.”

Never let them know.

“Who told you that?” Syren asked, successfully pulling Bobbi away from Frank’s grasp. She was comforted by the arms around her shoulders.

“Told me what?”

Syren shook her head.

“That was an order,” Sarah said, “‘Never let them know’. How long has that been chanting in your head, little one?” she held Bobbi’s face tightly.

“I don’t know.” every time she fought to share about herself, “It’s just something I know I have to do.”

Sarah fell still and Syren pulled Bobbi’s jacket off. Bobbi’s wings came out, bright and obnoxious like they weren’t actually, but everyone was looking at them. Bobbi tried to force them back down, but they didn’t listen to her.

“I can return your will to you, take that little order out of your head,” Drake poked at her forehead.

“All I need,” Frank said, “Is a moment of your time.”

Bobbi did her best to keep her eyes on all of them.

“You’re talking like you’re all one person.”

Singe sighed from the couch, eyes still closed.

“Just pick one and go outside.”

Bobbi looked from one person to the next before grabbing Drake’s arm and going outside the cabin.

Drake moved to cup her face in his hand.

“This, little one, is a dream.”

“Get your hands off of me,” Bobbi pushed away. If this was a dream, then she probably wasn’t talking to Drake.

“Exactly. In this scape, your friends are just puppets for me to voice your concerns, or offer a deal.”

“Why would you voice my concerns?” Bobbi asked.

“I need someone to make a deal, and you’re not liable to do that while you’re happy. It’s not called Dreamcharming is it?”

“What is it called?”

Drake shook his head.

“Don't you want to know what you are?” he asked.

“No,” Bobbi said.

“Would you like to?”

Bobbi didn’t make a comment.

“You ask questions about everything Bobbi, why don’t you ask about yourself?”

“Because I can’t.”

That made her pause.

“Why can’t I?”

“Because someone repressed your nature to make you easier to hide.”

“Why?” Bobbi asked.

Drake shrugged.

“I know as much as you, but I can take those shackles off your mind, in exchange for a few moments of your time.”

“You said a moment.”

“The price went up.”

“Why?”

“Consider it a tax for asking too many questions. Now do you want your mind to be completely yours, or not?”

Drake offered a hand.

How much of her life could have been different if she hadn’t run every time someone got close to figuring her out?

She took the hand.

Drake gave a smile of disbelief, before turning serious.

“It will take time for you not to hide things on instinct, but it won’t be as difficult to share things. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

He pulled her into a kiss, one she couldn’t pull away from no matter how hard she ordered her body.

She was frozen.

Vlad held his breath as Bobbi sat up. Charmer watched her intently.

“Are you okay?” Singe asked.

“I’m great.” Bobbi dusted herself off as she stood up. There was something off in the way she stood.

“Get out of her.” Charmer growled.

“What do you mean?” Bobbi asked.

Syren stared intently, then doubled over in pain.

“Are you alright?” Bobbi asked, moving to her side.

“This isn’t her,” Charmer insisted. “She’s been possessed.”

Drake tried to grab Bobbi but she moved away too fast. Her smile was a cruel one.

“There’s no point trying to convince you all, is there?” the tone changed to one that made everyone else in the room flinch.

“Get—” Charmer started.

Bobbi put a hand out, shutting Charmer up. She looked at her hand like she expected more, then up at the light fixture.

“Huh.”

She tapped her cheek with a finger.

“What did she say?” she smiled, “Help.”

The window shattered as a plant from the garden outside the cabin broke in and wrapped itself around Charmer’s mouth.

“What did you do to her?” Drake asked.

“Oh she’s rare,” Bobbi turned toward Drake, “You were right about the tree.”

Some parts of plant split off to grab him. Drake drank a vial from his pocket and turned intangible. Bobbi jumped out of his range as he moved through the plant to grab her.

“All this exercise is wearing me out.”

Bobbi began to take off her jacket but Frank grabbed her arm with a very audible crack.

“Aaaahh,” Bobbi howled, “She wasn’t kidding about being frail, damn.” she hissed in pain.

“Get out of her!” Frank demanded.

“She made a deal.”

“She’s too smart for that,” Vlad said.

Bobbi gave a mocking smile.

“Did anyone tell her what she might be facing?” the demon asked, “Or did you just say she was in danger?”

She removed herself from Frank’s limp grasp, cradling Bobbi’s arm.

“I told her I wanted a deal, offered something that would benefit her, and in return I took a few moments of her time.” she disappeared and reappeared in front of Charmer.

“It’s up to you, little Charmer, if they’re her last ones or not.”

The plants released themselves from around Charmer’s mouth, moving around Bobbi’s throat. The two women watched each other, clearly having a conversation no one else could hear.

“Rovnabai,” Charmer finally said, shame prominent in her voice.

The plants receded back to where they were.

“Agh!” Bobbi said, pushing something invisible and falling backwards, “Oww, Fuck, damn, shit—what happened to my arm?” she cradled it again.

Vlad quickly arrived at her side, she moved away from him.

“Are you alright?”

“No!” Bobbi informed him, “My arm hurts. It might be broken.”

“It is,” Frank said.

“What the hell happened?”

“But you’re you?” Vlad asked, unconsciously reaching for her face. She recoiled.

“Don’t fucking touch me. Please.”

He lowered his hand. There was none of that false expression.

“What is your name?” Charmer asked.

“Why does that feel like a trick question?” Bobbi asked, “Is my name not Bobbi?”

“Just answer a damn question so we know you’re not possessed,” Syren groaned.

“Possessed?”

“Are you or are you not Bobbi Fayner?” Vlad asked.

“I am—fuck. Why is everyone staring at me?”

“A demon was attacking us in our dreams to get to Sarah,” Singe explained, “You made a deal, so he got to control your body for a minute, an impressively destructive minute.” he gestured at the shattered window. Vlad helped her stand so she could see.

“Demons?” Bobbi asked, “Is the window how I broke my arm?”

Frank didn’t look at her.

“We should put your arm in something for now,” Drake said, “Head to the hospital tomorrow.”

“No!” Bobbi pulled away again. She closed her eyes and blew out a small breath, “Honestly we should probably go now, get a cast ASAP.”

“I’ll drive,” Charmer said.

“You can drive?” Bobbi asked, “That’s stupid—of course you can drive, sorry.”

“I’ll go as well,” Vlad said. Bobbi hitched her breath. “Do you want me to stay?”

Bobbi shook her head.

“Honestly, you’re probably the best option, considering you can stay up and don’t seem to be in pain, unless they check under your hoodie.”

Vlad nodded.

Vlad helped Bobbi back inside the cabin. The doctors had put her in a cast, which they said would have to stay on for at least a month. Bobbi wasn’t thrilled, but she acknowledged she was better for it. She mostly complained about not being able to put her jacket back on.

“You’re all staying the night,” Charmer said, stretching as she stepped into the room of sleepers, “Don’t make yourselves too comfortable. I will be in my room.”

“Wanna go outside, actually?” Bobbi asked once Charmer was up the stairs.

Vlad nodded, walking her to the porch swing. When she sat on it, her legs jutted straight out. She pulled them in so she sit comfortably criss-crossed.

“So what happened?” she asked, “Because I suspect Singe didn’t give the full explanation.”

Vlad sighed.

“Whatever deal you made with the demon, which is none of my business, he used to control you. More specifically, he used you to control those plants,” he pointed at the bushes near the porch, which looked ruffled, “Or something else in the garden, heaven knows you had plenty of material. The point is it proved my tree hypothesis.”

Bobbi rolled her eyes.

“You don’t believe me?”

“Of course I—” Bobbi shook her head, “No, I do believe you—shit.”

“Is it your arm?”

“No. I’m just not doing great in general. I… I made the deal, and it was weird, and now I can tell it worked, but I don’t know if I actually want it anymore and…” Bobbi took heavy breaths.

Vlad put a hand on her good arm.

“You’re fine, Bobbi. Take your time.”

She took a deep breath, then another, then a few more.

“I had something going on with my head that wasn’t me, and he undid it for me, but I still don’t want to talk about shit.”

Vlad shrugged.

“You don’t have to.”

She actually smiled.

“Tell me something about yourself.”

“What?” Vlad asked.

“Anything,” she said, “Let me know about the real Vlad Drake.”

He felt an unconscious smile.

“I like when you call me Vlad,” he admitted.

“But you said you prefer Drake.”

“This isn’t the place for shame about lies.”

“Fair enough.”

They sat in silence beyond the creaking of the swing.

“My mother had hair like yours,” Vlad finally said.

“What?”

“Well, yours is a little more pink, while hers was more orangish, but you both are strawberry blond.”

Bobbi took the fact with a nod.

“I don’t know my parents,” Bobbi said, “Obviously, orphan thing, but sometimes I look in the mirror and ask if anyone would recognize me as theirs, if there is anyone to recognize me.”

They breathed in creaky silence for another few minutes.

“You know how I told you I was a normal person when we first met,” Bobbi started.

“Oh my god! Were you lying?” Vlad gave his falsest surprise face.

“Har. Har,” Bobbi said, “Yes. I didn’t know about the tree shit, but I did know I was weird.”

“How did you know?”

Bobbi responded by staring out at the yard.

“Do you want to tell me?” Vlad asked. Bobbi kept things close to the chest for a reason. What made him special enough to tell?

“Promise me you won’t tell anyone. My secrets are on my terms.”

He wasn’t able to answer.

“Please, Vlad.”

“Of course,” he said.

She closed her eyes, leaning forward toward the night sky, then barely rustling her tanktop, two thin slivers of something clear appeared from her back. He could see moonlight through them at certain angles, but the wings were barely visible for the most part.

Vlad found himself reaching out to touch them before they tucked themselves back in. He could now just barely see the points of her back where they originated.

“What the hell are you?”

Hecate didn’t fall very far before landing on hard ground. She lifted herself up, coughing from the change of air.

“That’s a strange set of clothes,” the woman looked her up and down, “Ma’am.”

“Of course,” Hecate said, “You see I’ve just arrived, and I need some new clothes.”

The woman’s eyes almost glossed over as she went to the hanging clothes and handed a set to her. It wasn’t nearly large enough, and still a bit wet, but it was a start, and it was an idea of how these people dressed.

“Thank you.”

She left before the woman could regain her mind.

“I won’t be here for long,” she told Earth, “Just until I can go back.”