“You have . . . until my patience snaps . . . to explain to me why I shouldn’t slam the door in your face. And if you, me - Domina, whoever the hell you are - if you so much as twitch in a sparkly way, I stop listening. I close the door, and if you try to stop me, I will kick your ass. And you, Lida . . . Mother . . .” My hands clench into fists. My eyes are starting to fill with tears. I hate this feeling. “You owe Susan an explanation, too.”

Lida stares at me, letting her mouth fall open just a little. A faint glimmer of light was sparkling in her eyes, but now it’s gone. “Lucia . . . Sarah, please, listen to me little one. Things are not as they seem, and this is very much on purpose. If there were less misdirection, then I do not believe either of us would be here. There is much I did not feel the time was right to tell, but my hand is now forced.”

If only she knew just how much I want to be gullible enough to instantly believe everything she has to say. Believing just anything led me into The Lady’s hands. Believing people’s sincerity led me to leave Dust alone with my family.

Those are only recent examples.

“I didn’t give you a time period, or an amount of words. You are trying my patience and my intellect by acting as if I should just trust you. Either of you. Last I saw you . . .” I point a finger at The Domina, who pales in a way that is far too familiar to mirrors and almost a little scary to see outside of one. “I had to stop you from sparking the whole damned world with a space station. Last time I saw you? Mommy dearest?” I move the finger to point at her, making the tip of my finger glisten just enough to see. “You called me a traitor, and you sided with the aforementioned bitch. Am I forgetting something?”

Neither of them bother to respond. Good. At least they’ve got common sense, if nothing else. I don’t like having me in front of me. I know all of my tells, or at least I like to think I do. The way she’s shifting her footing is how I do when I’m sure that I’m going to be misinterpreted. Then again, if she knows that too, then the believability is off.

I only notice Olivia stepping closer because Aurora is making some rather adorable sounds. I want to tell her to get Aurora into her crib to protect her from whatever they have in mind; though for whatever reason I don’t have the heart. Maybe I want to see how they’ll react. I’m not sure.

Lida’s lips keep moving as if she’s trying to speak, but the right words won’t come. Her silver eyes sparkle faintly for a moment, perhaps with a tear. It looks too dim to be a spark. I wish I could just hug her. It would be so much easier.

It’s up to me to break the silence. Aurora is trying, but none of us understand what she has to say – a shame since she seems like one insightful baby. “I want to believe you, Lida. I want to believe that even The Domina can get better, because you know, she’s me. Yesterday? I jumped out of a window to save The Lady’s life after she failed to take mine. But Lida? You didn’t just hurt me. You abandoned Susan. Again.”

There’s nothing more along those lines for me to say. I don’t want to guilt her. I don’t want to guilt either of them, or anyone. I don’t like hurting people’s feelings even when it needs to be done, but I am not about to let two very dangerous women into my apartment, with my baby, without a good reason. No one gets a freebie like that again.

“Don’t tell me I’m young and naive. Tell me your reasons, and do it in this hallway. I have a job you know, and I’m not going to miss it just because two unexpected, and frankly, unwanted blasts from the past show up at my door. You are going to tell me why I should risk Aurora and Olivia. Quickly.” Quite satisfied that I’ve gotten my point across, I cross my arms over my chest and sigh. “For your sake.”

“Fine. If you will listen to nothing else, I have no real choice if I have any hope of real communication . . .” Lida sighs, making direct eye contact. “The Domina as you call her was not acting wholly of her own accord on the space station. Yes, they were her desires, and her actions, but a small gift had been left in her mind even before she traveled back to send those mercenaries after you.

“This seed had grown all through her mind, and using the same pathways she had developed under the control of The Lady, they sculpted her memory and her desires until she was their creature. It had a limited range, however, and all it could do was send her after you, and if that failed, a backup plan would initiate wherein she would use associates from her previous life under The Lady’s wing to hand the world to the Nesatealia.” She pauses only long enough to cough and slide her glasses back onto her face. Maybe she’s hiding behind them, or maybe she’s trying to use them as protection.

When she speaks anew her voice is just as solemn, somber, and apologetic. “She was freed of this when you bombarded her with an assault of silver, but you were at the time infected by a spell of Yanuka’s making. I had to heal Lucia . . . The Domina . . . while having you and your mother ignorant of the greater circumstances, or you would never have regained your hue. If the Nesatealia believed that we were still on good terms and that I could restore The Domina, Susan would be a husk. Is that good enough?”

It’s a convenient explanation. There are no holes in her story, if only because I have no way to verify them and my information on the subject is not the best. It fits with what I know of the Nesatealia and it would explain Quillspawn’s not-so-cryptic-or-specific warning.

As long as the seed in her mind kept it fun for her, kept it invigorating and only promised to give her more of what she truly wanted and needed, then I don’t think her light would be able to shine it away. The Domina even made her own excuses for what she was doing. I have no doubt that no matter what was done to her she is not wholly innocent, but am I?

Given the chance, I wouldn’t have cast The Domina into space. Likely, I would have tried to find a way to pull her back. I might have even brought her to Lida, especially knowing she has a daughter, had a daughter due at the time . . .

Most of all, I do know that Yanuka had something inside of me. She likely only got rid of it to elevate her position in my eyes. Quillspawn made it painfully obvious when she drew out all of her ink. It gave Yanuka an excuse to make me trust her. I didn’t have to burn that book just because she wanted me to, even it was part of our agreement. Maybe there was something very special in there that she didn’t want Lida finding.

The remaining piece of metal, the eye, I kept. Maybe Lida will know something more. Slowly turning, I look into Olivia’s eyes hoping to find them cold and empty of compassion or understanding. If she told me to turn them away I wouldn’t be able to refuse her. Right now, that’s all I want.

She doesn’t give it to me. She sadly shakes her head, and kisses Aurora’s. She believes them as much as I do. None of my usual paranoia flares up, only annoyance and heartache. It figures.

My own voice starts to speak, and it doesn’t come from my lips. It sounds just as sad as I feel, but it doesn’t come from me. “Please, try to understand . . . I know I can’t just say I was controlled, forgive me, forget what I did, but I have a daughter too. She’s growing up without me, even if she hasn’t gotten much of a chance to grow up yet. It kills me to know that I did to Sylvia what Lida did to us. It’s asking a lot of you for you to even listen to us, especially me, but it’s the truth. Trust me, with a situation this ridiculous, I’d really love to lie to make it easier.”

Why does she have to use the logic I would use? It’s too much to assume they’re lying, or that if they are it’s in a way I could guess. “I’m not sure I believe you in the least, but it feels selfish to refuse out of fear. Aurora deserves to know her grandmother. I deserve to have my mother back. Susan deserves to hear from her lover again . . . So the two of you get to come in. I’ll call in sick to work, but I expect . . . I expect more. More than just this. This, is just a beginning.”

Lida sniffles as she throws her arms around me. I’ve spent over a year being so angry with her, but I still hug her back. I don’t do it for her sake, though; I do it for mine. If this chance gives me back the mother I thought I gained after I lost Chronos . . . the risk will be worth it.

“Thank you, my sweet daughter, my . . . Sarah. I know you prefer it to Lucia, and I’ve been calling her Lucia since I was able to help her think clearly enough to understand the concept of having a name . . . So it will make it easier for all of us in the long run anyway . . .” I try to rock her soothingly as she cries, shaking against me. She made me feel so much better, maybe that wasn’t an act. I really don’t want it to be.

“All right . . . As long as she doesn’t mind me being called Sarah, I can call her Lucia. I used the name for a while, but it was always an alias. I was always Sarah underneath . . .” A part of me wants to spark her, stroke her hair and spark away her mind to get a truly honest answer, but that feels wrong.

Olivia surprises me a little by stepping beside me, holding Aurora up in an offering way. “You should meet one of your granddaughters, Lida . . . I know we never really met, but Sarah told me about you. I don’t trust you yet, but Aurora isn’t afraid of you. She’s a lot calmer than she ever is around new people. She’s almost acting as if she recognizes you. I might not trust you, but I trust her.”

Aurora really does look happy to see Lida. For a moment, I worried she might be confusing The Domina with me, that she was happy to see who she thought was me, but she’s ignoring both of us Sarahs. Lucias. Whoever we are. She didn’t exactly panic over Dust, but she wasn’t happy to see her either.

She, hopefully, is a better judge of strangers than her mother.

“She’s so beautiful . . .” Lida’s arms fall away from me as she stares down at my daughter. Her eyes look worshipful, adoring, more than sincere. “She has your eyes, Sarah.”

She has “Lucia’s” eyes too. I guess Sylvia would be the one with her eyes, but they’re my eyes too. Goddess, this is the last thing in the whole world that I needed after yesterday. “Thanks Mom . . . So . . . Yeah. No use standing in the doorway. Come on in, take a seat.” I kiss Aurora’s head before leading the way over to the couch. “But I still wouldn’t try anything sparkly. Not in the mood for it.”

“Think I am? It’s not exactly fun to be judged by a version of yourself who has managed her life a lot better than you have. Sparking you up would be a very hollow victory, as much fun as it might have the potential to be.” Her honesty does make me trust her a little more, but she’s still The Domina.

It’s going to take a lot more than a good story to convince me they’re both on the straight and narrow. Lida invented that rod. Self-redemption is a lot harder than it sounds. I don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to fall off the heroine wagon . . .

Since we really don’t entertain guests very often, we only have a couch and chair in the living room. They’re more than comfortable, conveniently providing precisely four places to sit. Whenever we have more people over, we have to grab a chair from the kitchen table or a folding chair from one of the closets. In this instance, Olivia takes the chair, still cradling Aurora to her chest, while I sit on the side of the couch closest to her. Lida sits beside me, and Lucia sits beside her.

Looking at Lucia, The Domina . . . It’s so disturbing. It’s worse knowing that Valerie has been calling her “my Sarah” for as long as she’s been gone. If it wouldn’t be confusing, I’d tell her to keep that name.

No time for that. This is business. I didn’t let Lida in to meet Aurora. I want her to have as little to do with her as possible until I’m sure she’s safe.

“Well, let’s get down to business. The D-Lucia is all back to norm. . . You know what? I think it might be better if we swapped names. I know it’s a ridiculous thing to start making a fuss about, but it’s going to be bugging me. Olivia is enough used to calling me Lucia. I chose the name for a while. Domina, you get to use Sarah until something works better. See, I’m willing to make some concessions. I want you to be honest. Really.” Olivia nods at me, smiling supportively. “So . . . Sarah, you’re back to normal. No world-conquering desires. Lida, you’re . . . back. Why now? Why not sooner? Why not later?”

“Well, you might have helped fry the Nesatealia out of me, Lucia . . . but you fried a lot more out of me too. Remember what we did to Yanta?” Remembering it as if it were yesterday, I nod. “Well you damned near did the same thing to me. It took a while to screw my head back on straight.”

Having a conversation with myself is so bizarre. I talk, she talks, and only one voice monopolizes the conversation. “You had some really bad timing. Some really, really bad timing.”

Sarah smiles apologetically, but it doesn’t make me feel much better. “Mom could probably make it sound less hokey . . . Although we did spend some time afterwards helping my mind do more than just stabilize. We had to fix the false memory problem, help me regain control of my powers again . . . and she taught me a few more tricks. She was going to help me master more of our abilities, but . . . well . . .”

“The Nesatealia have forced our hand. If we don’t do something to stop them, and soon, there will be no stopping them.” Lida’s voice was serious earlier, but it was laced with sadness. Now, it’s laced with frustration. “For a long time, they’ve been content just to play. Something made them change their mind. Yesterday, they began the summoning.”

“The summoning?” Olivia sounds particularly unhappy when she asks. She’ only had to deal with one of those witches, but that’s three too many. Having your mind rewritten to betray the woman you love is not a fun feeling. “What are they trying to summon?”

With a deep sigh, Lida sinks her face into her hands. Maybe it’s stupid to believe them this quickly, but it feels legit. It feels too horrible for it not to be true. “They aren’t simply trying. She will be more than happy to come. They are summoning the woman whose machinations have made them what they are. She is their mother, their beginning. Some call her Nesatealia. Some, simply refer to her as ‘Red.’ For some reason they felt that a power had emerged that had the possibility to resist them.”

Ouch. I stare into Olivia’s eyes as she stares back into mine. My ability to burn away mental control could be more than dangerous. The Domina probably never learned how to use it on command. We both used it to get away from Yanta, but that was the same as breathing. We didn’t know how.

If they were able to sense my ability they would definitely see it as a threat. Quillspawn likely chose that time to manifest as an attempt to scare me away. Otherwise, why not sooner?

“So let me guess . . . We have to stop them from summoning her if at all possible, and if that fails . . . we need to stop this ‘Red.’ Does that sound about right?” Olivia tenses when I speak, and I mouth a quick ‘sorry’ to her. I’ve told her everything I could about Yanta and Yanuka, and the women that tried to poison my mind before I was even born. They had legitimate reason to go after Lida, but they didn’t have reason to go after me.

“Yes. They prey on the weak and defenseless, and if one has finally gained the power to stand up against them . . . They must be convinced that now is the time. We must find this person, and explain to them our plight. My dear Lucia . . . I would not ask for your help in this matter if I did not believe it necessary. Sarah and I are not enough to do much good. My resources are exhausted, and my reputation does not inspire confidence. You’re the only one I can turn to, and I know you have plenty of reasons not to believe me, but . . .” My silver-eyed mother motions her hands to show her loss for words before letting them fall limp over her legs.

This is an absolutely dreadful situation. If Aurora and Sylvia have inherited our ability to resist mental control, they’re in as much danger as I am. The Domina can’t be especially safe, either. If I can learn to harness it, so can she. I don’t doubt they’ll reach the same conclusion.

Olivia won’t be safe. Valerie won’t be safe. Mystic has felt my mind before, and she might have even vaguely sensed it in the back of my mind. Yana is likely in danger too.

Yanta alone had so many women fried and kept for her own sick amusement. Yanuka only seems to care about special cases, but I’m sure she still has quite a few. If I don’t go after them, they’ll be coming after me. If they can’t find a way to tear this ability from me, or destroy it, I’m sure they’ll have as much problem with snuffing it out as Jesse did.

It looks like I was signed up for this adventure long before anyone came to my door.

“Mom . . . There’s a lot we need to discuss. I think that the woman they’re looking for is a lot closer than you might think . . . but Sarah, before this goes any further, there is a woman who has been needing to see you for far too long.” Her eyes light up like silver Christmas tree bulbs, and I don’t think she even realizes it. Do my eyes glow when I get excited? I wonder . . . “I’m going to call Valerie, tell her to bring over Sylvia. We all need to be together for this . . . We just might need to call in every last favor we have.” My cheeks burn and with a laugh I turn to Olivia. “If that’s okay with you?”

“Sar-Lucia, if you weren’t doing this, I think I would have to hurt you, and not gently.” Olivia grins ear to ear. “Sounds like you might even need Aureus, huh? Maybe we should call up Pandora.”

I shake my head as I walk over to grab up the phone. My smile feels like it’s going to hurt. My mother really needs my help, and everything bad that’s happened between us could be on the straight and narrow. There’s likely more that I don’t know, but that can be dealt with later. “Pan’s got her own situations to deal with. There’s still some fallout from the situation with Alandra . . . If we need her, we can count on her, but I’d rather not pull her in yet. The five of us is a good start, right?”

They nod, and I dial up Valerie’s number. It rings once, then twice, but she catches it just before the third ring. “Hello . . . Sarah? I saw the news! Are you okay? Is everything okay? You should have called me sooner!”

Oh, right. I did sort of forget to call her up to tell her it was safe, didn’t I? The news must have made that much obvious, but still. “Hey! I’m fine . . . Sorry about that. Hooray for caller ID by the way. Things aren’t quite perfect yet, but there is another woman named Sarah over here that you’ll be very, very excited to see again. Think you could grab up Sylvia and hurry over?”

“D-don’t joke with me about this! Is it . . . is she there . . .?” I can hear the tears hanging from her voice. “Is it . . . is it my Sarah?”

“Yes. I swear, I would never joke about this. How quick do you think you ca-“ She hangs up, and I can imagine it’s because she’s in a rush. “She’ll be here quick as she can. You have a daughter to meet, and she is the most adorable little girl in the world, second to Aurora anyway . . .

“And yes, I am trusting the two of you. I am putting my faith in you, that someone who was me could be led astray, could be driven a little off the deep end by the loss of The Lady, and then be recovered. I believe that a woman who made a rod able to twist a woman’s mind around a single word can realize what she’s done and become a bigger person for it. Please, Mom. . . Sarah . . . don’t let me down.” I close my eyes and take a very, very deep breath. “Now, I need to bring the two of you up to speed on current events . . .”