“Apparently her light and mine . . . enjoy one another. As soon as I felt it shining - and oh I felt it shining – something in me tore out to meet it. I’d felt it before, when I got away from Yanta, but . . . only the once. At least, only once where it did anything like that. I’d felt something really bright in my mind before, but all it did was sit there like a lump.” Sarah, The Domina, me but not me, rubs the washcloth over her head. I laugh faintly as I watch.

That is definitely not the way I had imagined the test playing out. Now we have double the light and the Nesatealia have double the reason to take us down. If I were the sort that knew people to gamble with, I would hedge my bets on our side.

Thinking of that well before the final showdown, instead of when however I’m going to get out of it finally presents itself, feels really good.

“So while that test wasn’t perhaps the best way to examine Lucia’s ‘inner light’ at least we unlocked Sarah’s . . .” Lida smiles wryly before shaking her head. “We really don’t have the luxury of time to contemplate a second test. We don’t even have a perfect experiment between the five of us anyway, as none of us possesses the exact powers they’ll be up against. Now, we must find our way to the Nesatealia.”

Sarah and I both nod, but with a look between us she wisely chooses to let me speak. I can see it in her eyes. An understanding is there that I simply don’t know how to describe. “Yana should be where I left her. She’s not in the best shape, but she’ll help. I know she will.”

Olivia grins brightly, punching a glistening golden fist up into the air. “Yeah! Let’s swing down there and see if we can’t get the path out of her head! It’ll be in and out, and then off to heroism!”

I swallow hard before biting my lip. As much as I want to take Olivia along with us (because if there’s anyone to have with you in a fistfight it’s a girl with built-in brass knuckles), it means leaving Sylvia and Aurora either alone, or with only Valerie to protect them. As much as dealing with an enraged Amethyst is one of the very last ways I’d like to plan on spending my time, she’s not exactly invincible. Bringing our kids along sounds like an even worse idea.

Dropping them off with someone else is an even worse thought. Who else could we trust to be both willing and able to protect them? Pandora is a force to be reckoned with, but she’d have to get here. Nightshade might be able to, but who knows where she is. Jade’s not quite super enough. Mystic is good at fixing heads, but she doesn’t have the best track record with witches. Plus, field work really isn’t her thing.

Getting them out to Coredelia so Susan can take care of them would make them plenty happy enough, but Susan is normal as they come. Alyssa would seriously question my desire to work with The Domina. Do I even have any other friends?

A part of my mind suggests Dust, but I’m sure it’s the part that would like to stay behind. Huh, that’s an idea . . .

“Well, someone has to stay behind and look after the kids . . . so why don’t you and Valerie stay behind? They’ll likely know how we plan to find them, and it probably won’t be easy to pull off . . . would be the perfect time for them to swipe up the girls, huh?” Sarah’s voice sounds hopeful, but I have a better plan.

Olivia’s face turns into a very angry frown before she fires off a retort. At least she keeps her voice down so as not to make the girls cry. “No way. I’m not going to be left behind just because I was the one who gave birth to her! Don’t start telling ‘the women’ to sit tight and wait!”

Even I wince a little. “Does that make me a guy in your equation? But I agree . . . It might actually be a better idea for one of us Silver Girls to stay behind. When we go to Nesatealia Central it might be smarter if we bring everything we’ve got, but for now, well . . . Don’t you and Valerie still have a lot to catch up on? Don’t you want to spend some time with your daughter? I promise, I won’t let you down. I’ve gotten a lot better with my powers since I got them back for starters, and I was getting respectable without ‘em.”

I can see the conflict playing out so well in Sarah’s eyes as she stares at me, speechless. Even if nobody wants to admit it during a situation like this, she wants to go on an adventure. If she declines the offer to stay with Valerie she’s, well, declining the offer to stay with Valerie. This is a mean position to put her in, but this would make me feel safer and I haven’t gotten to do something like this with Olivia in forever.

At least it makes Olivia smile. I don’t know what we’re going to do when the time comes to take the “fight” to them. I really don’t think I can do it on my own, and Lida could likely help a lot, but . . .

Damn it, self. We’ve gone over this a million times. When there is a bad situation only getting worse the more time passes, we save these kind of discussions for later. We cross bridges when we come to them. There is absolutely no need for us to add complexity to the moment when circumstances could change.

“You’re right, Lucia . . . You’re right. Besides, Yana is likely more comfortable with the two of you. I’d just make a tense situation even worse.” Smiling with just the slightest edge of sadness, Sarah wraps her arms around Valerie who hugs her back with a sweetly melted passion. “You can trust me to protect Aurora. I won’t let anything happen to her . . . She is my niece, after all.”

Golden arms wrap around me as I return the favor with my own silver pair. “Thanks Sarah. No letting hormones distract you now! Think you can fit into your old Aureus uniform, ‘Liv?”

A metallic eyebrow raises as a matching set of eyes roll. “Might be a little tight in the bust, but I really don’t think you’ll mind. At least I still have a uniform.”

“Want a little help with that, Lucia?” Lida’s eyes twinkle in a rather knowing way. “I don’t generally use much of my magic for things like clothes, but I think I can make an exception. Silver Girl isn’t quite the same in jeans and a t-shirt, is she? I can wiggle my nose and conjure you up a new version of your old suit – the white one with the gray skirt and the shiny boots. It looked pretty cute on you in the pictures your mother kept around.”

“Hmmm . . . While that’s great and all, could we maybe tweak it a little? Maybe a shorter skirt . . . a lower neckline . . . Keep the shape of the top, just make it well, hang a little bit higher? I love that old uniform, but it got ruined. Might as well improve on the design a little . . .” A blush rises to my cheeks. My mind would quit bugging me if I didn’t suggest it.

Nodding, my witchy mother closes her eyes, and holding out her hand, wiggles her nose. She whispers something I don’t understand just under her breath, but I decide trying to analyze whatever that was isn’t worth the time. I might have to ask her.

Olivia pulls away from me to watch as my clothes glitter and sparkle. They flap about as if there’s a windstorm forming from my underwear, slowly melting from their current form into a much more stylish, skin-showing super heroine uniform.

The first thing to take shape is the skirt. It hugs lower on my body while also being much shorter compared to my last uniform, ending low enough on my thighs to count as a skirt, gray with a rim of white around the bottom. The shirt evolves into the same style of top, coming down to end in a ‘v’ in front but riding higher behind. Before the point came down barely over my belt, but now it ends just over my navel. Its neckline is far more flattering, showing my pendant just like my old Patina uniform. My shoes morph from black sneakers into the same white knee-high boots, jutting just far enough past for a stylish point.

After the last of those sparkles fade familiar long white gloves form over my arms, ending past my elbows in the same sharp points my boots and top share.

If I hadn’t asked for this from Lida, I would worry over how much she was doing this because I needed a uniform versus how much she wanted to see me in something skimpy. “Much better. Now that’s a uniform for a super heroine that isn’t jailbait anymore . . .”

Modesty simply isn’t a part of a super heroine’s wardrobe. Something about sex appeal makes a woman look more dangerous if she uses it right. At least it draws more attention.

“The only thing better than seeing that thing on you is going to be tearing it off. Dig the built-in bra, Lida.” Olivia pokes at my chest with a smug grin before wiggling her fingers. “So, I’ll get changed. Sar-Silver . . . come and grab your belt. We’ve got some witches to hunt, and nobody expects the LaSilvas Inquisition!”

We all share a laugh before I follow her along, practically salivating at the thought of seeing Olivia dressed up as Aureus again. You know what they say: the family that fights evil together, stays together. Well, nobody says that, but they would if they thought of it.

The drive to the Asylum was a lot quicker than I wanted it to be. Feeling Olivia pressed up against me on Sylvia again was even nicer than I remembered. She doesn’t even complain that I’m going to crash or get myself killed, but I guess she won’t hound me as much now that we know I can fly away from something like that. It’s almost disappointing.

Lida couldn’t quite fit on Sylvia with us, but that didn’t stop her from pulling a wooden-handle-straw-bristled broom out of thin air to ride all the way there. Even in Midas, seeing a woman in jeans blazing on a broom through the streets beside a silver Ducati looked odd.

No one was happy to see me back after the trouble last night. At least there was a lot of news coverage of Jesse Colloten’s attempted comeback. I don’t imagine many people would turn me down today.

Especially after the pictures of my ass get out . . .

So, now we just have to wait for them to bring out Yana. The table has enough room for all four of us, even if that does require two chairs more than usual. I know that she won’t be too shocked to see Olivia, but I really hope Lida doesn’t frighten her. Yana certainly knew enough about her, even if I didn’t get the impression they’d met.

“How much longer do you think that we’ll have to wait? I’m already a little nervous to be seeing a woman who used me as bait . . .” Olivia is a little impatient, but she has a point.

“Actually, she used you as an infection vector . . . But that’s splitting hairs. Usually she’s already here by now. I hope she’s all right. Last night didn’t exactly leave her feeling so good.” Understatement is something I think that I’ve gotten a lot better with over the years. “Maybe I should go ask what’s . . .”

Of course, as soon as I open my mouth, the door opens as the guards lead a very pale and shaky Yana into the room. Her eyes are red and puffy, and underneath, the dark circles are already trying to make a comeback. I don’t know how hair can be so emotive, but hers is frizzed and puffy in the perfect way to show supreme exhaustion with just the right level of being disturbed. Quillspawn being back in her mind, even for how short a time it was, must have been more traumatic than I thought.

Every step Yana takes seems uncertain. Knowing what her once alter-ego can do, I’m sure she’s wondering if the floor is real. Simply remembering the time she trapped me inside of my own head sends shivers down my spine.

She sits, but she doesn’t look up. The way she’s slouched makes her seem too heavy to hold up her own body weight. It’s as pitiful as it is somehow pretty. Maybe I’m a little more twisted than I give myself credit for. “Yana . . . I’m really sorry I had to come here today. If I had another choice, I would take it, but we’re kinda low on leads. The Nesatealia are trying to summon-”

“Red. I know. Quillspawn tried to hide it from me when she was inside of my head, but I felt it anyway. So much of her bled into me . . . I couldn’t sleep. I kept seeing flashes . . .” Her face falls into her hands as she leans forward.

“Possession by something like Quillspawn often has side effects undesired by both the host and the possessor. Silver Girl here told me I wouldn’t need to introduce myself.” Lida lowers her sunglasses down her nose, revealing her glittering silver eyes. “I don’t know why I insist on wearing the sunglasses anymore with my daughter’s reputation, but it’s an old habit . . .”

Yana slowly nods. “No need to introduce yourself, Lida LaSilvas. I did my research on you. We’re two of a kind, or we were. I guess Silver and I have more in common . . . but perhaps not.”

I don’t know why Lida pales, and now is not the time to ask. She pauses a lot longer than I’d like her to while I share a look of worried confusion with Olivia. “Perhaps not . . . Still, if you know the situation, then you know we have to stop Red. If she is aware of a way to snuff out Silver’s ability, or if she takes her children . . . Do you know how to reach where the ritual is taking place?”

Yana’s bright eyes slowly lock with Lida’s own as her hands pull away. There’s more going on between them than I know, and I don’t like that. Lida either hasn’t been entirely honest with me, or Yana hasn’t. Neither option makes me feel very good.

“We know there’s no love lost between you and the rest of your, well, family . . .” Olivia speaks up, sounding hopeful but unsure. “Sarah . . . Silver, has told me she believes that a part of you was trying to write us a happy ending, just like one of your old stories, that you might have dipped me in ink and dragged every last one of Sarah’s old friends into this short of the ones she just dealt with, but a part of you was actually trying to make us happier for it. I believe her. Just help us get there, and you can make sure that happy ending doesn’t change.”

I wish there were some way to put in my two cents without overwhelming her, but she already looks on the verge of it without me opening my big shiny mouth. This is happening because of me, after all. Not that I want Aurora to be who knows where as I kneel in front of The Lady with blonde hair, but she has to know Quillspawn would have left otherwise.

If The Domina had visited me the day after I lost my powers to Yanuka, I know I would have been pretty upset with her. It’s not the same thing, but it’s close.

Her pale lips form a weak smile, as she slowly nods. “I’d like to think that’s true too, Olivia. Even in my darker moments, I never wanted anyone hurt. I wanted to make a perfect world . . . Though a very indulgent one. If I could help you, I would, believe me. Silver has told me a lot about Aurora, and I felt a part of Sylvia inside of Valerie . . . The problem is, I can’t.”

“Can’t?” If there’s something I never thought I would hear from Yana, it’s “can’t.” She’s been very positively motivated ever since she got this second chance. I can understand her being a little down on herself, but this is different.

“Can’t. Quillspawn did something when she was inside of my mind. That’s why I know they’re trying to summon Red, but it’s also why I can’t . . .” She looks a little ashamed before looking from Lida’s eyes to mine.

Her look is not one I’m especially happy to see. She’s only had that look on her face a few times before. The first time I remember seeing it, though it was much worse then, was when I first visited her here. The second time was when she admitted to me that a small part of her still craved the life she’d lived as Quillspawn, turning her loyal fans into loyal slaves.

This time really can’t be much better.

“I haven’t been completely honest with you. When I lost my power, I only lost the ink. I didn’t lose my magic. I’ve still been scrying using the mirror in my bathroom, I work a little here and there, just to make things easier . . . but I thought if anyone knew I’d lose this chance you gave me.” The blonde writer’s voice sounds more full of shame than I ever would have imagined hearing from the same woman who told me she’d taken over the minds of just about every friend I had.

That information actually makes me more impressed with her. Some of that magic must be able to help her escape or twist the guards or doctors around, but she’s restrained herself. “Yana, that’s actually . . . impressive. That’s really amazing! I can only imagine how hard that would be to keep in check . . .”

Yana’s expression brightens instantly. It’s good to know that even in the worst of situations I’m still good at cheering up a kindred spirit. I still wonder why she would be more like Lida than me. Lida might have black hair instead of silver, but I’m the one with the silver, well, everything. She must mean something else.

“It has been. Oh goddess it has. But, when Quillspawn entered my mind she sealed that off. It’s part of why I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t do my nightly ritual to make sure everyone was okay . . .” It’s amazing just how truly caring she is under the egotistical façade she wore before. With her true self really being this vulnerable it makes even more sense why she had to create that darker part of herself. It doesn’t make it okay, but at least it makes sense. “If I could I would just tell Lida how to work the magic herself . . . but only a Nesatealia can open the portal.”

“Which you are, acknowledged by your mother or not . . .” Damn. It’s nice to know that if Yana were holding out on me it only makes her recovery more impressive, but it would be even nicer to know that this plan could go the way we were hoping for.

The best laid plans of supers and witches, I guess. I know that’s not how the saying goes, but it’s the only way to make it fit the current situation. Waiting for them to show up doesn’t sound like a good fallback plan. There are still a few more people I could try to get a hold of, but who knows what this Red is capable of. Their own backup would be at least as impressive to boot.

Yanuka alone would be dangerous enough. Knowing that The Domina never broke away from their control is depressing on its own. Knowing that The Domina was already enthralled to them does make me feel a lot less guilty about abandoning her.

Lida leans forward, tenting her fingers, and Olivia looks a little nervous. She’d probably not especially happy about Yana’s powers not being quite as gone as we thought. She’s probably also as disappointed as I am. She’s a lot quieter than she used to be when we were out dealing with, well . . . there were never any situations like this . . . but similar. Either Aurora changed her more than I thought, or I’ve missed something.

She always has been quieter during serious situations. Maybe she feels out of place. She handles them well enough . . . There’s likely still more from yesterday we need to discuss.

“Unlocking the seal that Quillspawn placed over your memories and magical powers won’t be too difficult. Sadly, just from a token attempt to sense it I can tell her ink is stronger than my magic, or my light.” Lida holds up a fingertip, and pops a small spark out. It isn’t only smaller than one of mine, it’s also not as bright. It doesn’t look dim or powerless by any means, but I know who would win in a spark fight. “But, we happen to have the light bearer herself with us today. If she can’t cut through the shroud Quillspawn pulled over your mind, no one can.”

“Wait? Me? I know that I have this new special mind-control-be-gone light inside of my head, well a new ability to use it, but I don’t know how to use it on anyone else . . . and magic? Heck, when I can cook without making a mess I’ll try to learn a spell or two.” Olivia nods, laughing a bit too loudly for my taste when I look to her for backup.

Of course, she has to do more than laugh. Seeming a little relaxed by the chance to insert a bit of humor, Olivia’s voice rings out happily. I’m glad to hear it. “She really does have a point on the cooking . . . but no one ever taught her how to use her sparks and she uses them great. Some people gave her advice on how to use them better, but still. She has a pretty innate talent for those lights without a bulb . . . If she just has to learn some new way to use them, I’m sure she can do it.”

The metal eye I recovered from the book Yanuka had me burn makes my belt feel heavy. Something about it felt important, so I’ve kept it around. I’ll have to ask Lida if she has any clue what it could be used for, even if the book burning might upset her a little.

“Exactly what it would be, Olivia. Do you remember when I put a light into the glass of water, or when I held your temples and drew out your memories of . . . well, at the time, The Domina Argenti?” I nod and Lida smiles a little more. “It’s actually quite simple. You’ll just place your hands on her head, gently create a link between your light and her mind, and allow yourself to go with the feeling . . .”

“What about the words you muttered, or the water, or your hand placement . . .? If it were that easy, couldn’t anyone do it?” I feel like a five year old debating why you always carry a one instead of the five.

Lida’s expression looks much the same as the parent in that situation. Her eyes are warm with understanding, though at the same time though I can also see the small part of her that must be wondering why I even have to ask. Hopefully I’ll be able to hide that when Aurora asks. “The words come out on their own when you focus. It’s a mystery how it works, and why it doesn’t work for everyone, but that’s how it is. You can spend your life researching why a LaSilvas can do it and a Smith can’t – I’m more than happy just to enjoy it.”

Before Valerie told me about the extra chamber in my chest, I felt the same way about my sparks. There was a passing curiosity, sure, but for the most part I was just happy to enjoy it. I could make light! I could make myself feel good, though I worried about the long term effects on others it didn’t bother me much to use it on my self time to time . . .

“Well . . . I can try to cut through it . . . but only if you feel comfortable, Yana. This will be my first time working my power like this, so I can understand if you would be hesitant to give me a chance. Wouldn’t want to just make it worse.” Even if this is the only way, it is her choice.

Taking that choice from her would put me a lot closer to being exactly the sort of person I’m trying to stop. I’m not big on that sort of thing.

Instead of looking even the least bit worried, Yana smiles and slowly nods. “Go ahead. You gave me a big chance trying to help me, and you’re not even upset that I kept that from you . . . You might be a little inexperienced with magic, but there’s an unquestionable goodness about you that makes it pretty impossible not to trust you.” She leans her head forward, and taking a deep breath. “Besides, I don’t feel right with the seal inside of me . . . and if you’re the one who can break it . . .”

Snapping all of my fingers, I slowly hold them out, taking a deep, slow breath. This isn’t going to be like when Yana gave me a taste of having her ink. This isn’t going to be like sparking someone, or even like with The Domina. I’ll be going into her mind to find those parts of her that are locked away, and unsealing them.

It might only be me, but this feels like cutting into Mystic’s shtick. Maybe I won’t need to knock on her door all the time anymore. Then again, unsealing a mind and healing damage done are very different things.

Gold lips press to my ear and I shiver at the sound of the prettiest voice in the whole world. “You can do it, Lucia . . . Just focus, and believe in yourself like I always have.”

After I take a moment to catch my breath, I nod and gently slide my fingers along her temples before closing my eyes. I just have to focus, and have faith in myself. Carefully, I form as small of a spark as I can from each of my fingertips before very slowly pushing them past her skin.

I’ve always been able to feel the motion of my sparks, and feel when they hit home, but this is a different feeling. I can feel my lips move, but it’s hard to hear the words they’re making. It’s easier to focus on Yana. It’s easier to feel the strange sensation of my current meeting another. It’s a softer, gentler feeling, like when skin strokes silk, only it’s ethereal. It has to be the feeling of her mind, of her thoughts.

Everyone’s mind is just electrical impulses. This must be how it feels to connect to them using my silver. I can feel her own current shudder at the introduction of mine; it feels exactly like how a woman’s body shudders when awakened by the feeling of your hand sliding slowly along her thigh.

She doesn’t try to resist, and I can see images melting across her mind. Flashes, flashes of how it looked to watch me shudder as her ink had covered my body, as it slid into me, trapping me in that silver bubble. Only it . . . she didn’t make the bubble. I force her thoughts to focus on it, seeing my body twitch and shake, curves so well defined by the slick glistening ink, and . . . she didn’t make that illusion. She didn’t create that world inside of my thoughts . . . I did.

That’s not important, but she seems unusually fascinated with that memory. Maybe it’s the symmetry, her power melting into me, and now my power melting into her . . . but I can feel the arousal it forces through her body, and how hard it is for her to keep her composure around me. I can feel the desire that surges inside of her, the craving for my current to override hers, to switch it off . . .

As bad as it would be, and as tempting as it is to just turn her mind off forever and let her live out that fantasy of being enslaved to my silver as much as she was to her own ink . . . she knows I can’t. I know I can’t. But that doesn’t mean I can’t do it just for a little while.

Like pulling a plug, I feel my fingers curl ever so slightly as my silver wraps around her thoughts, around the electrical impulses that let her make her choices, that let her do anything at all; careful to allow the undercurrent that keeps her alive, I pull.

She moans, and I can feel it inside of my own head. I can feel it in my own thighs as hers clench as she whimpers, lips quivering in helpless pleasure at the release from consciousness. It’s been so long since she hasn’t had to think, just been able to float while being cared for by something else. The feeling is something she’s missed so much. Losing control of everything, losing her ability to have any kind of control, it’s more than soothing, more than sexual, it’s everything she could ask for.

Carefully, I shift my focus, and plug my energy in where hers used to go. She gasps again, a sharp, desperate gasp, and I can feel her senses alive with pleasure and arousal. This does feel a lot like her ink now, but it’s different. I had to ooze myself over a mind with the ink, but with this, I’m just . . . connected. I’m a part of her, a controlling part, but bound to her.

She must be able to feel my own thoughts, my own delight in her mind’s easy acceptance of my control taking hold. Her thighs rub together on their own as she whimpers again. Oh, it would help if I stopped accidentally channeling energy right into her libido and instead tried to find this seal.

Maybe just a little . . .

Buried past more flashes of memory, memory of ink oozing through her to and make her speak words she’d never thought before, is an inky swamp. Not exactly a swamp, more of a puddle, but it’s soaked right into these very specific memories. Every part of her mind close to them makes flashes of her about to do something mystical flash into my mind. Standing in front of a mirror, watching a girl with a short skirt on a windless day, seeing Yanuka.

Every thought of Yanuka burns the same way the thoughts of me burn. Such a deep yearning sears inside of her for her mother, for acceptance, for closeness, for . . . her touch. They shared something . . . it’s hard to feel, to see it, but I can try to grasp the feelings, force her to obey, to tell me, but it’s hidden.

Like Lida and I, they shared something . . . only Yanuka took it further, didn’t tell her they were blood, just let her know they were the same. She dripped ink over her body like wax and let it harden, let it knead, let it drip between her thighs to make her eyes flutter up behind her lids. She’d kissed her, forcing ink into her mouth, sealing this and that, whispering words she can barely remember . . .

She’d made love to her daughter, sealing up everything but what she wanted, and Yana had loved it. It had felt so good to be touched and sealed so tightly, to be trapped into only thinking in certain ways, to feel herself half gone, locked away, to not feel the burden of her overactive mind.

Then she’d stopped, she’d stopped touching her . . . stopped, then told her everything, told her of her birthright . . . left Yana alone . . .

My sparks grow brighter as the ink tries to wrap around me. It feels like the ink must have felt to Yana as it coats me, and I try so hard not to shudder. My light reaches through the silver current, tracing a path into that ink, slowly melting it away. Like thoughts being sparked away, consciousness being burned away forever, a part of Quillspawn melts away as the ink slowly dries and cracks, breaking away fading into dust.

Everything feels so bright, so hard to focus on or think of, but I can feel the ink is gone. I can feel the memories there. I can see what Yana saw in the mirror, feel the power she used to blow up that girl’s skirt as she was surprised to see the racy lace panties underneath that she’d written into her next story. Everything floods, hitting me before I remember just how complete my control of her mind is with her turned off.

Carefully, I pull myself away from those memories. All of them are too strong, too private, too intimate. She whimpers at the loss of my presence in that tender section of her mind, crying out again when I find where to restart the current of her mind.

“N-no . . . Don’t . . . Keep it off . . . Don’t . . . Don’t let me think . . . Too dangerous, too hard . . . hurts too much to think, to be free . . . Don’t . . .” Her voice chokes out, strangled and helpless. It sounds as choked by arousal and need as by fear, but I stroke my current over the part of her mind that makes her eyes hood and her body melt, feeling heat pulse all through her, and we both sigh in tune as she slumps even farther forward.

With a painful slowness, I withdraw myself from her mind as her current returns. The world is so much darker without my light, without my silver current as an illumination source brighter than the sun. It feels so strange to feel solid, to feel in my own body instead of sharing two, to . . .

“Lucia, are you okay . . .?” Lida’s voice sounds like a far away whisper, a tender, loving sound. I smile in a dreamy daze as I nod.

“Never . . . never better . . .” My hands fall away from the sides of her head, as my face meets the table. The world is a lot darker without any light at all.