The sandstone walls of the two-story home almost seemed to glow in the afternoon light, soaking in the rays of the bending sun before the shadows of the neighboring homes could creep in. The air outside of the home was peaceful–save for the occasional puff of smoke in the front garden. The young woman crouching in the grass continually plucked dandelions from the ground, only to catch them on fire with a smouldering gaze.

Inside the home, a woman in a purple patterned dress and a golden sash across her chest sighed as she turned from the window. She walked across the foyer; a tall room that spanned both stories and allowed the second floor to look out at the front door below. On the ground, surrounded by off-white tile, was a wide woven rug in a variety of blues and greens.

“We have to go through with this, Rhas,” she stepped up to a man in a dark blue tunic with her head bowed. 

“I know, Soleil,” Rhas’ voice was low. His arms were tucked stiffly against his sides and his hands clasped together at the golden cloth tied at his waist.

“There are only so many young men left whose families would bother to accept her, and the Sanborns are willing.” Soleil’s fingers reached up to her shoulder to brush through her long brown hair. Her short, curled bangs, on the other hand, were stark white upon her forehead–the tell-tale mark of an Aravasti. “They even have a younger son who could be a great match for Polara when she comes of age.”

“I understand, but…” the tall man sighed through the rest of his statement. He set a hand on his forehead between strands of white hair that covered the crown of his head. The rest of his hair was short and dark. “I just fear the same thing will happen again.” 

“Yes; I would hate to lose the Sanborn’s trust.” The woman’s eyes returned to his. “But this is a risk we must take; one we will have to continue to take until she finally realizes–”

The front door creaked open, causing both to fall silent and guarded as they watched a figure step in from the clouded light outside.

The older woman was dressed in a dull gray dress topped with a red shawl. She adjusted her glasses as the door shut behind her. “Talking about my granddaughter, I see?” She offered almost sarcastically.

“Antonia,” Soleil blinked. She and Rhas glanced at each other before Rhas stepped forward and Soleil awkwardly turned away. 

“What makes you think that?” the man tried.

Antonia cocked an eyebrow. “I met Gemini on the way in. She said you had sent her outside so you could talk in private. I filled in the gaps.”

Rhas sighed. “We’ve made another match for her.”

“So soon? You know she will decline.”

“Mother,” Rhas bit his lip, “Gemini is already well past the age of marriage. We’ve allowed her all the time we could–but now, her time is up. She must realize it’s time to accept a match!“

Antonia shook her head. “She’s not going to.”

Soleil locked eyes with her mother-in-law, only to exhale and redirect her gaze to the hallway.

Rhas held out his hands, tugging the sleeves of his tunic. “So, you expect us to give up? To leave Gemini to her own... whims,” he searched for the word, “and remain unmarried?”

“She is far from the first Aravasti woman to push marriage aside,” Antonia’s white curls contrasted the deep tan of her skin, and they brushed across her forehead as she rolled her head. “While it is indeed customary, the matchmaking process is not a requirement.”

“But, it is a way to ensure our daughter will be taken care of outside of our home!” Soleil, at last, returned to the conversation as she stepped in behind Rhas’ shoulder. “We are doing this to help her!”

“And you believe if isn’t matched now, she will never have another chance?” Antonia raised an eyebrow.

“If she isn’t matched now, there will not be any young men left!” Soleil tried again. “We can’t exactly barter when we have an Igne to marry off.”

Antonia narrowed her eyes. “You speak as though your daughter is nothing more than an unwanted trinket.”

The woman stiffened as her husband’s eyes bulged in shock. “We simply do not wish to keep her somewhere she clearly does not want to be,” she clarified with a hint of contempt in her voice.

“I do wonder why she feels that way.” Antonia, on the other hand, did little to hide her sarcasm.

Soleil was noticeably distressed as she deflected her gaze to her husband. 

He again took another step forward to shield her. “Mother, we are Gemini’s parents, and we will decide who and when she marries. Every Aravasti should be matched at the age of twenty–no matter their power, and we’ve given Gemini a full year beyond to accept this!“ Rhas huffed out half a laugh as he shrugged his shoulders. “I agree with Soleil–by the time Gemini decides she’s ready, where are we supposed to find a single man her age?”

“You never know where travel may bring her to–”

“So, if she were in your care, you would allow her to continue to bend and break our customs?“ Soleil heatedly interrupted the older woman. “You would allow her to forgo marriage? You would allow her to end her line??”

Antonia threw up her hands and snapped, “Why would she wish to continue a line she is constantly told is worthless??”

Silence smothered the air from the foyer. It lingered far longer than any of the three wished it to, but no one knew how to break through the heaviness and continue.

The clicking of a doorknob upstairs broke the standoff.

“Grandmama, is that you?” The lithe form of a teenage girl appeared on the landing that overlooked the foyer. Her light brown hair was long, reaching to the middle of her back. Her long bangs were white as she idly tucked one side behind her ear.

The older woman looked up, but she was eclipsed by her much taller son when he turned around.

“Polara, could you please go back into your room? We’re discussing important family matters,” he nodded.

Polara’s face fell. “But... I was going to play chess with Mama Antonia.” She attempted to bend her neck to see over her father’s shoulder, but when she met his stern eyes, she bowed out and returned to her room. The doorknob again closed with a click.

“Believe me,” Antonia began once Rhas turned back around. “I am grateful daily you did not have to grow up with the stigma of being an Igne,“ her voice was soft, and yet piercing. “However, I was hopeful you would understand what your daughter is going through because of the power she was born with, considering your mother was born the same way,” she raised her green eyes to meet her son’s. “Clearly, living under your wife’s influence has left you unable to.”

Soleil heatedly dropped her eyes to the floor. Rhas remained muted and still.

“Neither of you can’t seem to realize: the reason your daughter is bending and breaking customs is because she sees no point in following them. The second her power was revealed to be Igne, everything changed for her. It doesn’t matter what she does–she is still treated with contempt!“

“Thank you, Mother,” Rhas growled and corralled his wife with his arm.

Antonia took a step closer when the two tried to bypass her to get to the door. “And I hope you realize she is torn between desperately wishing to make you proud of her and knowing that she never can!“

“Thank you, Mother!” He repeated louder, stiffening as he loomed over the much shorter woman.

Antonia’s mouth closed in a frown, but she did not move or look away.

Instead, Rhas and Soleil exited the house, leaving Antonia Inova alone on the woven rug in the foyer.

– 

“Gemini,” Rhas called to the young woman at the edge of the sandstone house. “It’s time to go.”

Gemini turned toward her parents, holding a dandelion in her hand. She was dressed in a black tunic over tan pants and a blue scarf tied at her waist. Her head was crowned with white hair, while shoulder-length brown hair spilled out from beneath it.

She blew the dandelion seeds toward her parents–only for them to spontaneously combust into a flurry of embers.

Soleil darted forward and grabbed Gemini by the hand, crushing the dandelion’s stem in the process. “Stop doing that.” Her words were stern and bitter.

Gemini remained largely blank-faced as her mother released her and started down the path to the street. She eyed her father through her blue-rimmed glasses as he waved her on.

“I told you to dress nicely; is that the best you could do?” Soleil called without turning around.

“Does it matter?” Gemini huffed as she followed behind them. “What are we even doing, anyway?”

The question was never answered as the three continued down the street in silence. They turned corners, walked across a foot bridge, and started down a hill to approach the village square.

Gemini’s footing began to slow. “Wait a minute,” she muttered, noticing another family standing beside the great stone fountain. “No–no, this is not another matchmaking–”

“Gemini,“ her father was quick to take her by the shoulders. His tall form bent toward her as his voice was low enough so that only she could hear. “Please, just give him a chance. I know you don’t want to do this, but you are running out of time and options.”

“But, I don’t–”

“I know you don’t–but just give him a chance!“ He gave her shoulders a squeeze.

The young woman was still frowning in discomfort as her father released her and returned to his wife. Soleil’s expression was piercing when Gemini met her gaze, and her frown grew even more pronounced.

“Ah, the Inova family!” A jovial voice distracted all three to the moment they had walked into.

Rhas put on a smile and reached out his hand toward the stocky man before him. “Orion,” he said as they greeted each other with a brief handshake. “It is good to see you and your family.”

“Hello, Soleil,” Orion Sanborn’s wife nodded with a light curtsy. 

“Marilynn; good to see you,” Soleil’s painted smile was wide. “Don’t tell me this is Ares!”

Ares was a tall, ruddy young man with red hair. Only a small streak behind his left ear proved his Aravasti heritage. His white shirt was neatly tucked into dark gray pants, and he stood almost too perfectly straight and still. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Inova,” he said politely.

“He’s grown like a weed!” Soleil laughed with a hand on the young man’s shoulder, “Are you sure he isn’t a Terra?”

“I’m a Nox, ma’am,” Ares shrugged.

The adults laughed pettily.

Gemini winced.

Orion smiled at his son before turning to the young woman in black. “And here is Miss Gemini! It’s good to see you again!”

Gemini did not fake a smile like the rest of the group. She simply stared at Orion without saying a word.

The man gave a nervous laugh. “A woman of few words, eh? Ares is not much of a talker, either. But here,” he put a hand on each of their backs and pushed them closer together, “you two should get to know each other!” With that, the man turned and continued conversation with the other parents.

“Yeah, I can definitely get to know you in the three minutes I’ll get to decide if I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” Gemini muttered under her breath as she crossed her arms.

“Don’t sound too excited to be here,” Ares responded under his breath, eyeing his parents as they scooted aside.

Gemini cocked an eyebrow. “And you are?”

“Not particularly, but who am I to disobey my parents,” Ares said matter-of-factly. “If they feel we will be a good couple, I’d have to think we would be.”

Gemini cocked her head. “Really,“ she offered more as a comment than a question.

“Of course! And, listen,” Ares set his hands on his hips as he glanced aside, “I know I’ve not been the best person around; over the years, my brothers and I... well, we weren’t all that nice.”

Gemini blinked. “Yeah.”

“For that, I do apologize. And, I’d like to think we can move past all that and make this work,” he held out his hand and laid it upon her still-crossed arm. “I will do my best to be a good husband and give you whatever you need.”

She looked at his hand almost suspiciously. “What do you think I need?”

“What any other wife would need,” he said, letting his arm fall when it was clear Gemini was not taking it. “I’ll care for you and provide for you while you take care of the house. You can tend a garden, and I can bring home dinner and help you cook…”

Gemini nodded as she followed his blandly spoken words. When he finally stopped talking, her green eyes locked onto his. “And if we have kids?”

Ares faltered. “You... you want kids?”

“I don’t know. I’m just asking.”

“I mean... I had just assumed…”

“Assumed what?” Gemini was now the one encroaching into his space. “Isn’t the point of this process to have kids so that your line of power lives on after you?”

The ruddy young man shook his head and lowered his posture. “Okay, Gemini; let’s be real. Yes, you’ve got strong Nox blood, and I’m full-blooded, which is why our parents matched us together. If we had kids, they’d most likely be Nox as well. But, despite it all, you could still have an Igne baby,” he chewed the words, “and would you really want to bring another Igne into the world? I mean, you’d just be setting it up for failure.”

The truth, at last, was spoken. The feeling of utter disappointment–and ever-growing rage–left Gemini’s expression falling into hollow darkness.

She jumped when she felt Orion’s hand bump against her back.

“Well! I do believe it’s time, is it not?” He said, glancing between the two members of the potential couple.

“Oh, yes, sir,” Ares straightened up and reached into his back pocket. 

Members of the village who had entered the square during their discussion watched in rapt attention as the matchmaking proposal began.

All four parents followed the movement of the ring from Ares’ pocket as he brought it forward between his fingers. He began to crouch, and his knee just barely touched the cobblestone pavement.

“Gemini Inova, will you–”

“No.”

The square turned deathly still. Even the wind appeared to die out when Gemini spoke her singular word.

Ares blinked in confusion while Marilynn and Orion glanced at each other in shock.

Rhas almost nervously turned to his daughter. “Gemini…” he hissed under his breath.

Soleil was much less discreet. “I’m sorry,” she held up one of her hands as her voice trembled with anger. “What did you just say?”

Gemini’s blank expression broke as the diamond-shaped power mark glowed hot upon her chest. “I said no!!” She shouted, heat and embers immediately swirling around her feet. “Is this loud enough for you??” She shot a glance toward her mother with eyes glowing white from her wildly pulsing power.

“Gemini Inova,” she spat caustically, “you have disobeyed this family for the last–”

The Igne shrieked a cry into the air, and the fire billowed higher.

Ares scrambled back to his feet and threw up a dark, wisping shield to protect his parents from Gemini’s ever-growing heat. The ring clattered across the stone street as every passer-by scattered out of sight.

Rhas had done the same, but his wife disappeared into a whirlwind before he could grab her arm.

All the while, the glowing streaks of power that pulsed down Gemini’s bare arms seemed to drip with flame as her fire flared and roared around her. “I will not be set up in some stupid ritualistic barter just so you can wash your hands of me!!” Tears sizzled on her cheeks as they dropped from her eyes. “And I refuse to be pawned off to someone who doesn’t care anything about me!!”

Orion and Marilynn peaked around their son’s dark power, eyes wide and mouths agape.

Ares shook his head slowly in dismissal.

Rhas shut his eyes and prepared for what was to come.

Soleil’s eyes pierced through Gemini’s fire, but her daughter would not yield.

In one last brilliant swirl of flame, Gemini was gone.

–

Antonia and Polara glanced up from the sitting room when the front door opened. Soleil’s steps were heavy as she trod across the rug of the foyer and disappeared into the hallway. The door was still swinging on its hinges when Rhas’ hand stopped it and stepped inside. He gave one look to his mother before blankly turning away and following his wife.

Antonia sighed and took her next move on her chess board.

Polara bit her lip. “I guess it really was that bad,” she said softly.

“You doubted the way your sister came in smelling of fire?“ Her grandmother eyed her.

“She... kinda does that a lot these days.”

Antonia hummed and watched Polara take her bishop.

Soleil returned, dragging a large faded green trunk behind her. She released it, allowing it to clatter loudly on the woven rug in the foyer.

Polara leapt at the sound, almost knocking over the chess board. 

Antonia’s eyes slowly rose from the trunk to Soleil’s smouldering expression.

“Take her.” She growled. “Get her out of my house.”

Antonia stood as Polara cowered in fear. “What?”

Soleil turned on her heels and nearly ran into her husband as he stepped into the foyer.

“Rhas–what–”

“You are Gemini’s guardian now.” Rhas said softly. “You may take her to your home this evening.”

“Rhas,” Antonia pleaded with a hand outstretched, but her son shook his head and turned away.

Polara curled her legs beneath her. “They... they can’t do that,” she whispered. “Can they?”

The elder Igne shut her eyes and exhaled a deep breath.

“Grandmama, they can’t do that,“ the young woman slipped from the cushion she had been sitting on and tugged at Antonia’s dress. “They can’t send Gemini away!“

“My Lara,“ Antonia set her hand on Polara’s light brown hair. “Please don’t ever let them take away the love you have for your sister.”

Polara huffed a half-sob, though she froze when her grandmother crouched closer to her ear. 

“I will make sure we have many times to play chess together at my home–so you can visit her.”

At last, the teenager nodded and returned to meet her grandmother’s eyes.

Antonia then stepped away from the unfinished chess game, around the green crate, and up the stairs to alert Gemini of their departure.

-----

I started writing this (and the companion piece "Useless" that centers around Hudson) about 2 years ago; and it really made me realize just how similar Hudson and Gemini were in regards to marriage expectations. It's no wonder the two found such comfort in each other 😅 I then promptly forgot I had written these until I was looking for a different older file and here they were.

I don't really get a lot of opportunities to show Aravast in Westfall since the only pieces would be in flashbacks, aside from Gemini discussing their culture. This also got to be the first time I ever wrote Gemini's parents. They are largely disappointed when Gemini turns out to be an Igne, and that only grows when she continues to buck every other "norm" in Aravast. Her dad simpathizes the most, but her mom overpowers this - especially when their next daughter becomes a Zephyr like she is. Thankfully, her grandmother understands everything, and while Gemini has already spent much of her time there, this marks the beginning of the 2ish years she's fully under her care. 

I would kinda like to put this somewhere in Westfall, but I don't want the whole thing to be flashbacks and dreams... and it has a 'part 2' with Hudson and I'm not sure how to frame them both in that context... so they will live here for now :D

Nellie found herself back at Silas’s compound the following afternoon. Arch excused himself right away to go rest, leaving the others to pester her and Calix for the gritty details. Calix was more than happy to tell everyone about the snallygaster and the praise he received from the Regere. Nellie took it as a chance to sneak off to the stables.

Hodge was snoozing on his cloven feet. The sunlight from his slotted window caught his dapples causing golden shimmers on his haunches. He started shifting and bobbing his head, his nostrils flaring.

Morgan leaned up against the door, keeping his distance to not disturb Hodge further.

“So, how was it really?”

“He used me as bait,” Nellie said coolly.

Morgan looked unsurprised and shrugged. “I may’ve told him about Ash…. Or, my mother did. Or Amias…. Someone did.”

“What’s Ash have to do with anything,” Nellie asked defensively.

“You can’t think having a pet cryptid is normal,” Morgan said. His hazel eyes darted to Hodge. “Penny’s odd too.”

It never occurred to her that she was still the odd one. She could not wield fire or create gollums. She had not spent her childhood learning to swing a sword or make arrows. She assumed everyone had run-ins with creatures, and that some of them had nontraditional pets even if only for a few days.

She paled. “Did you tell him about Cecily,” she asked urgently. “Does he know Ira has a gryphon?”

“I’d be shocked if he didn’t,” Morgan said. “His highness may’ve been some random twenty-something to you, but for all of us familiar with the Realm we’ve been aware of the small details of his life.”

Hodge let loose an irate bray that nearly had Nellie jump out of her skin.

Brody ran by Morgan, skidding to a halt on the loose straw. His dark eyes were wide and he was panting to catch his breath.

“There you are,” he said. He gulped at the air. “S-sorry, Hodge. Nellie, you’ve got to get back to the house.”

Nellie tore off after Brody with Morgan on her heels. The patio at the top of the hill was crowded with people. It looked like all the kids were outside, and Nellie could make out the short, stout figure of Mrs. Adams standing before them with her cane glittering in the summer light. She was facing down a man that Nellie recognized almost immediately as Uncle Winston.

“Uncle Winston,” Nellie called out, quickening her pace. She collided into him, squeezing him tightly. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

“You know this man, Miss Herle,” Mrs. Adams asked stiffly.

“She’s my niece, as previously stated” Uncle Winston said, putting a protective hand on Nellie’s shoulder.

Silas hurried from the glass door onto the patio with Lilac hovering by his shoulder. The excited light dimmed in her eyes when they spotted Nellie, and boredom slowly crept onto her face as Silas motioned for calm.

“Mr. Herle, I presume," Silas said in his soothing, rich voice. “I take it Nathalie gave you the address.” He gestured towards the door. “Should we go inside?”

“That’ll be quite all right,” Uncle Winston said. “I’ll be taking Perenelle home now.”

“What? No,” Nellie protested, ducking out from his grip. “I don’t want to leave.”

The kids were all leaning forward in anticipation. The excitement returned to Lilac’s eyes. Fin and Brody whispered to each other.

“Mrs. Adams,” Silas muttered at her.

“Inside, children,” Mrs. Adams ordered.

Ava gave Nellie an encouraging smile as she filed inside behind Arden.

“I’m staying,” Morgan said defiantly, crossing his arms.

The look on Uncle Winston’s face clearly indicated that he remembered Morgan and that he was not thrilled to see him again. She had seen him make the same face whenever her cousin Lillian talked about boys (prior to the one she was now engaged to).

“Master Morgan–,” Silas pleaded.

“I’m staying.” Morgan dropped on one of the plush, sky blue patio chairs.

Nellie strode over and took the seat next to him. She crossed her legs and folded her arms, hoping it came across as defiant and not plain bratty.

“Very well; it matters absolutely not if you’re here or not,” Uncle Winston said. “Perenelle is going home. End of discussion.”

She tensed at the authority in Uncle Winston’s tone. She was ready to scramble up to her room and pack.

“I don’t even know what this is–?”

“What this is all about, Mr. Javernick, is that my little sister called me in a state saying that… that man has caused her physical harm,” Uncle Winston said icily. He glared down at Silas being easily a head and a half taller. “You assured her, no, promised her that him appearing here would be of no concern. You swore to her that Perenelle going off with him was in her very best interest, and that she couldn’t be any safer. Is all that correct?”

Morgan had also lost his bravado as Uncle Winston went on. He slouched in his chair like trying to fuse with it.

“Nellie,” Silas said, turning towards her, “where you hurt?”

“The snallygaster nicked me, but Mrs. Monroe healed–.”

“Mr. Javernick,” Uncle Winston interrupted, fuming, “you dare tell me you were not informed? Are you trying to pin blame on a mere girl?”

“Uncle Winston! That’s unfair,” Nellie said. “I just got here.”

“Do telephones not exist?”

There would be no talking to Uncle Winston. He was in full lawyer mode. Nellie thought Silas was handling it very well; he was only a fraction paler than usual.

The unmistakable pressure of the Regere approaching caused her to climb to her feet. He appeared in the glass door before opening it and joining them.

He had changed clothes. He wore a relaxed, European suit without a tie and blazer. The beechwood loafers he held were so polished they hurt Nellie’s eyes to look at them.

“I’ll be off,” the Regere said. He set his pale blue eyes on Uncle Winston. “Mr. Herle, please, walk with me.”

“I beg your pardon, young man,” Uncle Winston said, taken aback.

“Oh, that’s right,” the Regere said with a small, fake laugh. “We haven’t met before, have we? No, my wife acted as proxy during the guardianship hearings.”

The color drained from Uncle Winston. “Y-you’re–!” He stiffened, swallowing whatever unpleasent thing it was he wished to say. “You are not at all how I expected.”

“Younger, by the ‘young man’ comment,” the Regere said. He gestured off the patio. “Would you?”

“I will not,” Uncle Winston said. “We English can beat around it all day, but let me just cut to it and say that my brother made his wishes perfectly clear, and it was foolish of Nathalie to bend those wishes.”

“I’m technically American despite my slight accent, so,” the Regere said, “let me be blunt; Perenelle isn’t going anywhere.”

Uncle Winston went from being too pale to too red. His fists shook as he bared his teeth in fury. It was the angriest Nellie had ever seen him, and it made her shake in her seat.

“Let me clarify a bit,” the Regere said, glancing at a shiny watch on his wrist. “Our niece,” he stressed, “needs to learn how to handle herself. I’ll trust Silas to clear things up from there.” He headed off the porch and towards the driveway. “Morgan, behave.”

Silas pinched his eyes with a heavy sigh as the Regere disappeared around the corner. He took a few breaths, straighted, and smiled warmly at Uncle Winston.

“Mr. Herle, a cup of tea,” Silas offered. “We can conference Nathalie in my office.”

Uncle Winston eyed Silas but ultimately relented and allowed himself to be ushered indoors. Nellie saw Silas pull Calix and Arch from the kids scattering to hide they had attempted eavesdropping; the four of them vanishing down the windowed hall towards Silas’s office.

Fin, Lilac, and Ava slipped out the doors onto the patio.

“Was that tall, dark, and handsome man your uncle,” Lilac asked, looking wistfully over her shoulder at the house. “Does he have a son?”

“Are you really leaving,” Ava asked anxiously.

“She’s not,” Morgan said.

“You seem sure,” Fin said doubtfully.

“My father said she wasn’t leaving, so she’s not,” Morgan said coolly. He looked Fin up and down. “Ah, right, you’re the not-so-secret love child. You don’t have a firm grasp on a father’s word.”

Fin exploded at Morgan, lunging and grabbing him by his shirt. Nellie and Ava jumped away with their eyes wide at the sudden movement. Lilac tried to intervene, was knocked away, and let loose a long, shrill hiss.

Nellie coughed as the patio was engulfed with green smoke. Her eyes stung, watering to the point she could not see. She stumbled, fell over a chair, and crawled. She felt grass beneath her fingers and rolled down the gentle slope, away from the cloud of smoke. She breathed in the fresh air and dabbed at her streaming eyes.

Ava staggered over with her hands over her nose and mouth. Her eyes were bloodshot behind her glasses.

“Wuh-what was that,” Nellie croaked.

“Lilac.” Ava removed her glasses to wipe her eyes. “She set off a grenade.”

“Gre-grenade?”

“What on this earth is happening out here,” Mrs. Adams’s voice came angrily from among the dispersing cloud. “Miss Maebry, to my office at once!”

The cloud had now dissipated enough to see Lilac, Fin, and Morgan. Morgan had tripped on a chair and was draped over it, coughing with his eyes watering. Fin was scrambling up to defend Lilac who was nonchalantly following Mrs. Adams back inside on floaty steps.

“Morgan,” Nellie called, storming over as he and Fin eyeballed each other. “Knock it off!”

“Me? He attacked me,” Morgan said sulkily. “Yell at him!”

“You were rude,” Nellie said, crossing her arms.

Morgan was taken aback. “How?”

Fin pat Nellie on the shoulder, giving her a weak smile. “It’s okay, Nell,” he said. He glared at Morgan. “I’m going to go beg for Mrs. Adams to take it easy on Lilac.” He drew himself up, exhaling a long sigh. “Sorry I went off on you, little guy. Catch you girls later.”

Morgan had an expression like he drank vinegar. He glared daggers at Fin’s retreating form, his jaw too tight to spit anything at him.

Nellie decided to let him stew and headed off to the gardens with Ava. She filled her in on the snallygaster, but danced around the final conversation with the Regere and the tease that he knew where her father was. She was told not to let it be known her mother was a dragon, and saying her uncle used her as bait somehow seemed connected.

There was now the nagging worry in the back of her mind regarding the Regere’s interest in Penny, and assumedly in Ira too.

“Just how powerful is this Regere if he was unfazed by Arch’s magic,” Ava asked. “I thought my soul would leave my body the first time I saw one of his gollums.”

“Same,” Nellie said. She dug at a stubborn weed with her fingers to loose the roots. “The light cage was impressive, but Arch didn’t react to it like it was something super strong or difficult.” She rocked back as the weed gave. “Can you feel magic?”

“I don’t know…. What’s it feel like,” Ava asked.

“Like… static, I guess,” Nellie said. She rubbed her arm. “My godfather is a mage, and with him I could feel the hairs on my arm starting to stand. With Arch and Itzel, it’s just this little tingle on the back of my neck.”

“What about me,” Ava asked, excitedly. Her grin fell after an awkward pause. “Oh… you don’t feel anything, do you?”

“Your magic is different,” Nellie said quickly. “It’s better if you think about it. You can help with the jackalopes, and Hodge doesn’t mind you. I bet Ash would like you too. I can’t wait for you to meet him!”

Ava smiled weakly. She plucked white petals off of what Nellie recognized from boxed tea as chamomile.

“The problem with my magic is that it won't always be strong,” Ava murmured. “It’s inherited, not spontaneous. And like with other inherited traits, it can die out completely.” She took a breath and smiled. “Sorry. What about this Regere guy? What’s he feel like?”

“Like I stuck my finger in a socket and have a heavy, weighted blanket over my head,” Nellie said dully.

Ava mouthed ‘wow’ and her eyes sparkled behind her glasses at the idea of someone with that type of magic having been near. She snapped out of her awe and her eyes widened.

“And he’s your uncle,” Ava breathed.

Nellie shrugged it off as embarrassment crept over her. She had more or less told Ava about how the woman everyone called her mom was really her paternal aunt, and that she had only found out after starting school. She had no choice but to tell her about Morgan, and that led into being related to the leader of the Auctorita. She swore Ava to secrecy, making her promise not tell Olivia, Emma, and Sophia. It was too messy to start telling everyone else, and still made her head spin.

She was about to ask Ava if they did anything fun last night, but was distracted by Silas trudging over the slope towards them. He looked at ease with his thick arms swaying jauntily.

“Your uncle has decided to stay the night, and will make his decision afterwards,” Silas announced. He winked. “You’ll be staying the summer, Nellie. Don’t worry about it.”

“Are you sure,” Nellie asked, feeling a fluttering of hope. “Uncle Winston can be quite stubborn.”

“I’m sure,” Silas said. “I believe a lot of his worries come from not understanding all this craziness with the Realm. He’ll feel better seeing you hanging out with other kids.”

It was hard to hope a night, essentially just a dinner, was all that stood in the way of her summer at the compound when dinners rarely went smoothly. Even on their best behavior, someone was bound to say something that would cause Uncle Winston to whisk her back to dull, dreary Shelbyville.

There was not much time before dinner, so Silas allowed Nellie and Ava to skip the evening chores. It was a kind gesture, but Nellie wished she could have hidden in the stables with Hodge until Mrs. Adams rung the bell. She found herself sitting cross-legged on her sleigh bed with Ava, both silent.

Nellie leapt up as the faint echo of the gong rang outside her door.

The dining room did not have the splendor it did when the Regere joined them. It was back to the usual plain plate and simple drinkware. There were two large platters piled with roasted chicken, and three bowls of seasoned root vegetables. A small green salad was set at every place.

“Miss Herle, I’m placing your uncle at the head,” Mrs. Adams said. “Why not sit next to him.”

“No need, Mrs. Adams,” Silas said, taking the seat at the right hand. “I’ll entertain Mr. Herle. Nellie can sit wherever she wants. They all can.”

Mrs. Adams narrowed her eyes at this. She gave a dismissive sniff and began her tour around the table to triple check everything was exact.

Silas motioned for Uncle Winston to sit next to him as the head of the table upon his entering the dining room. Lilac skipped off to take the seat across from Silas to Uncle Winston’s left.

Nellie found herself next to Silas with Ava to her other side. Fin and Arden took the seats across from them, both eager to be farther from Mrs. Adams’s grasp. Morgan frowned at Nellie, eyeing the full seats around her. He slunk to the end to sit at Mrs’s Adams’s right, sinking into a darker mood when Brody took the seat next to him and Calix and Arch filled the seats across, leaving Itzel to sit next to Fin.

“You have quite the array, Mr. Javernick,” Uncle Winston said, peering down the table.

“It happens,” Silas said. “The Auctorita is global now. The kids come from all over.” He nodded towards Itzel. “Brazil.” He gestured at Calix. “Greece. Of course, Nellie and Ava are just visiting. They’re not recruits.”

Uncle Winston’s blue eyes took each of the children in turn, lingering on Arden. His mouth tightened as he frowned into his salad.

“Recruitment starts quite young, does it? That boy can’t be any older than Nellie.”

“A year older, but, I agree, Arden is young,” Silas said. He dropped his voice and Nellie found herself leaning nearer. “His mother is an old friend. I offered to take him when he started acting out.” Silas cleared his throat, straightening. “I don’t exactly have a minimum age for residency. It’s whenever the kid needs to come.”

Nellie looked across at Arden but he was too busy sneakily tossing his cherry tomatoes into Fin’s half-eaten salad to have been eavesdropping. She never asked Arden why he was at Silas’s compound, assuming he was a recruit like the others. That sounded like the case, except it was more interesting that his parents just shipping him off.

She had not asked any of them why they were there, how they got there. She felt like she was playing catch up, and had not gotten very far in learning about her friends; if they could be called that.

Silas continued to politely answer whatever remarks Uncle Winston spoke, no matter if they were a proper question or an attempt at a jab. Her uncle was pausing between his comments to process the new information, and his hands relaxed a degree after each pause despite his mouth still twisted into a grimace.

Lilac interjected by asking Uncle Winston if he had a son, and then several follow-ups about Geoffrey. Uncle Winston slowly started to smile as the conversation went on, but kept his skeptical eye on them.

“Seems to be going good,” Ava whispered as Mrs. Adams circled the table with a cart, piling the salad bowls on it.

Fire erupted over Itzel’s plate in time with an aggravated shriek from her.

Uncle Winston fell over backwards in his hurry to stand and get away from the flames. Fin was yelling at Itzel in Spanish. Morgan was yelling at Fin that Itzel did not speak Spanish. Brody was helping Mrs. Adams up after knocking her and the cart over in his haste to the kitchen for water.

Arch grabbed Mrs. Adams’s cane and blew. The fire went out, and the plates, silverware, drinkware, and bits of food scattered down the table and around the room.

“Miss de la Torre! Mr. Cabrera!” Mrs. Adams shook lettuce off her arms. “My office, at once!”

“Come now, Mrs. Adams,” Silas said. “This was surely just a language–.”

“See to our guest,” Mrs. Adams said icily.

“No need,” Uncle Wiston said, dragging himself up.

Nellie cringed. The majority of dinner covered him leaving him to look like someone after a food fight scene from a movie. His light eyes blazed as hot as Itzel’s fire had.

“Perenelle, show me to a bathroom,” Uncle Winston demanded.

She felt everyone watching her as she slunk from the dining room. Her chest tightened as they moved further and further away from the dining room with no one coming after them to help argue her position. It was not fair she would have to leave because of something that happened between Itzel and Fin.

She sniffed heartily, stopping to wipe her eyes. She moved to hug Uncle Winston when he put his hand on her shoulder, recoiling as her hands found smashed carrots and dampness.

“Listen to me, sweetpea,” Uncle Winston said, stooping to her eyelevel. “I want you to think very hard before you answer me; why do you want to stay?”

“Because…,” she trailed off.

“Your friend goes to your school,” Uncle Winston said. “You’ll see her in a few weeks. These other kids… you only just met them. I can take you home. To Nathalie. To that dog of yours.”

“Would… I have to pretend none of this happened,” Nellie asked, her lip shaking.

Uncle Winston’s expression softened. He went to hug her, stopped himself, and scowled at his wet, gross appearance. He settled for patting her wavy, auburn hair.

“Nellie, lovey, you can stay,” he said quietly. He sighed. “This whole… strangeness is part of you. I won’t force you to ignore it.” He looked away. “Granddad and Nana always encouraged Rhys to ignore it…. It’d be great if he got over himself and paid a visit before they drop dead.”

Her mind jumped back to Maryland, to her conversation with the Regere. She grabbed Uncle Winston’s arm, shaking it as she rocked back and forth on her toes.

“Uncle Winston,” she said, “I might be able to find him!” She laughed at Uncle Winston's perturbed look. “I have a lead on Rhys.”

------------------------

This has been sitting as a draft for a day, so everything I was going to put in the comment is gone, lol.

Nellie found herself crouched on the ground, covering her head with her arms. Her wooden sword sat in the mud next to her. The trees above her lurched, showering her with pine needles. She slowly uncovered her head, raising it to look up.

A pair of beady red eyes were fixed upon her. The snallygaster was the size of a ram with metallic green and brown scales that gave way to sharp feathers on the joints. It had a long, sharp beak and Nellie could see it lined with small razor-like teeth as it made a low hissing sound.

She flinched as Calix jumped over her. He shot at the snallygaster and slowly started moving away from Nellie, releasing a steady stream of arrows to keep the animal’s attention.

“Get it to the clearing,” Arch yelled from somewhere to Nellie’s left. She was pulled up. Arch brushed her off with his free hand, the other clutching a walking stick. “Did it get you?”

“N-no.”

“Then, take up your sword and get to the clearing,” Arch commanded. “Your job is to cover Calix, not the other way round.”

She scrambled to get her wooden sword as guilt squirmed in her stomach. She was dirty, but Calix and Arch had torn clothes, and she thought she saw a cut on Arch’s arm when he was dusting her off. She tore after him, able to catch up and slip by him being smaller and able to bypass the trees and branches easier.

She broke into the clearing.

“Nellie, down!”

She threw herself backwards as the snallygaster’s front talon sliced at her. The back followed, hooking her shoulder. She cried out, collapsing in the mud.

Calix was over her in an instant, shooting at the snallygaster as it circled above on large, leathery wings. He dove out of the way as it swooped.

“Nellie,” Calix yelled, now out of sight, “move!”

She winced as she scrambled away and up, grabbing her wooden sword on her way to her feet. She headed for the treeline with her swordless hand on her shoulder. Blood oozed over her fingers, but it was not an alarming amount.

“Nellie, down,” Calix called out.

She dropped and felt the slipstream from the snallygaster tear over her body as it passed.

“Catch me up,” Arch said, arriving.

“Snallygaster wants Nellie,” Calix said. “Catch her, and now ignore me.”

“Got it,” Arch said. “Both of you get to the trees.”

She was unceremoniously picked up and slung over Calix’s shoulder like a sack of flour. She jostled uncomfortably on his hard shoulder as he sprinted for the trees, throwing her onto his lap as he did a baseball slide into the brush to avoid the snallygaster’s talons, the monster whistling like a freight train in fury and frustration.

Nellie unwound herself from Calix’s long limbs and the underbrush, rolling over and crouching to see where Arch and the snallygaster were. She took a sharp breath as Calix touched her shoulder.

“Doesn’t look bad,” he murmured. “Need cleaning and plasters.”

Arch dashed into the middle of the clearing. He swung his stick at the snallygaster; the creature slamming into a mostly invisible shield as it tried swooping at him. He grunted and nearly lost his footing with the force of the animal on the shield, visibly panting when it landed and tried circling behind him.

“There you are,” Arch said, grinning maniacly. He slammed his stick down and the ground lurched.

Deep cracks formed from where he hit the ground; the dirt crumbling as the rocks wedged out. The rocks clustered together, building until they were a crude, wide human shape half a head shorter than Arch. The gollum launched into an attack against the snallygaster.

The gollum pounded the snallygaster with one of its club-like arms, knocking the animal into the ground with an angry, pained hiss. The gollum’s arm broke off and covered the creature, further angering it and causing it to thrash wildly to break free.

The snallygaster had a broken wing and a limp, but it clawed and snapped at the gollum unimpeded. It broke the gollum’s left leg off, clawing its way up and over the body to snap at the unshaped head.

“Arch,” Calix yelled, breaking from the underbrush.

Nellie jumped up, teetering. Arch was on his knees, breathing heavily with his shaking arms grasping his stick for support. She looked around for something to throw or for somewhere they could hide to recover. She gripped her wooden sword with both hands and dashed after Calix.

The snallygaster whipped its head towards her as she took position in front of Calix while he helped Arch up.

“That’s enough.”

A cage of light slammed down on the snallygaster, crumbling what was left of Arch’s gollum. The cage grew smaller and tighter until the snallygaster was pinned to the ground.

The Regere strode from the treeline, lazily waving an ornate walking stick that glowed from every crack. His pale blue eyes looked at the kids.

“Big and flashy is fine if you have the magic reserves to back it up,” the Regere said coolly. He looked more pointedly at Nellie. “Running around in a panic helps no one. Back to the car. All of you.”

Arch was too tall for Nellie to help Calix walk him from the woods. She dragged her feet behind them, feeling useless and trying hard to ignore her throbbing, bleeding shoulder.

It felt like hours they waited for the Regere and the Knights to straighten out restraining the snallygaster, but the dashboard clock let it be known it was only twenty minutes. After which, the Regere gave a dismissive nod to the pair of Knights and climbed into the car.

The drive back was short and silent.

“Check in with your guardians,” the Regere said, shutting his car door harder than necessary. “Hold nothing back.” He looked at each of them. “Mrs. Monroe will see to you. Wait in your rooms.”

“How’s your shoulder,” Arch asked once the Regere had disappeared inside.

“Hurts, but it isn’t bleeding anymore,” Nellie said. “Are you all right?”

Arch shrugged sheepishly. “Let it get away from me a bit. Calix?”

“No issue,” Calix said, holding his arms out and twisted to show he was dirty and tore his shirt on something, but otherwise fine.

They slowly made their way inside. Nellie suspected the boys did not hurry ahead or walk at their natural gait to create more space between them and her uncle. She did not grow up with him as a powerful figure of admiration, and she still felt the sting of disappointment when he looked at them. Calix and Arch must have felt awful.

Mrs. Monroe dusted a fine powder on Nellie’s wounded shoulder when she checked on her. After a tingling, the wound shut up and she was handed a damp washcloth.

“For the blood,” Mrs. Monroe said. She pulled a clunky cordless phone from one of her apron pockets. “I’ll give you your privacy. Bring the phone down to the parlor when you’ve finished.”

“Um…,” Nellie blushed, embarrassed, “I don’t know–.”

Mrs. Monroe handed her a folded slip of paper. “Ms. Herle’s number, in case you need a refresher.”

Nellie waited until the door clicked shut before unfolding the paper. She dialed, getting the slightest bit of amusement from the buttons giving way to her touch with a beep as she did, and eagerly held the phone to her ear.

‘Hello,’ Nathalie’s voice came unsurely.

“It’s me,” Nellie said, bubbling with excitement. “I have so much to tell you! But first, how’s Ash?”

Once Nathalie updated her, she described Silas’s compound the best she could but frequently defaulted to ‘huge’, ‘grand’, ‘elegant’, and ‘awesome’. She told Nathalie all about the others at the compound, eagerly bringing up how she and Ava already knew each other from school. She mentioned there was a bigfoot in the woods, but did not mention how she, Fin, and Calix found it.

“--and Hodge is there too,” Nellie finished, slightly breathless. “Penny is somewhere, but I guess Hodge stays with Silas when she’s… wherever. Me and Ava go visit him a few times a day. Sometimes we even help feed and clean him. Oh, and Silas has a bunch of jackalopes! Those are real!”

‘Truly,’ Nathalie said. ‘How about that. …Nellie, how’s it going with your uncle? I’ve been dreadfully worried.’

“I guess okay,” Nellie said, sprawling across her bed. “He’s… quieter than I pictured. Or, I don’t know, that probably isn’t the right word. I pictured him more evil or crazy or something, but he’s just some guy.”

‘The unassuming ones end up being the serial killers,’ Nathalie said. She laughed lightly causing Nellie’s heart to ache. ‘Too many podcasts.’

“I miss overhearding them,” Nellie murmured.

‘I miss you too, Nellie love.’ Nathalie sighed heavily. ‘I can’t help but worry with you so far. And with a man I was told to keep away from you. And surrounded by creatures and magic and gods knows what else. What if you were hurt? Would they even be able to get you into hospital without me there?’

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Nellie said. “I got a big gash in my shoulder just an hour ago and it’s already healed. They have this powder–.”

‘I beg your pardon,’ Nathalie interrupted.

Nellie bit her lip, shutting her eyes in dread. “Have you ever heard of a snallygaster,” she asked innocently.

‘Most certainly not, as you well know,’ Nathalie said with an edge. ‘Perenelle, did that man toss you at some dangerous beast?’

“Calix and Arch were with me,” Nellie protested. “And tossed is–.”

‘Oh, so he throws more than just young girls at these monsters,’ Nathalie said, her voice high. ‘How comforting!’ Nellie could hear her swearing but it was too low to make out the exact words. ‘Nellie,unfortunately, I must get off now. Please, write to me. And we’ll speak soon.’

“Are you going to harass Silas” Nellie asked suspiciously.

‘I love you. Bye-bye.’

The phone clicked as the call ended. Nellie stared at the chunky, black plastic and rubber buttons. She groaned and slunk out of her room to put the phone away.

Finding the parlor was easy enough despite Nellie not being certain what a parlor was. The house was big, but nowhere near the mansion that was Silas’s. She found the living room and spotted a long, thin table in a small nook between the living room and formal dining room that housed six phone docks, two of which were empty. She docked her cordless phone on one with a beep.

The hairs on the back of her neck prickled as a pressure beared down on her. She turned and smiled politely at her uncle.

“How’s your shoulder,” the Regere asked.

“Completely healed,” Nellie said, rotating her shoulder for extra measure.

“Powdered alicorn does wonders,” the Regere said. 

There was a long pause. Nellie rocked up and down on her toes, glancing around while the Regere inspected his cuticles. 

He chuckled. “Perhaps I should’ve brought Morgan. Ah, well, live and learn.” He gestured towards the dining room. “Tea? Dimopoulos is already in the kitchen.”

Calix was nursing a glass of iced tea with several lemon slices. His eyes looked tired now that enough time passed from their entanglement with the snallygaster for his adrenaline to wane. He clamoured to his feet, giving a nod to the Regere.

The Regere gestured to the counter, indicating Calix should sit and that Nellie should sit with him. He took a seat at the small table, turning so that his back was to them and helping himself to a muffin.

“Your parents are part of the Auctorita,” the Regere asked.

“Yes, sir,” Calix said quickly, easing back into his seat. “Rangers. They assist the near Keeper Conservatory.”

“They’ve trained you well,” the Regere said.

Calix swelled, spilling his tea as he tried sipping it with his smile so wide.

Arch walked in and balked at the sight of them. His fair complexion tinted pink and his shoulders slumped when his glittering eyes fell on the Regere’s back. He carefully climbed onto the seat beside Nellie, hanging his head.

“Willoughby,” the Regere said. Arch tensed. “You have great potential. You just need restraint.”

“Th-thank you, sir,” Arch stammered, his cheeks brightening more as a smile took over his handsome face.

“You’ve been schooled by the Order of Ferblanc, correct?” The Regere glanced over at them with a secretive smile. “I was once as well.”

Calix and Arch were so elated that if they floated off their seats it would not have shocked Nellie too much. She could not help but smile along with them, feeling oddly proud of these two boys she had only known a week.

The three of them began recapping the snallygaster, giving way to the excitement of finding and battling such a dangerous cryptid. The Regere was all but forgotten as they went on, growing more at ease. 

Nellie stole a glance at his seat once as Arch lamented not thinking of caging the beast, but found the seat empty. She looked around, seeing the kitchen empty of him, and slipped off her chair. She found him silently striding towards a set of French doors with an old flip phone in his hand.

“Regere,” Nellie called, trotting over. She slowed as his light eyes fell on her but continued forward. “Since we already captured the snallygaster, I was wondering how much longer we’re staying.”

“We leave tomorrow morning,” the Regere said. He brandished his phone. “I was going to have it arranged.”

“Then what,” Nellie asked. “Are there other jobs?”

“Not for you,” the Regere said. He kept his eyes on his phone, slowly dialing a number too long to be local. “This mission was more of a whim. I’d heard you had a bit of magnetism with creatures, and being able to find the snallygaster so quickly speaks to that. Just a bonus I could guise it as assessing Dimopoulos and Willoughby.”

She took a step back, twisting her hands together. There was something cold in her uncle’s voice, something dismissive and dehumanizing in the way he spoke about the three of them.

“Did… you use me as bait,” Nellie asked.

“I suppose so, although Willoughby would’ve also attracted the thing well enough,” the Regere said. “But, having it hunt you in the woods over him was interesting.” He waved his phone at her. “Forgive me, but I should make arrangements before it gets much later. You’ll want to get back to your school friend and Morgan at a decent time.” He paused, halfway into the office. “Oh, and should you want your dog creature to join you at Silas’s, I’m sure I can find a way.” He smirked. “Even if that means shutting down a handful of airports and highways.”

She felt cold, jumping as the office door shut with an echoing click.

----------------------------

I used this info for the snallygaster reference, but added the hissed based on Briar's turkey hissing. It sounds super creepy: Snallygaster: The Winged Terror of Maryland – Cryptid Index

I kept trying to figure out how to make magic different than how I do it for Witchboy (and some extent Fable Tale), and then I figured I didn't need to. So, mages/magic people have a conduit to help channel their powers, but unlike in Witchboy it isn't 100% nessecary. They can do magic with one (usually a staff or wand or some type of totem) but it won't be as focused or powerful. Nature/natural magic is an exception, and so is the Regere. And, like in FT (and probably Witchboy to a degree) magic and technology don't mix well, because magic is somewhat like electricity so can short things out. That's my constant with magic across everything even if there are small differences elsewhere (I was trying to find a reason for Amias to whip out an old flip phone to get this explaination happen in story, and it never happened, so out of story one until Nellie isn't creeped out and it comes up, I guess).

The Order of Ferblanc's main role is to keep magic people in check, so they have special schools for mage kids to learn the basics so they understand how to keep themselves under control and learn about how dangerous magic can be to them and others. About half of the kids stay on to be the teachers and caretakers, finding that a better alternative to just hiding what they can do or being afraid of trusting the wrong people with the secret. When the Auctorita was formed, it gave another life path so most of the ones that don't become teachers join up. (And some are recruited/join the Keepers, but a much smaller percent.)