"I have a theory..." Tristan muttered softly as we sat in the small room in his warehouse. Dad and I were on a couch together, Theresa on a stool, Tristan pacing slowly around. We'd traveled there after leaving the sanctuary moments after Hypnos had disappeared in the Lethe.

The small red stone holding the assassin was on a small table in a flower pot with a long-dead plant of some sort, right where I'd sent it. I stared at it a moment, then replied, "About what?"

"Abby..."

"What of her?" Dad asked.

"That trace of the non-mundane... That spark... of something... Her only connection to all this, from what we know so far, is Quinn. You were with her intimately, yes?" Tristan asked my father. "During your loops?"

He nodded, "I... I was, yes."

Tristan said, "Right now, I'm wondering if that might have left something behind. You holding the essence... I called it a marker. The ones I'd seen before, they were intentionally left behind, ways to trace a lover or someone of interest. Intentionally so. We know the essence somewhat has a mind of its own. Perhaps it left a trace in your partners during the loop."

"Why?" I asked. "What would that do for it?"

Tristan shook his head, "I'm not sure. It's just correlation, Tera. I've got nothing else to go on, but these sparks, these traces, they are not just random things. Not that I've seen. Could it be something else? Someone else who marked her? Sure, though that is just idle speculation about possibilities. The only concrete connection we know about is Quinn."

"We could test that," Theresa offered, "find other partners Quinn had during his loops and see if they, too, are marked..."

Tristan nodded, "That's exactly what I was going to suggest. It won't rule out anything if we find no one else with the mark, but if we discover others with it... well... that pretty soon begins to look like a causal link and not mere coincidence."

I leaned forward, "So, you're suggesting that I go with Dad to see if others are marked?"

Tristan shrugged, "You could probably search from right where you are, but... that puts us all at risk, projecting like that beyond my protections here. I don't know how close you might have to get to be feel those traces, but probably within a few meters would do the trick and not require you to utilize your powers."

I nodded, looking at Dad, "Not sure what else we can be doing, so... should we head out?"

Dad agreed it was worth exploring, "Tristan," he said, "is it possible to protect our home the way you have this workshop? So that it can be a safe harbor for Tera..."

Tristan was silent a moment before replying, "Not a bad idea." He let out a long breath. "No, it's a great idea. I should have considered that." The man shook his head, causing his tall hat to shift and the metal items pinned around the band to clank together a few times. "I'll start right away. The full suite."

"Then we'll be going," I said. "Where to start?"

Dad shrugged. "Not really sure... What time is it?"

Tristan pulled out a silver watch on a long chain from one of his pockets. "Nine-fifteen in the evening."

"Maybe Yvette," Dad replied, "she might be working at Champions right now..."

"Don't travel direct..." Tristan cautioned me.

"I know, I'll take us home first."

"I'll get right on those protections," Tristan assured me.

With a blink, we left the two behind in the workshop.

- - -

Skip.

“Dad... have you ever... you know... been a girl's first time?”

I watched the scene just as I had so many before. Dad and I were seated on our couch. It was clear to me that there was a strong sexual attraction between us, though I could tell Dad was quite hesitant to proceed beyond just talking.

We spoke quietly in the scene, sitting close together. My father was telling me in soft tones about how he thought a girl's first time should go. Gentle touches and kisses, a comfortable setting, full of love and romance. I felt myself growing wet to see how gently he explained the wonderful scene.

Skip. “Tera... tell me something... when you... touch yourself... what do you like to do...?” Dad asked the other Tera.

I could tell how aroused I'd become. My skin was flushed, my breath coming in deep draws and nervous exhalations. I wondered how my father had not made love to me that night. Since I had no direct memory of it, and he'd sworn our first time together was the one I did recall, we clearly hadn't made love in the loop iteration I was now watching. Could he not see then how much I was into him? How strongly I desired him making me a woman?

Skip. I listened as I talked breathlessly with my father about masturbating, how I touched myself, how I grew wet when aroused.

I saw the other Tera respond to my dad's request to play with myself in front of him. God, yes, I wanted to watch!

It was strange to watch myself masturbating as if through someone else's eyes. I was turned on by the girl I saw there. Sure, it was me, but a very different me. A virgin, not yet knowing my father, or anyone else, intimately. I let my father watch me, my wet pussy open in front of him. He began to masturbate as he stared between my legs.

Skip. My climax was an amazing moment to watch from outside myself. I looked so sensual and lovely when I came. I shuddered, turned on, strangely attracted to myself in a way that felt rather strange and confusing. Nothing compared to so many other strange and confusing events in the past weeks, but still unusual.

Dad came, some of his semen splashing on the other Tera's leg, sticky cream landing on my coppery pubes, and I wished desperately that I could touch myself to the arousing sight.

Skip. More lovely, soft talk. Hugging. The look on my face was mirrored by the one Dad showed me. Love. Longing. Delight.

“I love you, Dad... when I was... talking about what kind of guy I want to be my first... I was thinking of you...”

It was such a true statement that it almost could have gone unsaid, but I saw Dad melt to hear me voice my deepest held secret. No wonder, during the real first time we shared, he seemed to know my mind so clearly.

Dad and the other Tera kissed. I thought Dad might suggest we make love right then. But that Tera yawned, then yawned again. It broke the immediacy, the urge to drive forward, and the scene faded as Dad and I cuddled together on the couch.

- - -

"I'm here," I said, responding to the quiet inquiry from my dad as I opened my eyes.

"Which one this time?" he asked.

"Me." A smile crept over my face. "We masturbated together..."

Dad groaned, "That... was so wonderful, Tera..."

"Yes," I agreed, "so lovely... How did you ever not take things further right then, Dad?"

He looked off towards the kitchen a moment, then shrugged, "I was still struggling, inside, Tera... I hadn't sorted things out for myself. Kacy had been that day, for me. I... I didn't want your first time, even if you would never remember it, to be shared that day with anyone else. It wasn't easy, but... God, Tera... I just loved being able to hold you close to me after sharing something so, so personal."

He hugged me and we kissed a moment. My panties were wet, but I knew we needed to get moving. We'd idled too much already in recent days, and a growing sense of urgency was starting to build into a burning worry in my stomach. "So... Champions?"

Dad nodded after letting go my shoulders. "Champions."

- - -

It was after ten by the time Dad drove us to the bar and we stepped inside. I was easily the youngest person inside, but since they served decent bar food, my age was not a problem. "Is she here?" I asked quietly as we stepped slowly towards the counter, seeing only an older man tending bar.

"I don't see her... feel anything?"

I carefully tuned myself to my surroundings, not using any powers to enhance my perception. While I could easily enough differentiate the two dozen or so people inside, and a few more beyond the bar's walls, nothing immediately stuck out. I shook my head.

Dad leaned on the bar and caught the tender's attention. "Hey, uh, Charlie, right?"

The bartender nodded and said, "That's me, what'll it be?"

Dad paused and I sent him a simple caution, No. Say. Yvette. I thought it would be best not to let on anything about our search for the woman.

He sent back, Understand.

"Uh," he said finally, "scotch, please."

"Preference?" Charlie asked.

"Well is fine."

"For the girl?"

Dad looked at me, "Root beer, yeah?"

I nodded.

We started to settle at the bar and Charlie leaned towards us, "Sorry, after ten, no kids at the bar."

"Okay," my father replied, "we'll just take a seat over there." He nodded towards a two-seater not far from the bar.

Charlie went back to fix our drinks while Dad and I sat.

Dad whispered, "How close do you suppose you'll need to get to be sure of anything, Tera?"

I replied, "Not really sure. Maybe... fifty feet or so? Maybe a little further if I really concentrate. Beyond that... things get more fuzzy without using projection. Why?"

Dad said, "Well... if Yvette's not on tonight, it might be tough to get too close to any of my other partners tonight..."

I nodded, "Understood..."

Charlie brought our drinks and asked, "Anything to eat tonight?"

My stomach growled in response, "I could use something..."

Dad nodded, "Cheeseburger?" I agreed and Charlie started to walk off after getting our order. Dad stopped him, "Hey, Charlie, quick question. Yvette working tonight?"

Charlie frowned, "Nah... she's still recovering."

"Recovering? What happened?"

"Car wreck a week ago. Broke both legs, gonna be a long slog, I'm afraid. We're taking up a collection to help her out," he said, pointing at a large repurposed pickle bottle on the bar which was half-full of cash.

"Jesus..." Dad muttered, "I'll surely kick in to help..."

After Charlie left, Dad shook his head, "Poor woman... Gonna be hard to tend bar with broken legs..."

"We can help, right? The lottery win..."

Dad smiled, "I sorta forgot. Yeah, we can definitely help. Let's sort that out in the morning."

- - -

As we ate our meal, Dad worked through one partner after another trying to decide if he might be able to get us close enough to any of them to detect a spark, if one existed. He knew where few worked or lived, and those where he had some idea where they might be in that late hour, he doubted he could get us within the range I needed without some serious burglary skills or risking detection by creeping around yards and houses. "I mean... we could just drive to some of the places... you know, like Shawna... the street worker... she might be around in the same area... But... there is one... maybe, who seems most likely to be somewhere known right now."

"Who?"

"Someone you've not seen yet... Starla."

I shook my head, "Doesn't sound familiar."

"She's a stripper... I, uh... I did some rather more... extreme things... with her."

"What sort of extreme things?"

Dad blushed and looked away, chewing on his burger a moment before he said quietly, "Bondage... watersports... it was rather out of place for what I usually desire..."

"Watersports?" I asked, confused, "You tied her to a jetski?"

Dad laughed and shook his head, "No, Tera. Watersports is... pee stuff."

"Oh..." I wasn't really sure what to think about that, but I was trying to stay focused on our quest. "You think she's working tonight?"

"Possible. Of all the ones I've considered, she's the only one who might be somewhere we can get you close enough with out creeping around and risking attention."

"So what's the plan, then?"

Dad leaned back and considered my question a long time.

- - -

There was no way I could get into the strip club, but since it was a rather small building, it was possible I might get close enough to those inside to be able to detect a spark in Starla. Dad parked us along one side with a few beat up sedans and old pickup trucks.

"Anything?" he asked me.

I shook my head. "I'm not close enough here... I can sense several people inside, but I think I'm missing a lot of the building. Can we get closer?"

Dad thought a moment, "Before we try doing so, let me confirm she's actually here."

He stepped out of the car, leaving me inside, and I saw him approached the security guys outside the club. A quick conversation later and Dad returned, looking concerned. "Starla got shot two days ago. She's in critical care... might not make it..."

"What?!" My mind spun. "Dad... what are the odds..."

"I was thinking the same thing. Jesus, Tera..."

It was only two of his partners who'd suffered some serious misfortune, too few to draw any serious causal link, but I felt nauseous thinking this was something more than coincidence. "What can we do?"

"We have to talk to Theresa and Tristan."

I reached out to both but got no reply. "He's busy, I think, and I dunno where she is... No response."

Dad growled. "God, I feel awful, Tera! If someone is trying to harm the people I was with... Jesus Christ! So many young girls might have been hurt!"

"Abby..." I moaned.

Dad's eyes went wide. "We have to protect her, Tera. Until we know what's going on."

I nodded strongly. "Agreed. Let's go!"

- - -

I tapped lightly on the window I knew was Abby's room. I was close enough to sense her spark and knew for certain she was inside.

When I got no response, I rapped louder.

I sensed movement and knew my friend was coming towards the window. Eyes peeked out.

"Abby!" I hissed.

She looked at me oddly, then slowly pulled up the window pane. "Tera?"

"Come with me!"

"What?"

"Please! I'll explain later!"

She hesitated, looked at Dad by my side, then said, "Give me a minute to grab my purse..."

Abby disappeared inside and I restlessly waited.

Something wasn't right. I didn't know exactly what. I just sensed it. "Dad..." I whispered, "something's wrong..."

"Abby?"

I shook my head, "No... something is coming for her, though..." The closer the sensation came to us, the more strongly I felt its purpose. "Something trying to hurt her!"

Dad was upright and turning his head all around. "I don't see anyone!"

"Abby!" I hissed through the window, "hurry!"

The screen lifted and Abby started to step out.

Raw fear gripped me. Shadows slid quickly past me, a cold chill sending shivers into me from close by. I felt more than heard a guttural growl. Dad tackled me just as something solid swept over our heads. Abby shrieked, then I heard a loud thump, the girl on her stomach on the ground.

On instinct, I pushed out a repulsing force, hoping to gain space from whatever was on us.

I saw the attacker's face a split second before my pulse hit her. The face was so out of place that I couldn't imagine how such a terrible intent could come from such an innocent girl. She looked no more than ten or eleven, soft, pale skin like mine but riddled with scars on her cheeks. Her eyes, though, were youthful, her lips locked in surprise, like a child unable to comprehend her terrible fate.

My pulse hit her and I felt her presence grow distant instantly. But it lasted no time and the girl was once more rapidly moving towards us.

I found my wits and traveled the three of us to Tristan's workshop.

- - -

We'd caught our breath together in the small sitting area. I told Dad and Abby what I'd seen and done, my heart beating rapidly, my body full of adrenaline. Abby had sprained her right wrist when she'd felt something trying to grab her, tumbling out of the window as something cold took hold of her arm. I didn't share all our theories on what was going on with my friend, but she understood that she was in danger, and that was enough to keep the pretty blonde shaking with fright.

Tristan and Theresa were nowhere in sight. I reached out again, felt a distant acknowledgement from the woman, but again, nothing from Tristan other than a sense that he was busy.

"I projected," I said quietly. "Someone... something... will have felt that..."

Dad nodded, "You saved us, that's all that matters."

I knew he was right, though, if I'd have been thinking more clearly, I'd have just traveled us away instead of repulsing our attacker. Though, given the girl's speed, I wonder if it would have been fast enough to avoid further assault.

I heard booted steps outside the room and leapt to my feet, ready to destroy anything trying to harm us. "Good, you're safe," Tristan said, clearly agitated, obviously concerned.

"Tristan, we got attacked!"

He looked from me to Abby and back at me, "I'm not surprised. So was I..."

"What?"

"Putting the charms on your house. Something... hijacked my attempt."

"Huh?"

"Think of it like a wiretap, I suppose, except instead of just listening in, whatever it was redirected what I was doing. I felt it immediately, but... whoever did it will know, at least in a general sense, what I was attempting..."

"Jesus..." I breathed. I told him what Dad and I suspected after learning about Yvette's accident and Starla's shooting. "I know it's just two people, but... what are the odds?"

Abby broke in, "Wait... you slept with them in the loop? I thought... I thought Tera said you'd been in your house the whole time..."

Dad looked ashamed. "It's... complicated..."

"Well," Abby said, her eyes darting around quickly, "if they got this spark thing because they slept with you while you were stuck... how did I get it?"

Dad wet his lips and hung his head, "I, uh... I slept with you, too, Abby..."

Abby stared at him a moment, mouthing words a time or two before she finally gave up, "Wow..."

"I know... sorry..."

Abby grew silent, looking a little shaken.

Tristan stewed on my question until Abby hadn't responded a moment, returning to my earlier query, "Seems unlikely to be coincidence, though not wholly a sure connection... We need more proof, I'm afraid. Can you do that, Tera?"

"It will have to wait," Dad said, "did you miss the part where we got attacked?"

"I missed nothing, Quinn," replied Tristan, "but we're now past the point of keeping Tera in her own shadow. I felt her projection, and have no doubt, so did many others. They know she's got power on Earth, and that alone will make her the number one target of anyone involved in this search for the essence. Nowhere is really safe, now, not even here... And Tera, you can't hide yourself any longer. You must protect yourself above everything. You did right tonight. They were obviously closing in if they were trying to eliminate those who might carry a spark from the essence. You must protect yourself."

"Why such random things, though?" Abby asked, "Like... that thing... that thing that tried to get me... that was a monster or something horrible! But didn't you say one of the women was in a car wreck? The other was shot?"

"Does seem odd," Tristan nodded, "but we don't know who or what we're up against. Might be multiple entities on this task, of varying abilities. A gun shot works just as well as something non-mundane. Of course, we don't know for sure the goal, right? Were they trying to kill the women? Were they intent on killing you, Abby? Maybe wounding was only ever the point. So much we don't know right now..."

Tristan sat on the couch beside me, looking down at his feet. "If your theory is right, Tera, if this is not coincidence... and I'm beginning to believe it is not... You're gonna have to keep moving. No place is safe long. Maybe the sanctuary, for now, but even there, you must be very cautious. I'll work out a way to create a safe place, but right now, I can offer no options which don't include moving regularly. Not even this place. Take the stone with you. Keep it safe. I... I'm afraid my defenses here will not be enough. Someone will come looking for the assassin, and I think, if it's left here, someone will find it soon enough..."

I nodded, silent.

"We should stick together..." Dad said quietly, "the four of us. And Theresa, wherever she is."

Tristan agreed, "Yes. I can't do an ounce of what Tera can, but I do have some experience... tracking... and being tracked... I can help keep you a step ahead."

"What am I to do?" Abby pleaded. "My parents will freak when I'm not there in the morning!"

Tristan looked at her a moment, then said to me, "Make her a doppelganger, Tera. Abby's not feeling well, just hanging out in bed a few days. That will buy some time. Here, I'll send you a template."

I got the sense of his intentions quite clearly. I'd created a doppelganger in the sanctuary so that Dad could enjoy the young girl, Jacey. I knew how to do it, but giving it any realistic ability to interact with people turned out to be rather complicated. Tristan's template, which provided a basic Turing complete clone, had to be imbedded with enough of Abby's characteristics and memories and knowledge to do what we needed. It wouldn't take much to pretend to be sick a few days. Not bad enough to really concern her parents, but strong enough to buy a few days while they sorted out what to do. No real seeker would mistake the doppelganger for the real Abby, but her parents should not notice.

I drew the existence of my friend from far away, placing the clone in bed, asleep, then I opened the real Abby's mind gently, asked for permission to take what I needed, and I channeled the details into the doppelganger's mind. Satisfied moments later, I closed the projection and nodded to Tristan. "Done."

"Then we should move before someone traces what you just did." He cast a wistful glance around his workshop. It was almost like he was saying goodbye. "I'll grab a few things before we leave..."

Moments later, Tristan blinked us away.

- - -

"I can't just wait around and not do anything," Dad told us as we sat huddled together in an early-morning cafe somewhere outside of Paris. Tristan had made it clear that we needed to avoid our familiar locations and chose a random one after we'd spent half an hour or so walking dark streets of some South American village. "I have to help the others..."

Tristan watched him silently.

"Dad... We're risking ourselves by getting close to anyone you were with..."

"I know that," he said firmly, "but we saved Abby by acting. How many others can we help?"

I grew quiet. I understood his point and the empathy behind it. I felt weary. In the mundane, on Earth, I needed sleep unlike time spent in the sanctuary. We needed to find somewhere soon to get some rest, though, if we were constantly moving, I wasn't sure how that might happen. Still, Dad's point was tugging at me. Had others already been hurt or killed? How many were still untouched? What in the hell would we do with them if they were still alive?

Sipping strong coffee, Tristan muttered, "Bout that time. We need to move again."

"How's this gonna work," I asked, "how will we ever sleep?"

"We'll go to the sanctuary when needed. That should freshen everyone each time. But... if we stay outside that place, we will need to sleep..."

It was clear he was still working on that point, so I let it drop, finishing my own coffee.

"Anyone got any money?" Abby asked when the waiter brought the bill.

Tristan shrugged, "Not euros... but I'll leave him something valuable..." He fished a golden coin out of his pocket and slapped it over the paper check. "Let's go."

- - -

"I don't care, Tera!" Dad fumed as we walked along a path beside a koi pond in the middle of a lovely set of rolling hills and open fields. It was stunning, but I was much too weary and out of sorts to enjoy the scenery. "I want to go help them!"

I could tell he felt as strung out as I did. His temper, which was never much a thing, had been building over the last couple of hops. He was wearing me down. "What do we do with them, Dad?" I muttered, annoyed but trying to remain calm. "Kidnap them and take them with us? How's that gonna work?"

"I don't know, Tera, but we can't just do nothing."

"We don't even know if anyone is left..."

"Abby was," Dad reminded me, "and there may be others..."

I knew he was carrying the weight of guilt on top of his empathy. Dad felt like it was his fault these girls and women were being harmed. I supposed I could understand why he was so desperate to make things right by protecting those he could.

Tristan groaned, "They're in my workshop..."

I frowned and reached a hand towards his shoulder.

He looked at me and said, "Go save them, Tera. If there are any left, go save them..."

I knew he meant taking Dad to find his partners. "What do we do with them, Tristan?"

"I have an idea," a familiar feminine voice said behind me.

I turned and saw that Theresa had joined us.

She continued. "I've just come from seeing Caracus. There's a... safe place... of sorts. For now, at least."

"Caracus?" Tristan asked. "Since when is he talking to former mortals?"

"I reached out to him when you sent me details of what was happening, Tristan. I knew he had access to places others don't..."

"To say the least," the man grumbled.

"I think we can trust him," Theresa said evenly, "as much as we can trust a self-reverent demigod..."

Tristan spat. "That's not very much..."

"What choice is there?" Theresa pleaded. "You need somewhere to keep these people safe. For now, it will work. If we can trust him," she admitted slowly.

Tristan blinked a few times. "They destroyed it." His pain at losing his workshop was quickly masked by his focus on something we could affect. "Fine. Take me to meet him. Tera, I've changed my mind. We need to split up. I'll confirm Caracus is worthy of our trust as best I can and I'll send you my instructions when I have them ready. Go find out who you can save..."

I nodded and Tristan disappeared with Theresa.

I let out a long breath, wishing I had another cup of coffee right then, and looked at Dad and Abby. "Who first?"

- - -

It made sense to try to track down the two women we knew had been attacked. Starla was in critical care, and given only one major place like that nearby, I took us right to an obscured hallway on the right floor. We had to be quick. I had no doubt that each victim or potential target was likely to be under some sort of watch. We couldn't linger. I hoped that Tristian could be quick. I sent him, Hurry!

I could sense her easily enough when I projected. My feet moved quickly to the room, thankfully empty except for the woman lying on her back, covered in sheets, an oxygen mask covering her mouth and nose. She looked pallid and rough.

"What do we do, Tera?" Dad whispered when we'd stepped inside.

Tristan. We need to know what to do.

He replied, Working on it, hang tight.

I fretted and shook my head, reaching out my senses to see if I could feel anything out of place or menacing. For the moment, I detected nothing malicious and no approaching employees, mostly holding my breath.

Leave that one for now, Tristan sent, too complicated.

Just leave her?

For now, yes.

She does have it, Tristan, I told him, Starla has a spark.

That should settle it then.

"Tristan says we have to leave her right now. Go after someone else."

Dad looked horrified a moment, then just nodded, saying, "Someone in better shape, hopefully..."

I nodded and when he told me where to go, I blinked us away.

- - -

The house was the one where Dad had had his most difficult moments, at least in reflection, during his weeks in the loop. Inside, I could sense two small girls enjoying a game of some sort. Seven-year old Jacey, the real one, not the doppelganger I'd created in the sanctuary, and her five-year old sister, Heather, were in there. But they felt different than Starla and Abby. "Dad... they don't have the spark..."

"Hmmm..."

"You didn't actually sleep with them..."

"No..."

Abby gasped, "Seven and five? You... what did you do, Quinn?"

Dad gulped, "Later..."

I just shrugged at my friend, hoping she could get beyond that serious concern until there was time to talk.

"Who next?"

- - -

The shelter was open though not to visitors, so after I figured out where Dad thought we should check, I just projected until I could confirm no one inside with a spark. He shook his head, "Dunno where they might go during the day. Maybe they have jobs now."

I projected out further. I was barely using the depths of power in the essence but I could feel the weight of my efforts regardless. I got out to near the range at which I'd had trouble seeing signal in the noise and thought I felt something interesting. "I might have one of them..." It felt like the spark, so I travelled us closer and immediately confirmed it. "It's Juliet."

Dad nodded when he saw her sitting on a bench along one side of a park, black shades over her eyes, the dark-haired pale girl wearing a dark shirt and jeans, a piercing through her lower lip. Juliet appeared to be chewing on it gently while she read a book. Was she also sobbing?

Tristan, we've found one.

Send her.

How?

It was like when Tristan had passed me the template for a mundane doppelganger, leaving me the diagram for what I was supposed to do. It involved a rather difficult concept concerning displacement. I couldn't travel an unwilling person without a ton of effort and surely drawing every seeker right to me in a heartbeat, but I could convince reality to reconsider where she was located. It seemed to have a fatal flaw.

That won't last long, Tristan. I don't see how tricking reality won't immediately revert.

Doesn't need long. Just do it. And, Tera, you're gonna get really tired doing this. You're gonna have to take some sleep after each one.

I grumbled but didn't argue. Inbound.

I constructed the complex framework inside which Juliet would be defined. It was sort of like taking a component out of one machine and plugging it in to another, only, both sides of this transfer were reality itself. Frame in place, I pulsed energy into plugging it in. Juliet was instantly gone from the bench and I swooned and fell to my knees.

Got her, Tristan sent, join me now.

I was breathing heavily. Dad sank beside me, "Tera?"

"She's with Tristan. We should go."

I thought I was passing out, dizzy and weak. I managed to clear my mind a split second, long enough to follow Tristan's send back to its source, and blinked the three of us into a place far from the mundane.

Tera, Female, 15

	- Narrator, host of the essence, daughter of Quinn

	- 5'7, pale-beige skin, 135lbs, shoulder-length bright copper-orange-red hair

Quinn, Male, 41

	- Former host, father of Tera

	- 6'0, beige skin, 190lbs, wavy blonde-brown hair a few inches long

Theresa, Female, mid-40s

	- Former mortal

	- 5'10, beige skin, 155lbs, shoulder-length wavy golden-red hair

Tristan, Male (Morph), 40s

	- Former mortal

	- 5'4, tanned-bronze skin, 155lbs, wiry, tangled dark-brown hair

Abby (Abigail), Female, 16

	- High School Sophomore, friend of Tera

	- 5'11, medium-beige skin, 155 lbs, back-length yellow-blonde hair in a braid