#ntco

I was shoving my third pizza crust into my mouth when Kevin finally asked the question I was waiting for. I may or may not have made a note of the pizza place based solely on how good their garlic butter was.

Maybe. Probably.

"Everything okay?" He sounded hesistant at best.

"Eh compicahed," I managed around the mouthful of bread I was chewing. Vision was stabilized, legs were twitchy but functional.

"But Trey stays with you, right?" To his credit, Kevin sounded genuinely concerned. "I don't know what led to all of this, but I can't imagine anything good leads to an almost-adult staying with a stranger. And you were about to come to blows with that succubus, even I could see that."

I swallowed my mouthful, as Trey had just taken another teenage-boy sized bite of meat lovers pizza. "That's even more complicated."

A hand fell on my shoulder, and I looked over in confusion. Trey was holding my arm while holding up one finger to ask us to wait. "Give Trey a sec?" Trey nodded to confirm I had gotten it right.

Finally, he was able to swallow the bite and chase it with a soda Kevin's wife had sent. "My parents were abusive," he clarified. "Kicked me out when I came out as trans. They don't even know I have magic."

"Well, that's just awful," Kevin agreed. "Don't blame you. Although, I didn't know for sure you did, either, until just now."

"Having magic ranks just below being queer and killing babies, as far they are concerned," Trey added.

"Oh wow," Kevin exhaled, glancing over his shoulder before changing lanes. "That's beyond having messed-up priorities. That's 'burning witches to save their souls' kind of stuff."

"Pretty much," Trey agreed. "But I'm still a minor, so I need to go to school and all that, which is why Stef is going through all this to be my foster mom, legally."

The head in front of me bobbed, nodding. "Makes sense."

At that point, Trey squeezed my shoulder to get my attention. When I looked away from my food and back to his face, he looked confused but certain - that expression that people had when they knew the answer beyond any doubt, they were just confused why they were being asked the question. "And I'm apparently some prophesied Chosen One - "

"You're a teenager," Kevin sputtered, swerving to avoid a car that tried to merge into us.

"- who needs to save the world - "

"You're a Teen. Aye. Jer."

" - and I need to choose a support group -"

"This is asinine," Kevin muttered, turning abruptly into a parking lot and throwing the car in park.

Thankfully, the mouthful of garlic-smothered crust in my mouth prevented me from letting out a profoundly dignified squeak.

Whirling around, he stared us both down. "Keep going."

"I need a support group to fill the gaps in my capabilities," Trey finished. "I have a week."

Kevin scrambled for his phone before Dex carefully batted it from his hand. "Authorities won't do anything," Dexter explained in a regretful tone. "It's been tried."

"And you can't just say no???"

Trey shook his head slowly, holding up his wrist. The lights in the car and from the street signs caught the silver chain around it, glinting. "They're tracking me."

Taking Trey's lead, Dex batted at Kevin's arm to get his attention. "He has magical abilities that are considered incredibly dangerous. Being a prophesied hero is best case scenario, I assure you." Dex immediately started licking one of his back feet. "I need to get the taste of that sentence out of my mouth, please pardon me."

Kevin just rubbed his face, for once not taking everything in stride. "Okay, so the hero is - of course - a teenager, presumably so some political group can control them and avoid letting them make decisions. Plus, you can write off a teenager dying in the course of thwarting a threat as 'impulsive' and live on with a clear conscience."

I whistled softly. "Got it in one," I admitted.

"The military lets people who can't legally drink enlist for the same reason," he pointed out. "And they're always first on the front lines."

No love lost between Kevin and the mundane government, apparently.

"Can I ask what your abilities even are? Is that rude or anything?"

Trey paused, face scrunching. "I… I don't know."

"It's not necessarily rude," I answered slowly. "But some people just won't want to answer. Privacy and all that."

"OH," Trey and Kevin responded before giving each other confused looks.

Trey took the lead. "I just meant that I'm not fully sure what my abilities are. But we know for sure I can manipulate reality. No clue to what extent, or even if I can do it on purpose or only by accident."

"There is that," I conceded.

Kevin continued. "A support group. What does that mean?"

"A standard adventuring party," I interjected, resting my hand on Trey's arm, his fingers still digging into my shoulder. "Think any fantasy adventure. Ranged attacks, a tank, a couple magic users, someone to handle provisions, a steed or two, et cetera."

"That's why Stef was doing the thing with the roses," Trey added softly. "She was demonstrating why she is a fighter, not just food and provisions."

"And Dex can't be a combatant except in the most dire emergency," I admitted, heading off the question. "He is empowered to protect his territory, and to defend his wards if the only other option is that his wards die. That's it, unfortunately."

"But he's - "

"A Guardian," Dexter interrupted. "I can use my offensive abilities to guard what is mine. That is the definition my existence."

"And my definition," I added, "as a ward is to defend Dexter. Which I am more than capable to do. And thankfully protect anyone not under his purview, because - spoiler - if anyone else is about to die in front of him outside his territory? Poor guy can't do anything about it."

Kevin whistled lowly. "That's got to suck."

"You have no idea," Dex grumbled plaintively.

"So the roses actually would have eaten me?"

"I mean… They do like bone meal?" I shrugged, hands up.

"Valid." Thankfully, he wasn't even offended, just taking the information in. Finally, he turned back to the steering wheel, put the car in gear, and re-engaged the GPS to the hotel. "I need to talk to my wife. Thankfully, we don't have any kids, and my income is mostly just for fun fund stuff. The woman is incredibly brilliant and successful."

Idly, I thought that, if this were an anime, this man would be sparkling just thinking about his wife. It was cute. Nauseating, but cute.

But suddenly, my mind caught up to what he actually said. "Wait, talk to her about what?"

Trey looked at me in the same tone that Kevin sucked his teeth at me. "You need a steed," Kevin explained slowly. "My car doesn't drive itself." He knocked on the roof with one sharp knuckle. "I mean, it's already a registered safe space for magical and paranormal beings. And I already know you three. It makes sense. Assuming I'm invited, I mean. I kind of jumped the gun."

"Oh hell - "

"Yes," Trey finished, white knuckling my shoulder at this point. "Oh Hell Yes."

"You traitor," I hissed at my teenage ward.

"Stop being stubborn. Do you want to take the bus?"

Once Trey's stack of possible magical events was handed over to Vivica, we only had to wait briefly as she looked over everything before she had someone come up to escort us to the testing area. "It's usually a formality," she explained to him when he looked slightly panicked. "Your abilities are rather amorphous, so this lets us determine them better. Stefanie and Benjamina didn't need it, but Helen certainly did."

"You knew Stef's mom?" Trey asked curiously, glancing around as we waited.

"I did not. However, the records are part of my job."

I shrugged and nodded. "Vivica isn't much older than me, to be fair."

He looked skeptical but wisely kept his mouth shut.

Thankfully, about three minutes later, a very harried-looking worker showed up, apologizing profusely and explaining something about a visiting dignitary while gesturing for us to follow him. The path snaked through several galleries before stopping in front of large swaths of hanging black plastic - clearly from the ongoing renovations that had the museum closed to the public.

"Our tester is through here," the guide explained, nervous but clearly reciting a script. "Once you enter, the wards will activate as a safety precaution during testing. In addition to the standard test personnel, please be aware that your test will be observed by our visiting dignitary. Do not be alarmed when you see them, as they are non-human. It is standard for visitors from other cultures to be permitted to view testing for one day during their trip."

Trey looked even more anxious, glancing at me and reaching for Dexter.

I nodded. "It is. 'Visiting dignitary' usually means delagates from a kingdom, and the testing observations are kind of a peace-keeping measure mixed with a cultural exchange. Usually it wouldn't be mentioned, but since the observer is non-human, it's just a polite heads-up so we don't offend them out of surprise."

"Correct," Dexter yawned. "Pretty standard stuff. If they were potentially dangerous, they would have made sure to schedule the observation on a day when they don't see a lot of tests."

Trey calmed a little bit at that, nodding. "Okay. Nothing to worry about, standard stuff. Got it."

"They won't expect you to be able to demonstrate anything," I assured him. "It's just an interview. The wards are a precaution in case your abilities are passive and potentially can cause damage if they get out of control - remember, some people have really destructive passive talents."

That seemed to get his anxiety about as under control as could be expected from a teenager whose entire future depended on today. After a couple more deep breaths, he gave one more determined nod. "Let's get this over with."

I gestured that he should go first, and Dexter sat tall on his shoulder as they swept the black plastic aside. Dex hissed, presumably at the wards tracing over him - not everyone had the touch Benji did, and some wards felt gross, for lack of a better term. I followed closely behind before dropping the sheeting as my eyes adjusted.

"What the hells!?" I cried, jumping in front of Trey as soon as my eyes adjusted. "Trey, stay behind me. Dex…"

"I am aware."

"Stef, what is going on?" Trey sounded terrified, and I couldn't even blame him. I had just reassured him for several hours that everything would be fine, and now I was acting like a madwoman responding to a threat.

In addition to the standard panel of five testers, there was indeed a foreign dignitary. A seven foot, winged, and beautiful dignitary.

"A fucking deva," I swore. My blood ran cold, knowing there was nothing I could do if they chose to expose Trey's abilities.

"Peace, fertility mage," the angelic being assured me. "I seek no quarrel with one who encourages life and nourishes others. I have no animosity toward the child."

We were so screwed.

"Stef," Trey tugged on my arm. "Why are you upset with the… deva? It isn't another demon, is it?"

"Angelic dignitary," I answered, absent-mindedly shaking my head. "Very rule bound, usually. Strong healers, can sense magic, change their form…. They're all up in the Bible, which is kind of ironic given how many religious nuts hate magic."

Can sense magic. So, so screwed.

To the kid's credit, he responded as casually as possible despite his voice audibly shaking as he realized the reason I was reacting so strongly. "So my mother is secretly a paranormal and all her angels are actually paranormals. Got it."

Calming down, I tried to bluff it out despite how abundantly up the jig was. "I am Stefanie Warren, applicant foster mother for this minor."

The deva did not even blink as the testers forced themselves to recover. One stepped forward. "Test applicant, identify yourself."

"Trey - " he squeaked before clearing his throat. "Trey Miller."

"And how old are you, Trey Miller?"

"Sixteen."

"Do you consent to Stefanie Warren being present for your testing?"

"Yes."

That was when Dexter spoke up. "I am also Trey's guardian. Currently I am registered as Dexter with the Coucil." He gave the location of his territory in terms that meant something to someone, as all of the testers nodded.

"And, Trey Miller, do you consent to having the Guardian Dexter present for your testing?"

"Yes."

"And you understand that neither Guardian Dexter nor Stefanie Warren will be permitted to interfere with your test?"

"Yes? Why would they - "

"Yes or no, please."

"Yes."

From there, the interview proceeded in a fairly normal fashion. The testers took turns asking Trey for more details about the incidents he listed in his intake forms, poking and prodding them, turning them over as much as possible. Trey did his best to recall details on the older ones, a bit more truthfully than I liked, but still without revealing anything that seemed to head into dangerous territory. I panicked a little when he mentioned the soup, before realizing he didn't know it shouldn't have been there.

After several worrisome but ultimately boring hours, the interview finally seemed to be winding down. The testers had to be running out of questions around Trey moving the goats and himself in sheer panic… he literally woke up, saw the branch, and was suddenly across the creek. There wasn't a lot he could clarify other than what happened after - Dex and I hauling ass to see what happened, Trey being terrified, all pretty normal stuff.

The lead tester glanced between his peers before nodding. "We must take a brief recess to confer on the results. Please be patient with us." He then turned toward the deva, bowing respectfully. "Deva Remeh, please excuse us as we discuss the test. Your observation has been most welcome."

The deva - Remeh, apparently - inclined their head slightly. "It was a pleasure to observe a human reality manipulator in person. The child is quite well-adjusted."

All I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears as Remeh so casually revealed the outcome we had dreaded the most. I sputtered. "Your Grace, he isn't - he can't - "

"I apologize, I was not aware you had ruled the possibility out. I assure you, he is quite sane and stable, and likely to remain so."

Trey fell to his knees as the testers turned to stare him down. "It's… it has to be just luck, or telekinesis. Not… Please no."

Remeh flared their wings. "This is good news, is it not?" Their eyes glowed as the testers turned their attention back. "Is. It. Not?"

"Of course, Deva Remeh - " the lead tester started.

"Lie," they pronounced, pointing with one hand. "The child and his guardians are terrified and you lie to me. You seek to harm the child."

"We do not!" the tester shouted, holding his hands up. "We do not seek to harm him!"

"You want to put him in prison!" Dexter hissed. "Or kill him humanely!"

The glowing intensified - Dexter clearly believed himself, and as a Guardian being, his word held wait that mere humans couldn't measure up to. "Does the Guardian speak true?"

"Normally, yes! But not this one!" At this point, the lead tester was shrieking in terror and the rest were cowering on the floor. "He's Prophesied! A Chosen One!"

The poor, unfortunate intern who had escorted us initially was unlucky enough to be on duty to escort us back to Vivica. I hadn't seen Tester Huge return, and since the rest of the group had exited the chamber abruptly by different means, I assumed this meant he was in his office, quarters, or whatever other place he had to be when he wasn't party to pissing off a dignitary from a divine realm.

Imagine my shock when we reached the front desk, only to find him leaning on it and deep in conversation with the usually taciturn receptionist-slash-archivist.

"Madam Warren." He straightened abruptly, yanking his hood back over his head.

I waved him off, weary. "Stefanie is fine. Gods know you've earned it."

Vivica twitched an eyebrow ever so slightly, reaching for a manila envelope. "These are the affidavit forms for anyone who cannot be present in eight days time, at two in the afternoon local time, to swear Support for Trey." Without moving her eyes from my face, she snagged the other envelope from the counter in front of Tester Huge. "And these are the vouchers for up to eight rooms, double occupancy, along with fifty dollar per diem per capita, for the day of and after the oaths. Councilor Carter arranged for it, as a conciliatory gesture I am given to understand."

Tester Huge waved in embarrassment. "That would be me." He held a hand out. "Councilor Shawn Carter. Shawn is fine. And I am so sorry for today, I don't know what got up - " He coughed, clearing his throat. "I don't know what my peer was thinking."

"Lying in front of both a registered Guardian and a deva?" Dexter drawled before tutting the actions. "I do not dare to even imagine."

Tester Huge - Carter - sighed. "He has… increased our efficiency to a significant degree. But his ideas are not always compatible with reality and the older magics."

"He's a technomancer," Vivica clarified bluntly.

"Oh!" The exclamation came from me, Dex, and Trey, all in sync. It explained everything - technomancers were a relatively new discovery. Even Trey's short knowledge of magic could figure out that people who rely on tech have zero patience for anything that isn't instant.

And here I was, a horticulturist on paranormal steroids, thinking a week was a rather short time to do anything.

"How many affidavits are there?" I asked, glancing between Vivica and Carter.

"Eight," Carter confirmed, relaxing now that he seemed to be on more familiar footing. "The hope is that the party will not exceed twenty, and sixteen beds should be more than enough to convince people to come in to swear oaths in person. After all, work obligations are…" He gestured vaguely, looking for the right word. "Back-burner to saving the world, unfortunately."

"Aunt Benji is overseas for a month!" Trey cried, panicking.

I whirled around, barely catching the wide eyes from Carter. "Hey," I said gently, touching the sleeves of his hoodie. "That's what one of these affidavits is for. I know it sounds crazy fast in books, but something this big takes time. We can send her one overnight, and get it back within two days. We'll send it before we even leave the city to go home."

Trey sniffed, but thankfully no tears were in his eyes. "She'll kick your ass if you don't tell her."

"She's going to kick my ass anyway," I pointed out, earning a small smile. "But yes, we're going to stop off at the nearest federal office and - "

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Dex moaned, transitioning to Vivica's desk. "Do you have an envelope, pen, and paper?"

She scoffed, offended. "What is the message?"

"I need you to write this precisely. She won't believe it is me if you do not," Dex warned. " 'Harridan. Your nephew is a Chosen and needs your commitment of Support within seven days local. Fill this out, call for me, and I may' - that should be emphasized, or she will think I will actually do things for her on a whim - 'bring this document with us. We do not know how long the journey may or may not take, as human politics are both glacial and need to be completed yesterday. Do not bother with the profanity, your sister is already quite ahead of the task.' Then put it up here and I will stamp it."

Ever the professional, Vivica handed him the paper within a minute. Rather than a paw print, he bit it. Scorch marks were left behind, but no one mentioned it.

"Seal it in the envelope, addressed only to Benji Warren, let me stamp that, and then I will send it to her."

One more bite through an envelope and folded document, and it was off.

Trey and Carter looked at me, confused beyond anything I could describe.

Throwing my hands up, I groaned. "He used the same mouth to bite the letter and prove the sealed envelope as the mouth he used to bite her the first time she pissed him off. She still has a scar she can use to prove it's him."

"The charred edges are a bit much," Carter muttered.

"Drah-gun. DRAGON. What part aren't you understanding?" Trey deadpanned.

It took every bit of thirty seconds for the overly large Councilor to lose his composure, laughing softly. "My kids love that movie. Good point, though."

"Still not a dragon," the subject in question responded drily, resuming his throne atop Trey's shoulders. "But I am hungry."

Glancing out of the windows at the front of the museum, I abruptly realized it was night. "Yeah, we definitely need to eat. Think Kevin is still on shift?"

"He gave you his personal cell," Trey pointed out. "So yes, he is on shift for us. Remember?"

Rubbing my nose and forehead, I nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I remember now. Sorry, long day and my blood sugar isn't sugaring."

"I'm rather certain that's not - you know what, not my business," Carter muttered. "I can wait with you while your ride arrives, just to run interference if needed."

"Vivica can - "

"Vivica is busy," the subject of the statement pointed out. "Let Councilor Carter be large and intimidating. He's a pyromancer, law degree. You'll be very safe."

I didn't even try to hide my confusion as I took in the enormous Councilor. "Pyromancer?" Usually, they were incredibly thin due to the calorie requirements of their powers.

"You would not believe how much I eat," he groaned. "I also try to keep it to controlling existing fires, not making them."

Trey glanced between us meaningfully before Dexter leaned near his ear. A look of dawning comprehension took over his face before he nodded. He ended up rushing for a seat and flopping down while I sent a text to Kevin before joining him.

"Any thoughts on the support party? Like, who should I ask other than you and Dex? And obviously Aunt Benji."

I opened my mouth to answer, but Carter politely held up a hand to respond instead while taking a seat with more grace than I expected. "I can certainly advise, provided you are all comfortable telling me the abilities of everyone involved."

Shrugging, I went for it. "I have plant abilities, both passive health enhancement and active growth manipulation. My sister is a seriously powerful active warder."

"Benji….Sister of Stefanie Wah - " Carter trailed off. "Wait. Benjamina Warren?"

"The same," I admitted.

He whistled lowly and shook his head. "Okay, so defense is totally covered, and quite a bit of healing and offense. Good, good. Guardian Dexter, you… well, I can look up your file, obviously, so we'll save the time and stick to what you can't do."

"Dex can do everything," Trey gushed.

Dexter jumped down to the floor, tail twitching nervously. "I can't do anything that requires thumbs…" he hedged.

"Dex," I admonished. "Tell them."

"It isn't safe here," he complained sternly.

"Vivica trusts him, I'm here, and Kevin is on his way. I think we can be honest, and Trey needs to know."

"I need to know what??" Trey asked, eyes wide again.

"Wait," Trey sputtered while Councilor Carter chuckled. "You protect him?"

I threw my hands up. "What about my powers makes people think I'm helpless?"

"I'm sorry, Stef," Trey started slowly, clearly confused. "But how is making things grow something you can use for…. I dunno, combat?"

Groaning, I dropped my hands to rub my face. "Trey. I can't just make them grow. I can make them do whatever I want."

"That doesn't help," he complained plaintively. "I've seen what you do. It's just…. growing and more growing."

"Please limit yourself to the rosebushes nearest the door," Vivica droned, seemingly apropos of nothing. "They are scheduled to be removed anyway. Failure to thrive."

"Rose - "

Carter stepped forward. "I think a demonstration would be instructive," he agreed, reaching in his pocket. "Unfortunately, I cannot let you exit the building without a tracking bracelet." When I bristled, he held it up in one hand, the other equally high and empty. "Policy for Chosen Ones, unfortunately, like I said. It is strictly for tracking, enchanted to be slightly looser than snug at all times - and I do mean all times. That way, in the event of injury, it will not constrict the limb."

"And who is empowered to remove it?" I demanded, mama bear back in full effect.

"On this plane? Any single Councilor of this jurisdiction or above, or a quorom of any full Council outside this jurisidiction. Also any magic deemed miraculous, rated at or above a moderate miracle."

"And it only tracks location?" Trey asked, skeptical. I was abundantly proud of him for talking back like that.

"On my magic, my breath, and my bones, I swear it," Carter intoned. The air charged, but he didn't drop dead.

"Let's get it over with," Trey sighed after a nod from me. At this point, even he realized how serious that oath was.

He held out his arm, and the slim, silver chain was dropped into his palm. With eerie smoothness, it slithered to his wrist of its own accord before uncoiling and wrapping around it. Once it was, I presumed, connected, it fell still and inanimate.

"It feels normal," Trey muttered. "Other than, you know, when it was moving."

"Not too tight?" Carter asked.

"It's just like you said - not quite snug, just a little looser."

I exhaled, resigned. "Okay, we have the magical lowjack. Can I show Trey why I'm not uselesss in combat?" Admittedly, I sounded very frustrated. I was desperate for something I could somewhat control, choose. Something that didn't involve lashing out. Trey didn't deserve me throwing a temper tantrum.

"Yes!" Trey answered immediately. It felt like he was in a similar boat - something resembling normalcy. Education he could understand. Having to wear a tracker, he would have to learn to understand. But not right now.

"The roses closest to the doors, Stefanie." Vivica's reminder was another balm to my nerves. Something normal in the rhythm of my life.

We stepped through the doors, my eyes sweeping for Kevin as I took several strides away from the windows. Once the roses in question were about halfway between me and the building, I turned around. "So. I'm going to start on the right if you are looking from this direction," I told Trey, who had dutifully followed me so he could stay behind my shoulder - a habit developed after I semi-blew-up my greenhouse. Not that I was complaining.

I held up one hand. "I am only holding out my hand to let you know that I am going to start. In an emergency, I wouldn't do that," I explained. "Furthest rose to the right."

Power threaded down my arm in green and gold before the plant in question suddenly became much easier to see. Kind of hard to miss a twenty foot rose bush where a three foot one had been only moments early.

"Holy shit," Trey gasped.

Dex shushed him. "She's just starting."

The bush itself started glowing, energy trailing to focus into bright crimson buds, which swelled and exploded into blooms. The blooms grew larger and larger as the bush started twisting and writhing against itself. Within minutes, roses the size of my head were at the end of vicious, reaching vines, thorns looking hungry for flesh.

"Those thorns can rip the skin to bone in seconds," I stated calmly, nodding towards them. "And I can make them move wherever I want." To demonstrate, one flower closer to us rocked in a lazy wave.

"That's wild," Trey whispered.

"Even wilder," I started before the bush started to recede, leaves shedding after a handful of seconds. Rapidly, it withdrew into itself before shrinking even further, finally leaving only a foot or so of short, stubby branches. "I can wind them back, or even kill them." Suddenly, the branches were withered twigs.

"On the left," I stated flatly, too focused to put any inflection in it. The next bush grew to draw attention. Once it was large enough to keep focus, the branches kept lengthening without leaves. Instead, thorns longer than my hand and blooms full of what looked like fangs grew in a cross hatch formation. In the end, a trellis of spikes and hungry flowers defended the front of the museum. It took maybe two minutes to force it.

Without warning, a voice shouted behind us. "Stefanie, stop!"

Deep in combat mode, I swept a hand behind me, manifesting an even thicker, more threatening trellis behind us without looking. Yes, Vivica asked me to keep the demonstration to the bushes they were pulling. But, in my mind, this wasn't a demonstration.

This was a threat.

So, in addtion to just the defense offered by a ten foot tall fence coated in six inch thorn and red roses filled with four inch vegetal teeth, there were reaching branches actively trying to bite the approaching party.

I was woozy from over-exertion, but we were safe.

"Holy…" A throat cleared. "My name is Kevin and I am a friend of Stefanie and Trey. If you are a threat to them, I will engage appropriate authorities!"

With no hesitation, I groaned loudly and dropped the trellises. "Kevin. I'm the one doing the things with the plants."

I managed to catch him pulling to full stop - not just physically, but mentally. "Oh." He rubbed his face. "I didn't think about that, but since you're a farmer that… Yeah, that tracks."

Carefully - carefully - I focused on reducing the poor, exhausted roses between me and Kevin back to their previous size. Or at least a size comparable to the rest. Out of gratitude for their response to my call for aide, I pumped a little extra vitality into them to make up for the energy I had just asked them to use. Fortunately, the roses closest to the doors needed no such care, so I just withered them to dried out husks, easier to be dug up by landscapers.

"You killed them," Kevin squeaked.

I couldn't stop the smile that tugged at the corner of my mouth. "They were already due to be removed, soon. I just put an end to their struggle and made life easier for the landscapers."

"Oh." He rubbed his face thoughtfully. "I guess that's not so bad."

"Stef, that was so cool!" Trey gushed breathlessly, mentally catching up with what he'd witnessed. "I didn't know you could - I mean, I knew you could make things grow, but - That was so cool!"

Oh, to be a teenager. Resilient bugger. He would have been growing on me if I weren't already incredibly fond and protective of him. "It's how I 'defend' Dexter," I explained, still not trying to hide my smile. I was exhausted, but in the way you felt after using muscles you hadn't used in a while; the memory was there, just had to get the endurance back. "I can explain the rest in the car, if Councilor Carter is okay with us leaving now that our ride is here?"

Carter looked at Kevin skeptically, but gave a slight bow and made an open gesture with his hand. "By all means. We will see you again soon."

He got bonus points in my mind for not making it sound even remotely like a threat, despite the chain around Trey's wrist that reminded us otherwise.

"Alright, let's go," I waved toward the hideous yet familiar orange car waiting at the curb. "I'm starving and my legs won't last much longer."

Trey's stomach growled in clear agreement, but more interestingly, Kevin lit up. Clearly we'd found something he could help with, putting him on more familiar ground.

"My wife, Sariah, told me to bring you food!" His grin was almost contagious. "Because you've been here for hours and 'if governments feed people, it's always disgusting'. She's so mindful…" The lovestruck look on his face made me queasy, but thankfully he shook it off quickly, back on topic. "I grabbed pizza on the way, I hope cheese and supreme are…" Suddenly, he looked horrified.

"Those sound perfect," Trey confirmed, ahead of us far enough he couldn't see Kevin's face.

"Stefanie, I'm so sorry, I didn't know…"

I stopped, shaking my head in confusion. "Know what? Did you get ranch, or those little garlic sauce thingies?"

"I got both but… I didn't get anything for you…"

I waved him off, walking towards the car again. "Even Trey can't eat two whole pizzas, it's fine."

"But they aren't vegan! None of it is!"

My neck popped as I turned to stare at him. "Vegan? Why would… I know it's Maine, but why would you need vegan… I'm so lost."

"You! The plants! The…" He waved his hand around fruitlessly. "The thing! I didn't know, and I didn't even think… I could have texted you…"

I held up a hand to stop his incoherent rambling, having gotten the picture. "Kevin. I'm not vegan. I'm not even vegetarian. Keep walking, and I'll prove it. The protein on that pizza is going to hold me over until we get to the hotel, the carbs are going to be amazing, and then I'm getting the biggest steak I can afford when we get checked in."

"Oh." Gods and goddesses bless the man's adaptability, he took my statement as gospel and bolted to open the car door for me.

"Why do people think I'm vegan?" I muttered.

"Too many comic books is my guess," Dex drawled, having deigned to walk beside me rather than be bounced by an overexuberant teenager.

"I'll take your word for it." Rubbing my nose, I realized it didn't itch - it was tingling. "Please go make sure Trey saves me some pizza - and maybe some extra crusts?"

As soon as we walked into the Maine State Museum/Temporary Council Headquarters, I relaxed slightly. This was a realm I was familiar with, and the gatekeeper bore a comforting set of wire-rimmed glasses and a bun so crisp that the Russian Ballet would faint with envy. "Vivica," I sighed in relief. "I'm back."

She didn't even lift her head, instead grabbing a set of forms on pure muscle memory. "Stefanie Warren, approved foster for paranormals and supernatural minors," she stated in a flat, nearly inhuman tone. "Please have your current charge fill out these forms. Remember to have them list all past and present aliases, regardless of if they are legal or informal. We do not report to local law enforcement unless the charges are clearly an ongoing concern such as sheer physical violence or a demonstrable record of taking advantage of their abilities for ill gain. If the first page of the packet is insufficient, additional paper is located on the side table." She pointed with her other hand, still not looking up. "Everything else should be filled out starting on page two. If your charge is unaware of what to enter, I trust in your ability to guide them through the process. If you don't know what species of paranormal they are, I will be here to answer any questions."

I nodded, took the stack of papers, and guided Trey to some seats to the side for this exact purpose.

"She's scary," Trey muttered.

"She's incredibly good at her job," I corrected. "She doesn't need people skills, but I promise you that, when it's just a kid and no adult present, she actually has them. But you have me and, presumably if I'm here, Dexter. So any warm fuzzies from her are just inefficient as far as she is concerned."

"So, yeah. Scary." Regardless, he relaxed and took the sheaf of paper from me. Frowning, he tapped his cheek with the pen. "Do I really have to put my birth name on here?"

"It's for tracking down records," I explained. "Start with what's on your birth certificate, then any nicknames, legal name changes, fake aliases, all in chronological order. Last, you'll list what you currently wish to go by. Provided there isn't any legal reason to decline a name change, it will automatically be submitted as a legal petition for name change either when you turn eighteen, become legally emancipated, or get adopted."

"What's - "

"If you're wanted for murder," Dex interrupted. "Or something else that would get you serious jail time without adequate defense. Can't let you change your name to escape legal consequences, that kind of thing."

"At least that makes sense," Trey grumbled before starting to write, pausing every so often to think. Finally, he got to current day and froze. "Do I have to keep my last name?"

"You do not." My tone was firm but kind. "If it's generic enough, it may be easier than choosing a last name right this second. If it's unique, I usually recommend picking something boring and common in circumstances like yours. Makes it harder if family comes looking later down the road."

"I don't want to pick Smith or Johnson," he sighed again. "What are some other common names?"

Before I could respond, Vivica started reciting from her desk. "Williams, Brown, Jones, Garcia, Miller, Davis, Martinez, Hernandez - "

"Miller is perfect!" he called out, eyes wide.

I nodded, understanding. "Mnemokineses. I told you, it's intimidating at first."

"You weren't kidding, that's for sure."

Eventually, we got through the rest of the paperwork. I only had to prompt him a couple times, mostly explaining that gaps in residency were neither an issue nor unexpected given what we were petitioning for. About an hour after walking in, we were handing the first round of paperwork back to Vivica.

"Please wait here," she instructed flatly, already scanning the pages. After, she took one blink and a deep breath to continue. "You have two living aunts and three uncles who are old enough to take custody of you."

I was grateful I had prepared him for this when he simply sighed and rubbed his face. "I know exactly who you're talking about, and somehow they are all worse than my actual parents. Aunt Cindy is homophobic, transphobic, and male-centered, so I can't win there. Aunt Michelle is racist, misogynist - yeah, I know, but she is - and queerphobic. All three of my uncles are very much 'burn the witch' types, so having any ability I can't hide is going to be a problem, plus the queer thing. And I'm pretty sure Aunt Michelle's sons are going to end up dead, in jail, or both."

Vivica just nodded and placed a bright orange sticker on the corner of the first page before stapling the entire stack. If anyone was surprised, Trey hid it well. He only turned to me and whispered "Creepy."

"DMV records and obits," I shrugged. "She's great at her job."

"She checks that for the whole state?"

"Whole country," Vivica interjected, already typing data into her computer. "But just the changes."

"Every morning," I added. "Mnemokineses may be intimidating, but it also has its perks."

"And a fantastic benefits package," she supplemented before blindly grabbing another stack of papers. "While I send your information to file with the appropriate people, this set is to register and grade your abilities. Far less formal, you simply need to list every possible instance you can think of that may exceed the bounds of what would happen to someone else. Unless your abilities clearly lay in another area, as Stefanie's do, please include unlikely occurrances and err on the side of too much rather than too little. Better to risk chaff than miss something."

Trey paled and swallowed visibly. "Everything?"

"The more unsure you are of your power, the more information we need," she insisted. "Stefanie and Benjamina were very clear on their abilities when they came in, so we needed only a handful of examples - very straightforward, those two. Their mother had to write nearly fifty pages to make sure we captured everything, unfortunately. It truly does vary."

"Glacial at best," Dexter muttered from his sleeping pose around Trey's shoulders. "But Vivica is truly impressive at what she does, so more information is better."

"My gratitude, Guardian."

We navigated back to the chairs and Trey stared at the paper.

"Think back as far as you can for things that may seem like luck," Dex advised gently. "Things that made your parents or teachers thank God, or say 'if only', everything."

This round of paperwork was much slower going and plodding. Trey ended up cross-checking every childhood near miss, accident, or lack of ailment with me before writing it down. Fell out of a tree and only scraped a knee? Write it down. Never had chicken pox even when his whole class had it? Twice? Definitely. Bullies who tripped before they could grab him, snow days when he hadn't studied for a test…

About three pages in, I took over writing because Trey's hand cramped up. He rubbed it and stretched it. "The trucker lady counts, right?"

"The one who picked you up and advised to avoid the vampire nest? Eyeah, I'm already writing her down." I sighed, nodding. "That is a very solid example. Anything between that and showing up at my house?"

"When I started walking again, I always could find an unlocked church to sleep in?" He waved at himself. "Didn't even set on fire when I walked through the doors, despite what my family swore would happen."

I can't set them on fire, I reminded myself, writing the information down before jotting down the details from when he arrived at my house, including the soups that I still had no clue why they were there. The necklace that Dex found instead, the tree and hammock, the goats, everything I could think of that was a little too convenient. Once I was done, I read through the whole list, starting at the top, to make sure everything listed matched the story we were trying to tell regarding passive biomanipulation and active telekinesis. Despite my and Benji's original idea, I did end up leaving the situation with Trey moving himself and the goats in a panic, since it really sunk the telekinesis theory. The church doors were taken out, and my intervention on my back patio was tweaked to describe that I had a feeling I needed to look out the back door. The soup came out, as did the amulet - too close to luck for my comfort.

Trey looked over both lists once I finished, nodding once he saw what I kept and what didn't make the final cut. "Okay. I think that's everything." He took a slow breath and squared his shoulders before nodding again. "Once more to the dragon lady?"

I chuckled nervously, shaking my head. "If you only knew how many times I've heard her called that."

"What is it with humans calling everyone dragons?" Dex grumbled sleepily from Trey's hood. "Not everything or everyone scary is a dragon."

"Sounds like something a dragon would say," Trey accused.

"Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me!" I yelled angrily, storming forward. Self-preservation was right the fuck out now. "Absolutely not."

"Language," Remeh remonished.

I walked right up to the closest tester - a large, wide man who clearly had a stern mother, judging by the way he stepped back. "Over. My. Dead. Body."

"That can be - "

Feathers clouded my vision as Remeh's voice rang out like a choir. "It can not. You will allow Stefanie Warren to proceed."

I shouted towards the ceiling so my voice could be heard, trying to avoid the feathers. "Trey is sixteen years old. I don't care if he is prophesied, destined, Chosen, or blessed, he is a child. I will be…. cast into Hell before I allow him to be forced to hare off on some stupid quest or mission."

By this point, Tester Huge was holding up his hands to fend off the finger I was waving in his face and glancing around to find another victim for me.

Tester Bullshit - the one who seemed to be the leader - seemingly volunteered. "There is a prophecy, and it's law that the subject must complete such a foretelling."

"Foretelling?" I shrieked. "Foretelling!?"

"I will fetch it," Tester Huge hastily volunteered before making a swift retreat.

Dexter prowled over, full bobcat form, larger even than usual. "Our ward will not be sent alone to his death. Not to save the world, not to save a hair on your head. Regardless of what mortal law states, magic will not permit it."

"This is correct," the deva confirmed, folding their wing so I could see. "There are provisions that must be met for any prophesied hero to succeed. If the child is indeed foretold." The word 'if' was doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence, ringing like a threat.

My shoulders relaxed a fraction at the clear doubt in Remeh's voice. I started grasping at my memories out loud. "A - a party? A fellowship? Whatever - they're entitled to a support team."

That was when Tester Huge arrived, carrying a wooden box and breathing heavily. "I have the prophecy," he suggested hesitantly, holding it up.

Tester Bullshit turned, but I was faster. I dove for the box, ripped the lid up, and snatched the jar from within. Without hesitation, and ignoring Tester Bullshit's protests, I opened it.

"A changed child, born of two worlds,

Will find shelter in one, with one of the same.

Here, they will discover who they truly are

While learning growth and healing from their scars.

When towers have fallen and injustice rules,

A powerful evil will align with a king in all but name.

The child, while innocent, will conquer the wicked.

Though innocence lost, they will be whole and gifted.

Only through this, shall the magic remain whole."

Pain exploded in my knees when I fell to the floor, trying not to sob. "He's sixteen," I moaned.

Trey finally recovered enough to speak. "You want me, a teenager, to save the world?"

Tester Bullshit nodded in triumph. "Yes. Your mission will save not just all paranormals, but possibly all mundanes as well."

Tears will still pouring down my cheeks, snot running freely from my nose, when Trey burst into laughter. I whipped my head around to see him barely bracing himself on his knees to keep from falling. "You…. Oh my god, you are so far out of your mind…." A laugh that sounded close to a sob tore out of him. "You want to put the fate of the world on my shoulders??? I can't even… I can't even be trusted to pick tomatoes without adult supervision. And you want me to…." Another hysterical cackle ripped from him as he sat stiffly on the floor, head braced on his knees. "You're crazy. There's no other explanation."

"We invoke right of support!" I blurted out, finally remembering the right words.

"Agreed," Dexter yowled, still swishing his tail.

"What is Right of Support?" Trey asked.

"It is - "

I cut off Tester Bullshit. "Right of Support is a law older than this country, and is inviolable. It dictates that, if a person with magic is designated by Fate, a God, or any other Higher Power, to complete a task they are unlikely to complete on their own without losing their life, they are required to have a support group to cover any gaps their abilities do not fill."

Trey looked dumbstruck for a moment before shaking his head and recovering. "So, I cannot heal myself, shield myself, transport myself except on foot…"

"And are thereby entitled to a healer, a warder or Guardian, a Steed - though that need not be an animal in these modern times," Remeh confirmed. They stared down the testers, as though daring anyone to challenge their ruling.

"You're also absolute garbage at breaking rules," I pointed out, eyebrows raised for emphasis.

He got the hint immediately. "Oh, yeah. So I need someone to do that for me. And I can't manage a grocery list."

"Trey Miller, these are basic tasks," Tester Bullshit cried.

"And I am six-fucking-teen," Trey argued. "I'm not an adult, and you're expecting adult level stuff out of me. I need a lot of help. Not sorry."

"We do not have the resources - "

"You do not provide the party," Dex hissed. "You only do so under Council order, but voluntary support supersedes if the party agrees."

"Guardian Dexter is correct," Remeh confirmed coldly. "And both he and Stefanie Warren have declared Right of Support. Unless the child declines, the human Council need not intervene."

"I don't decline!" Trey shouted, much louder than needed. "I choose Stefanie and Dexter." He paused for a moment. "Am I allowed to choose paranormal-sympathetic normals?"

"Well - " Tester Bullshit, again.

"You are entitled to choose anyone who you believe will support you in your endeavors," Remeh cut off. "Magical or mundane, or even nonhuman."

"How soon do I need to give my Support members?" Trey asked shrewdly. I openly grinned, and even Dex flicked his ears in satisfaction.

"Forty-eight - "

"Seven days," Remeh glared. "Seven. Dirunal. Cycles."

My eyes widened as I stared at Tester Bullshit, all the other Testers having retreated around Tester Huge.

"So, I have a week," Trey squeaked out. "I need to speak to a few people. Consent is important, from what I've been taught."

"You do have a week," Tester Huge agreed quietly, nodding so enthusiastically that I was worried for his chiropractor bill. And possibly his dentist. "I will go immediately to the front desk to set up your appointment for one week from now, and explain that we need to be as close to mid-day as possible, with later being the preference?"

"Mid-day is wonderful," I assured. "And if it isn't available, later is best, yes."

I caught some muttering from Tester Huge as he left, mostly about not being able to imagine getting a teenager up earlier than humanly necessary and some level of jealously about sleeping in. Despite how awful this entire experience had been, I had to admit I was becoming fond of Tester Huge. He, at least, had a grain of sense.

Trey tugged my arm. "Is there a restriction on the size of the support group?"

Not even pretending we weren't being eavesdropped on, I turned to glare at Tester Bullshit. "Well?"

"Yes, yes, he will have the seven days - "

Even Remeh was done with the bullshit at this point, folding their wings with a crack that reminded me of a thunderstorm. "Your deliberate attempts at being obtuse are not only unbecoming, but will be included in my report as an emissary. Answer the question, as I know well that you have magics on this room that allow you to hear everything said within."

They what? I knew that Trey hadn't spoken quietly enough to avoid being overheard, but finding out that the Council Testers could hear every word, yet never disclosed this, was a blow. Don't get me wrong, I didn't expect any sort of privacy, but flat out surveillance?

"The support group is limited to the minimum number required to fulfill your needs. This requirement is in place to ensure that you are choosing your members wisely - redundancy focused on day to day tasks, multiple healers with other useful skills, etc."

The tone of the response was reluctant, but the the answer seemed to satisfy Deva Remeh. "Now. Was it so hard to just tell the full truth?"

"So where is this Council?" Kevin asked as he checked mirrors to pull away from the curb.

I bit my lip and furrowed my brow. "They tend to move around," I admitted reluctantly. "Usually you just start walking and end up there, if I'm being honest."

Once we were safely in moving traffic, he sighed. "That has to be the dumbest method of navigating I have ever heard of," he grumbled cheerfully. "Can you at least tell me where I need to turn?"

"I can… try?" I pulled up the map on my now-mostly-charged phone and stared at it hoping that something would come to me. "Does right on Civic Center Drive sound right?"

"It's doable!"

"We'll take it," Dex drawled, curling his tail around his feet as he settled in the front passenger seat.

I felt like an idiot, staring at my phone and giving directions based on vibes, but thankfully Kevin seemed nonplussed and kept asking questions as I peppered directions. "So, Trey. Registering with the Council. What does that mean?"

Trey sounded more confident than I knew him to be when he answered. "It makes Stef my official foster parent, which means I can go to school, she can make my medical decisions if I'm unconscious, and my parents will have to do a lot of work to get custody of me back if they even want me."

"Foster mom?" our driver asked, curiosity piqued. "I thought you two were already family."

"We are," Trey replied defensively. "This just makes it official."

Kevin nodded. "I can get with that. I get along with my family and my in-laws, but I know I'm lucky on both counts. Looks like your luck just ran a different direction."

My stomach dropped, distracting my focus from the map.

Dexter intervened smoothly. "If anyone in this scenario is lucky, it is I. Not just one strong ward to act as caretaker for my territory, but a possible second? Any Guardian will be jealous of my wealth."

Our self-appointed driver laughed, but Trey and I glaced at each other while I numbly gave the next turn. Dexter never said anything so flattering about me. Trey maybe, but not me. And the smug asshole in the front seat actually looked…. well, smug.

Kevin seemed to take the hint and changed the subject. "So I'm guessing the medical appointment before went well?"

"All good news," Trey confirmed, a small smile creeping onto his face that he remembered.

"And the facial hair is coming in pretty nice. High five, or more doctor appointments?" A pale hand was shoved where Kevin could see it, and he softly high-fived the proud teenager. "Awesome, awesome. So, clean bill of health, puberty going well, about to have a new legal family… Good news all the way around. Good, good."

"Take the next left," I interjected softly.

"On it!" Head swivelled to check lanes before getting over. "Any sightseeing while you're in town?"

"Not sure yet," I answered to avoid Trey offering up any more information to someone who was basically a stranger. A polite, seemingly moral stranger, but a stranger nontheless. "I need to get back home before too long. Work can't wait more than a couple days."

"Shit, right… dude, let me turn!" Once we were heading back on track, Kevin kept going. "Sorry, I keep forgetting that just because my job is portable doesn't mean everyone's can be. Heck, I don't even know what you do."

"She's a farmer," Dexter answered, licking a paw while keeping an eye on our driver.

"Ooooo. Yeah, you can't be gone longer than necessary, I get that. So 'get the legal stuff out of the way, avoid any more succubi, get home' sounds like the name of the game."

"How did you ignore that one?" I asked, genuinely curious and wanting to turn the info-digging around a bit.

"Oh, I only desire my wife and knew that wasn't her," he answered like it was obvious. "I mean, I know where my wife is: she's at the hospital fussing at her mother and the nurses, making sure her father eats and changes into clean clothes. She definitely wasn't at the Greyhound station trying to pick up meals. So, when I saw her standing there, it only made sense."

"You've gotta be kidding me," I muttered. "Right at the next light."

"Right at the light, got it. And it sounds corny, but every succubus I've ever met has looked like my wife, when she couldn't possibly be anywhere else. A few even apologized, because they just wanted a ride to work or home. Those told me it was super cute, called it a green flag."

"The greenest," Trey confirmed. "Does that mean they can't control it?"

"They can't," Dex took on answering. "Their magic automatically makes them look exactly like whatever sentient the viewer would most desire. Which means our kind driver seems to see his wife - very cute, I understand - and Stef saw…"

"A very indiscriminate human," I confirmed. "I don't desire anyone like that, and since they can't look like anything else without actual targeted effort, I just saw a very much average human of what could have been any gender."

I took the opportunity to keep steering the conversation to more and more innocuous topics interspersed with directions. After not much longer, we pulled up to an imposing structure of concrete and glass. Trey shrank a bit at the sight of it, clearly feeling as intimidated as I did. As prepared as I was for random locations - abandoned grocery stores, closed theme parks, any liminal space that should hold people but didn't - this was a bit much.

Kevin, as seemed to be his nature, was completely unbothered. "Oh! The state museum! That's weird, I thought it was closed for renovations."

I could actually feel the confusion drain out of me. A state funded educational complex that was currently closed was exactly the kind of location the Council would crop up in. "My money is that it still is and we are just 'borrowing' the space. I kind of expected an abandoned Shaw's or something."

"Nah, Whole Foods has been snapping those up lately." He twisted in his seat, holding out a card. "If you need a ride back after you wrap everything up, here's my number, just shoot me a text. The nearest public stop is about a mile thataway until the museum reopens." He pointed with absolute certainty.

"You're sure there aren't any closer?" Trey asked, a slightly defeated whine in his voice.

"I make a point to look up bus stops near locations I'm likely to take people when I work in a different area," Kevin assured. "That's how I knew the museum was supposed to be closed, to be honest. I figured I would get a lot of fares around here before setting up at the Greyhound station."

Faultless logic, I had to admit. I took the card and nodded. "Thanks. I'll reach out when we're almost done."

"Sounds good. I'm going to snag some food and see if I can track down some short fares. I'm pretty sure paranormal bureaucracy doesn't move much faster than any other."

"You have no idea," Dex drawled as he jumped into the back seat and took his position on Trey's shoulders. "I assure you, the pace is somewhere between glacial and geological."

"Awesome. I'll check in with the wife and see what she wants to eat, run her some food."

We climbed out of the car, waving Kevin off before turning towards the still-imposing building. I spotted the entrance and steered Trey that direction. "Foster stuff first, then testing," I reminded firmly. "And always keep in mind that you are going to see some pretty impressive abilities in here. If Vivica is working today, her specialty is something that makes her able to remember huge amounts of information and recall it perfectly and immediately. It's pretty intimidating at first, and she's just the front desk. If they don't have someone working who can trace bloodlines, she's going to be the one identifying any family members out there."

"Have you worked with her a lot?" he asked, already nervous.

"It is rare to not work with her," Dexter admitted, rubbing against Trey's cheek. "But she isn't a bad person. No more than any other mid level government employee, less evil than the average public prosecutor."

That earned a small smile.