I had no intention of telling Angelina about what I'd learned about Red. She was already worried about Death's Echo. Feeding into those worries wouldn't help anyone. Besides, what could she tell me that we didn't already know? At this point what difference could seeing the future make for us?

Something terrible was coming for me, but I wasn't going to give up that easily. I couldn't. I'd come too far to turn back now.

That was never going to be an option. Not as long as I still breathed. For however long that was.

That didn't mean Angelina didn't sense something was wrong. Because hiding emotions from a Pixie was apparently very hard.

"You all look like you had a terrible night," she said as she sat down next to her girlfriend. It was the same observation I had made earlier that morning.

"Do we?" I tried to deflect. We absolutely did, but drawing attention to it was a bad idea. If she didn't ask, I wouldn't have to risk lying to her.

She narrowed her eyes at me. I wasn't going to get out of this that easily.

I needed to choose my words very carefully.

"Did you know there was a big debate over whether or not we'd be allowed to compete in the Founder's Trials?" I tried. It was a distraction, but maybe I could convince her it was related to her observation.

That did something. Maybe. "What?" She gasped.

It even got Albenion's attention. "What was the verdict?"

"It took a bit of convincing, but I talked most of the council into voting for us to be there as Dragon Tower," I explained.

"What was the vote on that, by the way?" Celica asked. "Who voted what?"

"It was six to three in our favor. Set, Maat and Anubis voted against," I recalled.

"Horus and Thoth were on our side?" Jarec asked while sounding very confused.

"I think it's less being on our side and more me pointing out that if you couldn't compete as a Dragon, you'd be stuck in your previous Towers," I explained.

Fethris laughed.

"I might have also told them that I would tell you if us not being allowed to be in red was their fault. And that none of you would be happy about it." I said with a shrug.

Russel was grinning. Which meant I was either right or had his complete approval for a threat like that.

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"Then why'd Anubis still vote against you?" Celica demanded. Probably annoyed at the thought of the Krakens not being that scared of her.

"I think she did it mostly to spite me. I don't know what her problem with me is but I think it's still motivating her." I didn't know how to feel about that. I wasn't so desperate for friends that I needed Anubis to like me, but not knowing what I did was annoying.

"She's probably just jealous," Jade commented.

"Of what?" I couldn't imagine what part of my life someone would look at and want for their own. Maybe my parents, but Anubis hated me even before Mom's visit.

"You're being mentored by Vivian Hearth, one of the most respected people associated with the school. Most Krakens look up to her. I doubt she's made the familial connection," Celica explained.

"I don't know if that's a good sign or not," I mumbled.

"Why would it be a good sign? Wouldn't people knowing your Hearth connections make your life easier?" Jade asked.

"Maybe for some people, but…well there's a reason I'm not using the Hearth name. It…might be safer if people think I'm a nobody," I tried to explain without saying the exact reasons. I didn't know what was common knowledge about that side of the family tree.

If Jade knew, then I didn't have to say it. If Jade didn't know, I didn't want to.

Jade stopped for a moment, staring at my face until their eyes went to my left wrist. The slightest bit of shock I saw told me more than enough. "Oh. Oh of course. It all makes sense now."

Oh good, I didn't need to have that conversation.

"They may be disgraced, but keeping out of the attention of the Merripen coven is in your best interest. Finally, you're starting to be less of a puzzle Stewart." They said it like I was this way on purpose. Oh well. At least they understood a little bit better.

"Also the best interest of everyone in my general vicinity," I added, remembering Aunt Ruby's face.

"We'll see if it's still needed in a few years. Until then, she's just Serafina," Jarec said with a shrug. He seemed more relaxed than I thought, given what I'd told him less than an hour ago.

Then again, if any of the others caught onto the prophecy of doom lingering over my head all of this would come crashing down for sure.

"I would prefer that all the time, to be honest. We're friends, no need to call me Stewart." It wasn't much, not really. But it meant something. To them and to me.

Plus, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be remembered as 'Stewart, the girl who kept everyone at arm's distance.' Not that it would be needed. I was too young to be thinking about how I wanted to be remembered. That was a midlife crisis thing and I wasn't even seventeen yet.

I wasn't dying before I could graduate. The future had to still be malleable. Not stone, hopefully more like heated metal.

It had to be.

"If you're sure…Serafina," Jade said. It sounded like my first name was going to take some getting used to with them, but that was okay.

"I'm sure. I try very hard to only say things I genuinely mean. Must be that hint of Pixie in me." It was mostly a joke, both Angelina and Jade smiled at it so I must not be doing too terribly at this.

I was only mostly socially inept. I could live with that. It was progress and I would take the win right now.

"Oh, speaking of the council. Did you guys talk about the Reception Ceremony? You know, the big party right before the Founder's Trials?" Angelina asked.

I took a moment to remember if anyone had mentioned that at the meeting. Parts of it seemed a lifetime away. "I think so. We didn't discuss details or themes for it. I'd bet on us talking about in detail this next meeting."

Celica perked up at the mention of a party, it was the most Celica expression I'd seen on her all morning. "Do you think they'll take suggestions from you if you have one?"

"I can maybe count on Set listening. Everyone else is a dice roll though. If you have something you want me to bring up, you're welcome to share. I can only promise to try though."

"I'll make a list and get it to you before the end of the day," Celica both promised and threatened.

It was nice. To have some routine after what had happened last night. Maybe I'd been right and nothing had to change. At least until we found Death's Echo everything could be what it was.

Maybe it was delusional of me. Or perhaps I was just trying to swim in denial so I didn't drown in fear.

"You guys are welcome to do the same thing, if you want," I told the guys.

"We'll see," Jarec commented.

I had no thoughts for what I wanted to see. Though I was pretty sure I didn't want to go to this event either. But I wasn't in the headspace to even begin approaching that topic with Celica.

Our history in that regard spoke volumes.

I wanted to remain in this little bit of peace, even if I already knew it was going to be fleeting. Maybe that was why I was able to just enjoy it.

Worries could come later.

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