The first time Addy was attacked from behind, her grin remained the entire time she fought back. 

The second time it happened worried her a bit more. Her angel-faced guest had pleasantly surprised her in an empty restaurant bathroom with a kick to the back. Addy, face-down, responded by grabbing the girl’s black clog-clad foot and yanking her to the ground, and she thought about running—for a second. She didn’t really have time before a strand of green, glimmering, enchanted rope had itself lassoed around both her ankles, dragging her towards the back of the room. Addy yelped as the rough wooden floors scraped her skin, the attacker’s magic wrapping her up and bringing her into her own clutches. The girl with the swoopy hair only let Addy look at her for a moment, then spun her to face the other way as she held her hand in front of Addy’s mouth. Addy panted, dozens of possible moves zipping about her mind. 

Knock her in the nose with my head? 

Elbow her in the gut and make a run for it? 

Bite her? No, embarrassing. What in Spirita, Addy? 

Why am I forgetting literally everything I’ve ever learned in taekwondo—

“Tie up fast, tie up quick, shut up enemy, make it stick,” the girl muttered through her quick breaths. 

“NO!” Addy’s screams muffled into nothing as magic snaked from the girl’s fingertips, her physically sewing Addy’s lips with the iridescent strands. The attacker sighed with what sounded like relief as Addy continued to writhe in her surprisingly strong grip—this girl looked as if Addy could crumple her up and blow her away with a straw. Didn’t have much height on her, either. Or do I just feel taller than I am? Addy thought, trying to distract herself as her captor dragged her by her underarms and propped her up against the wall. As the girl readied her hands with magic once more, Addy, feet still tied, blasted blue strands from both her palms, right into the attacker’s chest. She flew backwards into the wall, and though she didn’t dent it as Addy had hoped, the sound of her back cracking was heard. Addy hurried to slice the magic that bound her legs together, only for the attacker’s strands to smack her hands away. Addy’s tan face went white, and the girl threw herself at Addy, kneeling on her legs while holding her arm to Addy’s throat. A sharp strand of green magic, like the shard of a bottle that washes up on the shore, hovered above her fingertips. Addy hyperventilated through her nose, cringing at the dagger at her neck. She tried not to look into her attacker’s eyes, yet the fear they held was enough to intrigue her. It was only after observing this that Addy noticed the rest of her face: unblemished, glowy skin; perfect, arched brows; a scar right across the bridge of her nose. The girl pressed her strand harder into the side of Addy’s neck, and tears began to brim at both girls’ eyes. Addy cried through her sewed lips as she felt the stinging pain of blossoming blood. Oh, Spearia, this hurts bad. What is bro doing. Addy’s eyes narrowed to the girl’s strand-dagger, then to her face again. Her attacker’s lashes sparkled with sobs, waiting to jump out. Both girls settled on each other: one’s mouth sewn shut, the other’s trembling upwards. 

Addy shut her eyes, and felt the pressure release from her body. Her eyes stayed shut, waiting for the final blow, for the joke to end, but nothing came—only a growl of frustration from a few inches away. The weak girl sat cross-legged on the floor, one hand propping her body up and the other grasping her hair. Addy only stared, panting, eyes wide. The attacker lurched up and sprinted out the door the moment she realized Addy was looking, and Addy muffled yells as she freed her trapped legs with her own strands of magic, running after the girl. Addy blew past tables and waiters, the sound of clattering plates only a whisper in the past, and was met by a sea of people crowding the streets. Jumping up to try and see over the heads, Addy hoped for even a glimpse of her. Pushes and shoves were all that greeted her in return, and Addy stood alone, between the streets of the city and the door to Lilianne’s, lips still shut by shimmering thread. Her heart hammered, and she realized that this thrill she felt was much different than the first time she had been attacked. The first encounter was something of a dream. It fulfilled every fantastical desire that lived in Addy’s mind. She had been given the perfect opportunity to showcase her taekwondo skills; to do something with the knowledge she had acquired over the years. Her mind had been swimming with opportunity. 

Yet, today, Addy’s mind went completely blank when the girl came up behind her. 

“Addy!” Addy didn’t turn to the voice, for she scanned the masses still. “What just hap—“ Addy was spun around, and the voice’s expression crinkled from stress to disgust. 

“Oh, sparks,” she breathed, scouring Addy’s entire body. “What…who…why—“ Addy motioned to her mouth, muffling in annoyance. With a scoff, the girl in front of her took Addy’s arm. “Can you hold on one second?” She snapped. She pulled Addy onto the sidewalk, and twiddled her fingers, her strands twining around the ones across Addy’s lips. She moved the strands up and down, unsewing until the green strands of the attacker were free enough to zoom away into the streets to find their owner. Addy released a dramatic exhale, putting her hands onto the girl’s shoulder. 

“Dude, Una-Hex, we have to go find her!”

“Who in Spirita is her?” Una-Hex recoiled in shock once she realized who Addy was talking about. “No way. She found you again? The girl from last week?” 

“Yes, yes! But this time I didn’t get away! She ran! Una, she ran—“

“How do you always manage to get yourself into these situations?” Una-Hex groaned. She took Addy by the hand, pulling her back into Lilianne’s 24-Hour-Eatery. Addy’s head remained looking over her shoulder at the colorful sea of people rushing by. She just slipped through. 

“What was that all about?” Addy was asked once her and Una-Hex returned.

“Addy seems to like chasing after people who want her dead, for whatever reason,” Una-Hex said to a thick-browed boy sitting across the table. 

“Oh sparks, what’s that around your lips?” He asked, ignoring the question. He rose from his seat with a start. “Is that blood? Did you get your mouth sewn shut or something? That is so nasty, Spearia, oh Spearia, I’m gonna hurl.”

“I know it’s gross, Nox,” Addy scoffed, taking a napkin off the table and wiping her mouth. “You act like this isn’t the most common spell, like, ever.” 

“Okay, rude,” Nox retorted. “Just asking if you’re good. You still seem like yourself, so that’s a good sign.” Addy rolled her eyes and smiled as she sat down next to Nox. 

“Nox, I really saw her face this time,” she said, her face lighting up. “I can actually find her now.” 

“And how are you gonna do that?” Una-Hex asked, tilting her head. “Why don’t we go on a nice little search party? Maybe put up some ‘wanted’ signs? Send out a telix to everyone on the Opposite Side? Addy, be for real.” She plopped down into the remaining seat. 

“You’re such a buzzkill,” Addy said.

“Why do you even want to find this crazy?” Nox wondered, his golden coils of hair bouncing. He fed himself a fried ‘gawn pocket’ using his strands.

“Wouldn’t you want to know why somebody you’ve never seen before wants to kill you for no reason?” 

“…Yeah, kind of. But also not really.” 

“Addy, obviously you’ve never seen her,” Una-Hex interrupted. “You just moved here.” 

“Okay, I didn’t move here, first of all,” said Addy. “I’m visiting.” Nox and Una-Hex shared a glance of uncertainty—clearly, they were thinking the same thing. 

“Can’t be a visitor to a place you were never supposed to leave,” Nox muttered. Addy gave him a glare and took one of the strange dumplings from off his plate. 

“I’m not staying,” she said. “I actually have a life, unlike you guys.” 

“Seriously?” Una-Hex shot at her, her stare clawing at Addy’s soul. “You think we like living like this? Hiding who we are just to stay alive? Pretty unlucky, huh—oh, wait! You’re doing the exact same thing.” 

“Good thing everyone in this world thinks I’m dead, then,” Addy snided. Her face suddenly fell. “I just realized what I said. Sparks.” 

“Mhm,” Nox mumbled through a mouthful of food. “Anyone finds out your mom lied to the entire Opposite Side, and you’re actually dead.” Addy sunk further down in her seat, while Una-Hex’s forehead wrinkled in thought. 

“That girl…” she began, “…maybe you have a point, Addy. What could she possibly have against you?” 

“I don’t think it’s personal,” Nox said. “You guys don’t know each other, so what’s her problem?” 

“You think someone hired her?” Una-Hex pondered. Worry crept across her face, and she toyed with the crystal pendant around her neck. “That means a lot of people might be onto us…anyone could’ve noticed you.” She looked right at Addy. “You do look a lot like your mom.” 

“What should I do, then? Wait for her to try and kill me a third time?” She groaned loudly. Una-Hex and Nox shushed her. “This is so unfair. I’m stuck staying with strangers, and on top of that, I’m getting hunted by some girl that looks like a fairy.” 

“Fairies aren’t real,” Una-Hex said. “Also, if us ‘strangers’ weren’t letting you stay in our house, you would have been very much dead long before your adored assassin found you.”

“You know I love you guys,” Addy teased. “But sorry.” She sighed into her palm. “I’m just confused.” Una-Hex sighed. 

“I know…I know,” she said. “I promise we’ll bring you to Valda soon. We just…need to figure out how to tell your mom you’re…here.” Addy’s gaze drifted between Nox and Una-Hex. 

“Why would she tell every witch in the nation that I died?” She asked nobody in particular, her already raspy voice cracking. “I can’t imagine that she’d be happy to see me. Maybe she did it for a good reason…sending me to live with my aunt…that sounds so weird to say, sparks.” Addy’s lips formed a line, and she tasted the blood that still remained around them. 

“I’ll just wait, it’s fine. I really only care about why this girl wants to kill me.” 

“She definitely knows you’re the Overseer’s daughter,” Nox suggested, a bit too loudly. 

“Based on what, my looks?” Addy crooned. “I’d never seen her before the first attack—trust me, I’d remember her.” 

“You’re right,” Una-Hex said. Her brows knitted together as Addy watched her. 

“What are you thinking?” She asked. 

“…That maybe,” Una-Hex started, “she’s seen you.” Addy froze, searching Una-Hex’s scheming expression. In seconds, her worry had melted into rage.

“Okay, stop plotting and coming up with wack theories, Una,” Addy said, slamming her hands on the table. “Can we like, be realistic here? You never make any sense.” 

“I’d like to see you come up with a better idea!” Una-Hex cried. She collected herself and took a sip of an iced drink that seemed to have starlight swirling in it. “You need to hear me out. What if she’s been stalking you or something? Listening to us talk about your identity and stuff?”

“Not gonna lie, that’s a pretty solid theory,” Nox chided, his eyes distracted and roaming the restaurant. 

“Thanks for all the help,” Una-Hex sneered with a chuckle. “If you really want to know why she’s after you, I think we need to set her up.” 

“So you want her to kill me.” 

“Honestly, kind of,” Una-Hex said. “Addy, imagine it. We’ll make sure your in a spot where she can find you again, and then me and anyone else who wants to help can get a real look at who she is. Maybe someone might recognize her.” 

“Maybe she’s from school,” Nox said.

“Yeah, could be,” Una-Hex replied. “Oh, hold on.” She waved down a waiter passing by. “Can we get the bill?” 

“Right away, Miss Hyun.” Una-Hex’s face lit up, pleased. 

“They’re so personal here. Your mom really runs a great business, Nox.” 

“Soon to be my business,” Nox boasted with a smirk. 

“Not if you’re stuck at the Chapter for the rest of your life,” Addy said. She regretted her words as soon as she saw Nox’s dejected look. “Oh, sparks. I didn’t mean that—“ 

“No, you’re right,” Nox sighed. “Being on the Light Chapter’s my whole life now. Doubt I’m gonna be able to own a restaurant.” He forced a smile. “I like cooking for you guys, though. I can deal with that. So everything’s fine.” The girls smiled back at him.

“You guys went to the same school?” Addy inquired, eager to change the subject.

“Wilder & Clarke’s Witching Academy,” Nox said. “It was so much fun. You would like it.” 

“It was okay,” Una-Hex added. “I never really liked school. The spellcasting showdowns were always cool though.” 

“Wait, were you at that one where that kid used true illusion?” Nox asked, launching from his seat. “That was nuts, Una.” 

“Yeah! I think I saw you in the stands somewhere. I don’t remember. We were in like, Notch five, right?”

“I think yeah, we were around 13 and 14.” Nox turned to Addy. “Me and Una weren’t even friends when we were at school. Isn’t that crazy?” 

“Um, yes we were,” Una-Hex retorted. “You were my apothecary partner one year.” 

“We didn’t even talk.” 

“Okay, but I knew who you were.” 

“That didn’t make us friends!” 

“Remember that time you helped me bring the potion guides to the office? That was when we became friends.”

“Here’s your bill and cup.” 

“Thanks,” all the kids said together as the waiter left. 

“I say you guys were friends,” Addy said with a grin. 

“No,” Nox giggled.

“Yes!” Una-Hex laughed. “Okay, I’m paying. And then we go.” Una-Hex reached into her pocket and pulled out a vial of gold liquid. Addy’s eyes widened, and she snatched it from Una-Hex.

“What in Spirita is this?” She ogled. 

“I keep forgetting you’re not from around here,” Una-Hex chuckled. “It’s sapfroth. We use it to pay for everything.”

“So it’s like a dollar but…liquid?” 

“What’s a dollar?” Nox asked, an almost disgusted look on his face, as if Addy had just uttered a horrific curse. 

“Oh, wait, I know this,” Una-Hex said. “They’re like these little slips of green paper that humans use to buy things. My dad has a bunch in his study. He taught me all about them, but I wasn’t really paying attention.” 

“How do you pay for stuff with paper?” Nox further pushed, unimpressed. 

“How do you pay for stuff with…” Addy peered into the vial. “…glitter?” 

“It’s not glitter,” Una-Hex snapped. “The government makes this stuff.” Addy snickered at this. 

“Let’s see how you use it. Show me.” With a sneer, Una-Hex took the vial back from Addy, pulled the metal top off, and began to pour the sapfroth into a cup-like contraption that the waiter had brought over. 

“The meal cost 45 ounces,” she explained, “so you pour it in here…” As she spoke, the waiter returned with something that appeared to be a scale. Una-Hex placed the cup upon it. A ticking sounded, and then a ding. 

“All set, have a lovely rest of your evening, kids,” the waiter said with a smile, and he took the cup and scale from the table. 

“Woah,” Addy uttered, her stare following the waiter. “So it’s like, you weigh it and that’s that?” 

“It’s not that easy,” said Una-Hex. “I just am somehow really good at measuring it. It usually takes a while to get the right weight…for some people.” She looked at Nox, who gave her a glare. 

“We’re leaving,” he said. Nox got up with no hesitation. “Addy, we have to show you the rest of Auculet. You’ve barely seen anything yet!”

“No way,” Una-Hex halted him, rising from her chair. “We can't risk someone recognizing her. We’re staying local for now. Maybe once we bring her to Overseer Juniper, we can show her more.” 

“What if she doesn’t let me see you guys again?” Addy interrupted. Nox and Una-Hex fell silent. “I remember you said something about it the other day—about how she doesn’t really love the Light Chapter, right?” 

“She doesn’t,” Nox agreed. “But she also doesn’t know we’re in action.” Addy clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. 

“What does that even mean? ‘In action’? You guys superheroes or something?” 

“For the love of Spearia, Addy, keep your voice down!” Una-Hex seethed. She leaned over the table and looked down at Addy. “Nobody knows there are Descendants at the two Chapters. And we plan to keep it that way. If we take you to see your mom, no one is going to suspect we’re Descendants unless you rat us out. Which you won’t.” 

“What if I did?” Una-Hex only stared at Addy in surprise, then in amusement. With a laugh under her breath, she left the table and walked towards the front of Lilianne’s. 

“Una, wait,” Nox called to her, running up ahead and leaving Addy to walk alone. Una-Hex had smoke fuming from her ears, yet wore a light smile, like she was in disbelief. The two walked side by side, Una-Hex lowering her head slightly to speak to Nox.

“I wish she knew, that idiot,” she spat in a hushed tone. “I wish she knew she was one of us. Then maybe she’d stop putting our lives on the line with every sassy remark she makes.” Una-Hex walked faster, and shoved open the restaurant door. Nox grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. 

“Then let’s just tell her—“

“We can’t tell her,” she warned. “We have no idea what she’d do to us. She doesn’t belong to the Light Chapter. I can’t believe we’re letting her stay with us...” Una-Hex threw Nox’s grip off of her. 

“You should be grateful we found her before the Dark Chapter did,” Nox argued, voice raising. “She’s valuable.”

“She’s probably a maniac, just like her family in Valda. The blood of the Overseer mixed with a Descendant’s? That’s a match made for the ghosts.” 

“She hasn’t been that bad so far. She’s usually nicer than you.” 

“Thanks,” Una-Hex huffed. A gust of wind blew through the busy streets of Auculet, and her sleek hair was whipped behind her. “It’s not our place to say anything…yet. The Overseer can decide what to do with her when we bring Addy to her.” 

“What if she finds out before then?” 

“Thanks for leaving me,” Addy’s voice said from the doorway. Only Nox spun to face her. 

“I was just chasing Una, sorry,” he said, holding the back of his neck. “We’re gonna go back to the Chapter.” 

“Alright, cool.” Addy and Nox awkwardly followed Una-Hex through the crowd, though Una was a few heads in front of them. 

“She kind of hates me, right?” Addy asked. 

“Um…not exactly…” 

“No, it’s okay. You can say she does.” 

“Una doesn’t really like change,” Nox said, pushing past witches of all heights and sizes. “Obviously, you showing up here was a big deal for her.” 

“I feel bad that her parents forced her to bring me with you guys,” Addy explained.

“It isn’t your fault,” said Nox. “You did fall through a portal in their backyard. It would be kind of rude to just…dump you somewhere.” Nox cringed at the thought of Una-Hex’s mother realizing Addy’s identity right away. If she knew who Addy really was…anyone could. 

“I don’t get why you guys didn’t send me to the dominion when I showed up. Not that I wanted that, but isn’t that smarter than bringing me to the Chapter? You basically just put all the Descendants, or whatever, at risk bringing me there. You said my mom doesn’t know they exist. But she wouldn’t come looking for me—she thinks I’m…dead.” 

“That’s why we have to make sure you keep a low profile,” Nox said, taking her hand and pulling her past shops whizzing with technology. “So your mom doesn’t come looking for you. The…second place she’d suspect you to be is at the LC.” Addy halted, letting the crowds consume her as she racked her brain. 

“What would be the first place?” She asked. Nox’s heart sank at the storm swirling in Addy’s gray eyes. 

“Holy sparks, you guys need to hurry up,” Una-Hex said, dragging Nox away. Nox hurried away with a single look over his shoulder at Addy, who remained standing by herself. 

“I talk too much,” he said to Una-Hex.

“Don’t even bother telling me what you said. I don’t want to hear it. As long as we keep Addy a secret until we figure out a way to get rid of her, we won’t be in any trouble.” Una-Hex stopped in her tracks as Nox yanked her towards him. 

“We need her,” he urged. “She’s the key to everything, Una. We finally have something the Dark Chapter wants instead of the other way around.” Una-Hex looked down at her feet. “They already took so much from us...” Una-Hex redirected her eyes to Nox’s. Forests could grow in their deepness, she thought. With a nod, she shoved past Nox and into the streets, Nox following close behind. The music of the night’s hustle and bustle swirling around them as they ran, both knew one thing for certain: either this girl was going to be their greatest asset, or the biggest mistake of their lives.