Their home had been abuzz since the moment Ada got home from the old gravel pit. Sam was thrilled to learn about her success. That night, when Ada had regained some of her energy, Sam watched in rapt fascination as Ada revived a hydrangea branch in the back yard. As the petals filled out and regained their antique white hue, Sam's mouth became as round as her eyes. The first flower, the one Ada had practised on, was tucked behind Sam's left ear.

Hope was undeniable. The success of the job would mean a sort of safety and comfort she had scarcely known before. It would mean the opportunity to focus on building her life—their life. They both felt it, and by proxy, so did Aidan and Noah. Angry with Ada or not, they were family now. Aidan had made that perfectly clear. They were ready for whatever may come. They all were.

Together, they picked the upcoming Friday, just three days after the unwelcome visit. Every day Ada practised accessing her mana well. She was hesitant to practise turning the lighter flame into demon fire after what Maggie had said about her luck. What if she lost control? What if she couldn't put it out? Only once did she bring herself to try, and when she found she could push a steady enough stream of mana into the flame, she let it go.

Beyond the training, Maggie had given her another tool to prepare for the night whether she knew it or not. See, Ada was fairly certain Sam was the cause of her newfound power. Whatever she had done in the past was so negligible she had forgotten it entirely up until all the nonsense occupying her mind and time. It wasn't until after spending a great deal of time with Sam that she ever noticed the oddities, the little things that just didn't make sense. It led her to the conclusion that she was the source of not just Ada's empowered mana, but her luck as well.

When Ada explained her thoughts to Sam, she made the connection before she even finished.

"I'll go for runs every evening, if you think that will help." Her warm eyes were bright with earnest; it warmed Ada's heart.

"Would you? I could use the boost."

"Of course."

And so she did, both Wednesday and Thursday evenings after dinner. She wasn't the most pleased to go to bed sweaty, but she complained only once the first night. The promise of a shared shower in the morning lifted her spirits—and Ada's own.

It worried her that she might not be able to astral project at all, thereby rendering the act useless, but she was rewarded. Ada made sure to focus on projecting as she fell asleep, under the assumption that it worked rather like manifesting or lucid dreaming. She wasn't sure if she was correct, but nonetheless, she found herself among the soft, roiling, ground-level clouds. They were so thick, seeing her feet, or the ground, was impossible. This time, they became a mellow cobalt as they lapped at her skin. Time was meaningless there.

The second night was somewhat different. At first, Ada wasn't sure if she was dreaming or projecting. She began in the clouds, and though she could have stopped there and enjoyed the sensations, she was drawn onward. She couldn't explain what drew her, but she turned to her right and began to walk with purpose. Clouds churned around her feet, and still she couldn't see them. They moved sluggishly against her skin. In the way that only dreams can, the world morphed from one second to the next. The clouds continued, though thinner, and Ada could make out the outline of her toes as she walked. She was in a long, tall yet narrow hallway. Panelling and wallpaper in muted greys as far as she could see. Other halls stretched off to the sides from time to time. Other than that, there wasn't much to see. She just kept wandering, trailing her fingers across the wood panels. At some point she thought to glance behind her, half expecting to see someone in her wake. Instead, there was a wavering trail of rainbows along the right wall, shifting and illuminating the thinning clouds at her knees.

"Ada?"

Ada blinked away the memory, the dark woods whipping past the windows coming back into focus. She turned to Sam with a lazy smile. "Yes?"

"Have you decided where you want us yet?" In the semi-dark, her expression was hard to read.

Ada hummed softly and adjusted her seat belt. "Yeah, I think so."

Noah turned in his seat to look at her, and Aidan's eyes met hers in the rear-view for a moment. Everyone waited for her to speak, and she sure didn't feel like she had the answers. She did have them, though. She took a deep breath and unzipped her backpack.

"I got some walkies so we can communicate." Ada passed one to Sam and two up to Noah. "Noah, I want you on lookout, preferably somewhere high. I don't know what that will be without seeing the place up close; street view didn't help. Are you able to climb trees?"

"Probably."

"Okay, that might be what has to happen. We'll try to communicate our position as much as possible so you can keep an eye on us."

He nodded. "All right. Did you bring binoculars?"

"Yes."

The heater hummed softly, pumping dry, perfumed air into the car and muffling the song on the radio. Ada couldn't pick out a single lyric.

"Aidan and Sam, you stick with me, at least at first. I think it's safe to assume there will be cameras, which means there will be a room to watch them in. I'm hoping we can find it and ... take it, if you will." She paused to see if anyone would ask. "Aidan, if we manage that, I want you there keeping an eye on us. Noah, in that case, your job would change to keeping an eye on Aidan. I have no idea what this place looks like and I don't like it."

Aidan's concerned gaze met hers for a moment. "Are you sure? What if you get in a bind?"

Ada grinned darkly. "Between Sam and I, I think we can handle it."

"Well, I'm just a buzz away, I guess." His tone was contrary to his casual words. He waggled the little radio, then set it in the cup holder.

"I know, I'm counting on it."

Ada had actually wanted Aidan with her and Sam on cams, if there were any. While Aidan's brawn would have made her feel safer, his sheer size would pose a problem. She didn't like the thought of putting Sam in direct danger like this, but knew better than to ask her to stay behind in any capacity. She wouldn't agree to it, and she would put herself in worse danger by going in anyway with less than a cool head.

Sam took her hand as silence settled. Everything else was up to Ada. She was grateful for the contact as the weight of responsibility became impossible. Of course the three could hold their own, but accidents could happen to anyone. She couldn't live with herself if any one of them died for the sake of this shit-show of a cause. As strong and nearly indestructible as they were, bullets could still kill them.

"Are you okay?" Sam breathed, stroking small circles on the back of Ada's hand with the tip of her finger; Ada was squeezing hers pretty hard.

Ada forced her hand to relax and tried to smile. "Not really. I just want this to be over with."

She leaned over with a comforting smile. "Soon enough. Come on, this is easy. A little sneaking around, you light a couple of fires, and maybe we cause a distraction or two. No big deal, right?"

"Ada struggled to agree. She was still gun-shy, literally, after her last attempt. She had far from forgotten what she had done, what she had felt, and what she hadn't felt. The long, empty stare was burned into her memory, visiting her often in her sleep and on the bus ride home—which, mercifully, she would never have to do again. There would be more people at this site, more guns, more of everything she didn't want.

"Breathe, Ada," said Aidan in a steady voice, glancing at her in the rear-view.

Ada did, fighting against her racing heart. Her chest felt tight. Aidan turned up the radio, and Sam leaned her head on Ada's shoulder. Ada turned and kissed the top of her head, breathing deeply her soothing fragrance. Eventually, she did get control of her heartbeat.

"Oh, Aidan, did you tell them yet?" murmured Noah some time later, piquing both of their interests.

Aidan perked up. "No, I forgot." He gazed at them. "Cain is flying out in a few days to visit, and he's bringing Antoine. He said there is something urgent he has to tell us but he has to do it in person. I don't know."

"Do you think they're getting married?" Sam sat up, grinning.

"Dunno', I've never heard him so worked up before. It's something pretty important, I guess."

"Maybe he wants to get permission to tell Antoine the truth?" she went on.

"Maybe. He wouldn't tell me anything. Whatever it is, he's set on it being in person. We'll find out soon, I guess."

Ada almost wished he hadn't told her. The possibilities had her obsessing. Though, in retrospect, it was probably a good thing, as it kept her mind off the dark branches of possibility she was facing.

Time slipped away with the blurred woods. All too soon they were entering the bright lights of Montréal, swallowed by noise to every sense. Sam directed Aidan to a drive-through they could all agree on before guiding them out onto a smaller highway northeast to Saguenay. She picked at the food, eating more out of necessity than desire.

Ada was not prepared for how quickly the remained of the trip would pass by. All too soon, Sam was directing him through the city. Their destination was just north of it, an old, out of use dairy ranch. Though occupied, the farm hadn't produced a drop of milk or a speck of grain in years. Probably because they had dedicated their time and resources to growing something much more profitable within the facilities.

Unfortunately, the street view had shown them only a long gravel driveway and a great stretch of disused farmland, with a cluster of buildings in the distance. The images had clearly been taken when the ranch was vacant, as there were large For Sale signs at the head of the drive partially overgrown by vines. How the place might have changed in the years since, there was no way to know.

There hadn't been another car for ages. When Aidan pulled off onto a side road and parked on the shoulder, Ada felt confident no one would come across their car by accident given the hour and distance from anything of use. Out there, there were only homes set far back from the road with the most privacy one could get without becoming a full-on recluse. They climbed out into darkness alive with dancing leaves and the occasional, mournful hoot. Sam lunged to steady Noah, who staggered on the slope just beyond the door.

"Thanks," he said, quickly dropping his grip on her forearm. She gave him a warm smile.

"Sorry, I didn't realise it was so close." Aidan peered past the hood and offered a rueful cringe.

Ada had been digging around in her backpack during the commotion, looking for supplies. There were four small flashlights, a small pair of binoculars with a neck strap, her picks, her hunting knife, her Swiss Army knife, and something she had never, ever intended to take out of the packaging—she pocketed that last. SHe passed around the flashlights, then gave Noah the binoculars. No one spoke as she plunked her right boot on the bumper and strapped the blade to her ankle over her fading tattoo of the Cheshire cat. His left ear had been burned off that night, one end of a long, narrow, waxy scar across her shin, just above her boot.

"Is that ...?" murmured Noah, nodding at her leg as she straightened.

"Yes." She passed the Swiss Army knife to Sam, holding her gaze. "Just in case. That one by your thumb is the knife."

Sam gave a determined nod, clutching it with both hands. Her hair was already up in a tight bun, like Ada's own. She passed Sam a black toque and donned her own. The object in her pocket was poking her. She removed it and held the plastic packaging in both hands.

"What's that?" Sam asked, eyeing it nervously.

Ada ripped it open and tipped the metal into her palm. "It was a present from Paz after I left town; I only told them my siblings were violent and they sent it for protection. I've never opened it."

A key chain dangled from one edge of the sleek rainbow metal, and Ada tore it off and tossed it into her backpack. The object was shaped like a cat head with two pointed ears set far apart on the wide, flat face. Everyone appeared confused until she slipped it on her fingers through the four openings within the face.

"For real?" said Aidan, the first to understand. A muscle jumped in his jaw.

"I don't plan on using any of this, but I won't be caught unaware this time." The cold metal sent a chill up her arm. It felt odd, strangely heavy and foreign in her grasp. "Did you two bring anything I suggested?"

As they showed her a matching pair of folding knives, Aidan seemed displeased. He said nothing as he pocketed his once more. She wasn't happy to be asking this of them either, but she wasn't about to let them go near this place unarmed. Better to have it and not need it than to be in a bind like Ada had been with no means of defence.

Finally, Ada passed out gloves and slipped on her own, singed though they were from the fire. "These stay on until we're back in the car, okay?"

"How come?" Sam flexed her hand to adjust the fit before donning the second.

"We may be dealing with magic fire, but arson cases tend to create more evidence than they destroy. I'm not taking any chances. Gloves on, hair in a hat. Got it?"

Aidan and Noah pulled on their own hats, and the three nodded to her. Ada didn't have to ask, they were ready. They set off on foot for the road they had just turned from, gravel crunching under their feet. Flashlight beams swept the woods to either side, the ground around us, sending shifting shadows all around. Moving gave Ada purpose, and her anxiety fell under control right away. She could do this. She had done this a hundred times before. Well, the breaking and entering part, at least. Never had she been so heavily armed, nor so heavily backed up, and never had she had so much to lose.

Ada was oddly level as they hurried to the ranch. Sam's fingers laced through her own gave her a solid connection to reality and kept her from withdrawing into her own mind like she tended to when doing this sort of thing ...except she hadn't ever done this sort of thing. She wasn't there to steal anything. She was there to burn it to oblivion.

The woods thinned out as farmland began, only thin strips of trees remaining to act as a buffer from wind and eyes. Driveways were intermittent and mostly unmarked. Crops had all been harvested, the soil turned, and no animals were anywhere to be seen. There was at least one thing on their side that night.

Ada's nose was running by the time they reached the overgrown driveway. After a quick, distant assessment, they shut off their flashlights. There was no For Sale sign anymore, just shrubs long overdue for a trim lining the outside of a rusted wire fence that ran the length of the property. They didn't go too close, in case there were cameras watching the lone road access. It wouldn't do to get caught right off the bat.

They found a patch where the greenery wasn't too thick, and Ada grabbed her case from her pocket to retrieve the little wire cutters. She made short work of the once-electrified wires. Aidan went through first and stamped down a path for them. The field beyond was nearly as bad. Knee high grass swayed in the brisk wind. It whispered as they passed through it. It was impossible tot ell what they were looking at beyond the immediate expanse. The moon was hidden behind the clouds, and no lights were on in or around the buildings. At least, none they could see from there.

"Wait here," hissed Aidan, holding out a hand to still them. "I'll go take a look."

"Maybe I should."

Ada could just make out his goofy grin in the darkness. "I'm way quieter than you are out here. Don't sweat it, I'll be right back."

Ada had to admit, he was stealthy. She could hardly hear him over the wind as he faded into the shadows. Sam's grip on her hand grew steadiy tighter with the passing seconds.

"How's your back?" she whispered to Noah, Ada guessed to distract herself.

"Well enough. I took some painkillers on the way." He paused. "Just over the counter ones. Aidan knows. I should be fine for tonight."

Ada hadn't noticed before, but he hadn't brought his cane. He was moving well enough. She could only hope he wouldn't end up in pain before the night was over.

Sam was gazing toward the buildings again, squinting as though it might help her pierce the gloom. Ada squeezed her hand. Her little ski-jump nose wrinkled as she sniffed, then turned to Ada.

"It's going to be fine." Ada gave her her most confident smile. "We'll be in and out of here in no time."

"I know, it's just stressful." She turned to face Ada fully and tried to smile back.

"We'll be home soon enough and I'll give you a back rub before bed."

Sam grinned just as Noah cleared his throat to murmur, "I'll ...uh, be over there."

Ada didn't look at him but heard him stroll away. Sam forgot her stress for a moment, Ada watched it melt from her face and frame. Ada freed her hand and cradled her cheeks.

"That does sound good." Though she couldn't see it, Sam's cheeks went hot under her touch.

Ada bit her lip, gathering the will she had been lacking for too long. "Thank you for doing this. I love you."

Her eyes went wide as a huge grin pushed at Ada's palms. "I love you, too."

Sam wrapped her arms around Ada's waist as she guided her lips to her own. Sam leaned against her, and for a moment Ada forgot about the world outside of them. She had nowhere to be, nothing to do.

"I hope you weren't thinking about thanking all of us like that. I was hoping for a cake, myself." Aidan's teasing voice drifted over before they, or Ada, even heard his approach.

Sam sighed lightly as Ada released her.

"Find anything?" Ada asked.

"They're growing in the barn. There are at least three people patrolling. I couldn't tell much from outside. Oh, and I didn't see any cameras outside the buildings."

Ada nodded. "All right, then let's make a plan."