Lovedae kept Victor home from school for the rest of the week. Again, he unburdened his soul, telling her everything from the debilitating dreams to his belief that he'd become a hindrance to the family. She and Dr. Mason countered his arguments with heavy doses of logic, and his confidence slowly increased.

"I didn't save Papa," said Victor as he and the doctor sat in the study. "The last three years of suffering is my fault."

Doctor Mason gazed at him sadly. "Life is finite. We are blessed with a beginning and an end. To lose the end is to lose your humanity."

He remembered the professor saying those exact words and took comfort from them.

Lovedae assured Victor he bore no blame for his father's death. "You mustn't play God. Had you brought Craig back, you'd have crossed a line." It shocked him when she apologized. "It's my fault for asking you to do just that when we found him. He was dead, Vic. Craig's heart failed, not you."

The professor's death had been a part of life, part of being human. Victor hadn't realized how her words that fateful day had affected him, bestowing him with the burden of failure. He'd fed himself large portions of guilt for the last three years, quite an unhealthy diet. 

She took his hands. "Vic, I beg you to heed my words before it's too late. The more you dabble with magic, the further it takes you from us and your humanity. You'll be forced to choose between us or the magic at some point. Let it go." Lovedae's features hardened. "And never take your siblings into that lion's den again. Exposing them to the magical realm was stupid and irresponsible."

Victor hung his head, knowing she was right. "I'm sorry, Mum. It won't happen again."

Lovedae pulled him into a light embrace, and his head rested against her shoulder. "You know the Duo, Vic. They'll push, prod, and plead to get into trouble. They see magic as fascinating, not dangerous. It doesn't belong in our world, and we need to avoid it."

He peeped up at her. "Does that include Kristy, Mum?"

"She's chosen to live like us. But if that changes, then yes, even Kristy becomes taboo." He felt her smile. "I don't think that'll be a problem. Someone likes you."

Victor squirmed with embarrassment, and Lovedae laughed before her voice sobered. "Your father isn't out to get you. He loved you. It's been you all along."

He'd been the creator of his nightmares, punishing himself to the brink of insanity. With Lovedae's words firm in his head, Victor forgave himself. The guilt dissipated as the nightmares no longer had a purpose, and they ceased to trouble him.

For the first time in months, he slept like a baby.

The weather grew steadily colder. Maddox stayed as far from him and Kristy as possible. The only downside was losing the still salty Gabby as a chemistry partner. Luckily, a new student transferred into the class and didn't seem to mind risking his life by working with Victor.

The days crept by, but finally, the school holidays began. The snow hissed on the biting winds of winter as it floated to the sleeping earth. Lovedae assured Victor that she and Dr. Mason would attend the festival with the Duo, leaving him free for his date. The younger Grants agree to this plan, happy their mother had taken an interest in socializing again.

The night before the festival, Dr. Mason strolled into the family room where Victor and the Duo sat playing video games, the noise deafening with their shouts, screams, and groans. 

Victor halted the game. "Anything we can do for you, sir?"

"Yes, I'd like to speak with you all." Dr. Mason seemed nervous, unlike his usual calm self. He sat close to the group on the sofa, gazing at them with an uncomfortable expression. The doctor cleared his throat. "Uh, I wanted to ask for your permission." He wiped his brow with a handkerchief before clearing his throat again. "I'd like to court your mother."

A delighted smile crossed Victor's face, but Jason and Rosetta frowned. The doctor looked miserable, but a confused Victor asked the Duo, "Why aren't you lot excited?"

Rosetta peeped up at him. "Mom doesn't like sports." She glanced at Jason. "Right?"

The younger boy gave a solemn nod. "Yep, especially anything with a court, like tennis or basketball. Why not try something like line dancing?"

The doctor gaped at the Duo, but Victor exploded with laughter. "Courting is an old expression. It means wooing someone to win their affection. He's asking to date Mum, you chuckleheads."

The Duo looked at each other, then turned to the doctor with pleased expressions, rising from their seats to join Victor in congratulating the flustered man. "Well, jeez, why didn't you say so?" Rosetta asked.

Dr. Masons laughed. "Dear me, I thought I had."

The night of the festival arrived, and the high school fields were transformed into a winter wonderland. Warming tents were set up along with games of chance, from snowballs tosses to skeet ball with snow. The food vendors arrived, filling the air with the mouth-watering aromas of cinnamon doughnuts, roasted chestnuts, hot dogs, and burgers oozing with onions and mushrooms.

Victor dragged the awestruck genie to his favorite exhibit, the ice sculptures. Highly skilled artists coaxed complex monuments out of huge blocks of ice. The girl became enamored with the frozen masterpieces created by the ice artisans. They held hands while admiring the detail of an ice dragon, an eagle in flight, and their favorite, two dolphins in the form of a heart.

"Victor! Kristy! Look who I brought!" The two turned to see Ally leading the irascible Adam and the dignified Marta to the ice sculpture section.

"Good job, Ally!" Victor shouted before the trio disappeared into the growing crowds.

They sampled the food, Victor treating Kristy to cinnamon doughnuts and warm cider. They walked around the festival, eventually trying their hand at the games he warned her were rigged—only quieting when the genie won a stuffed snake from knocking down a group of cans with one snowball.

She placed the little green snake inside her coat. "I'll name it Victor."

"I remind you of a snake?"

"Yep, 'cause I love how you've slithered into my life."

He laughed at her sassiness.

Arm in arm, they explored different booths before meeting up with a beaming Lovedae and Dr. Mason, who arrived with the Duo. The children stayed with them for minutes before running off with friends. Kristy and Victor ran into a swarm of classmates and joined the group, laughing and chatting as they enjoyed the festivities.

Victor never noticed Maddox and his crew following from a distance.

He kept a sharp eye on the genie, escorting her to the warming tents whenever he felt she'd had enough of the cold. Music boomed from their chosen tent. In the middle of the improvised dance floor were Nick and Tammy. The two stomped and jabbed to the beat while their chests popped and arms swung. Tón stood on the outskirts, and they joined him. Victor stood behind Kristy, slipping his arms loosely around her waist. His heart almost stopped when she leaned against him, covering his hands with hers.

"What kind of dancing is that?" she asked.

"It's krumping, a style of street dancing where the moves are exaggerated," replied Tón. "Krump started as a way for kids to escape gang life in a nonviolent way."

"Vic, can you... krump?" asked Kristy.

"Yes, Nick taught me. Krumping is rarely choreographed, more freestyle than anything."

The song ended, and a breathless Tammy and Nick joined them, the former raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you two cozy?"

The genie laughed as Victor turned an interesting shade of red.

Nick tapped Tón, and the two immediately went into character. "Ton, our Kino student has graduated and no longer needs our teachings."

"Yes, Nick. They grow so quick." Tón placed a hand over his heart.

"But, let us be grateful that he had you, Tón..." Nick pointed to his friend.

"And you, Nick," replied Tón, returning the gesture.

"And together, we are...." Both slipped into back-to-back poses, pointing upward. "A-Tón-Nick!"

They all looked up. Just as quickly, Victor looked back at his friends, glaring at them with a 'how could you' expression on his face.

Kristy pointed upward. "They have hemiparasitic plants hanging from strings. I've seen them in the other tents too. Technically, they're poisonous but consuming them won't kill, just causes gastrointestinal upsets."

Nick and Tón gaped at her, but Tammy shook her head. "Dang, Kris, you killed the mood, then buried it."

Victor laughed as Kristy turned to him, confused. "That's mistletoe, love. It's a tradition during the holidays that if you're caught standing under it with someone, you... kiss." He smiled, letting her know it wasn't something he expected.

But Kristy tilted her chin upward. The exquisite blue of her eyes met his. "A lovely tradition."

From Victor's perspective, the room emptied, and only he and the genie remained, caught in a finite moment of endless time. In their fortress of solitude, his eyes asked, and hers agreed. Kristy's hands slid to his waist as he cupped the delicate face, astonished at her beauty, before closing his eyes. His knees quaked with anticipation as he lowered his lips to hers. A quick brush, the touch gentle like the wings of a butterfly before his parted lips slipped over hers, deepening the kiss, senses absorbing the taste of what seemed like nectar from the gods. The cold was no more as waves of warmth washed over him, silencing all thoughts.

And then it was over.

The tent once again filled with warm bodies, the music played while voices laughed and talked, the mood festive and relaxed. Victor released the girl's face, his hands sliding down her arms.

Tammy glanced at Nick, a suspicious look on her face. "Hmph, that looked rehearsed to me."

"Gotta be a hidden camera around here," said Tón, looking around.

But Nick shoved Victor aside and wiggled his eyebrows at the surprised genie. "Okay, you lovely luscious piece of legendary lasagna. I'm under the mistletoe now. Pucker up." Nick closed his eyes and leaned toward the stupefied girl with lips pursed.

Shrugging, Victor stepped in front of Kristy and gave the dread-wearing teen a peck on the lips.

Nick smiled. "Boo, your lips are softer than a baby's butt."

"Thanks," chirped Victor and took off running. Nick opened outraged eyes and gave chase.

The festival, scheduled to close at midnight, began winding down when Misty and Tammy dragged Kristy off for celebratory drinks. Tón, Nick, and Victor walked through the snowy field to the men's room stationed away from the festival.

"Why not use the porta-potties?" asked Tón.

Victor shivered. "Because they're bloody horrid. Always think someone will tip it over once I'm flashing my knickers."

"Say, Vic, Lovedae said you could stay over tonight." Nick gave Victor a sly look as he smiled. "But if you wanna toss the hot dog down the hallway with Kristy instead, I'll cover for you. Her parents are never home."

"If your 'snake' slithers in the 'grass,' don't turn on any headlights," added a winking Tón.

They reached the bathroom. Victor gazed at his grinning friends, confused. "I don't get it."

Nick sighed. "At this rate, you never will."

Shrugging, Victor hurried into the restroom and completed his business, anxious to find Kristy and spend the remaining time together. He washed his hands at the sink, his mind centered on the mistletoe kiss, when his magical core started roiling.

What the... he thought, then glanced in the mirror to see the grim face of Maddox behind him. Victor turned to face the bully, who shoved him against the concrete wall. Jackson entered from the stall area, followed by the long-haired Bobby.

"Maddox, I'm not—" Victor started, but Maddox shoved him again.

"Thought you and that little cheap trick could make me look stupid, didn't you?" Maddox snarled, a glassy look in his eyes. "I knew if I was patient, I'd get you."

Victor raised conciliatory hands as his magic continued the assault on its containment. He was sure that Maddox was under the influence of something—or someone.

"Listen closely, little ballerina. Do as you're told, and you might walk outta here alive." The blond's lip curled as he held up his phone. "You're gonna make a video telling everyone you lied about Kristy flipping me."

"I never said—"

"Shut up!" Maddox shouted, his face darkening. "Next, admit that tramp is covering for you because you're banging those nerds you hang with."

"That's a good one, Madd." Bobby laughed nastily. "Any ideas, Jackson?"

Victor's eyes met Jackson's, captain of the baseball team, who had once upon a time, been a friend and a teammate. Jackson shook his head, his eyes sliding away. "Just do it, and let's go."

"Sissy," said Maddox, then turned back to Victor, holding the phone up. "Showtime, little ballerina."

They didn't know Victor waged another battle on a different plane of existence. The magic inside him increased its attack, the vibrations against its containment caused him to shake. Sweat appeared on his forehead as he considered his choices. Using the magic to stop the trio would be risky while it steadily fought for release. And unlike the other times, the magic had a certain feel about it—pure, unadulterated rage.

It frightened him.

Maddox frowned. "I gave you the script. Start talking. I don't think you'd like option two." He glanced at Bobby, who chuckled.

The horrific words Maddox ordered him to say would damage his friendship with Nick and Tón. And Kristy—he'd never hurt her by calling her such a derogatory term. But if the magic broke free, Victor had no idea what would happen, and if it did, could he stop it? There'd be no Kristy to slap him back into reality. I'm bloody well trying to save these prats from something they can't imagine.

He needed time to think, to consider—But time ran out when an enraged Maddox yelled, "Option two it is!", drew back his fist, and struck him square in the face. A gleeful Bobby teased Jackson for his timidness before joining in.

Victor yelped and dropped to the floor, rolling into a ball for protection. He covered his head with his arms, enduring the thrashing while holding in the magic that grew increasingly agitated—like a rabid dog ready to strike.

He was losing both battles. I can't let it out! I can't —until the kicks delivered by the thugs resulted in a fractured rib. Victor screamed in pain just as the power struck the cracked column and... it shattered.

Freedom.

Victor lay on the slick floor, listening to the terrifying shrieks emanating from his former tormentors. Glancing up through reddened eyes, he saw the blazing white magic wreaking havoc on more than just his assailants. The stall doors and walls were cracked, and the grimy floor was peppered with broken porcelain and traces of blood.

No! Must stop it!

Victor pushed himself up, his breathing shallow. He focused on the wayward energy, mentally roping the magic before yanking it back into a vessel that no longer existed. The magic released its motionless prey and slammed into Victor, flinging him back into the concrete wall where he too sank into darkness.

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