Kristy wrinkled her nose in distaste at the cup Marta held out to her. Hic! She peeked inside,  noting the concoction resembled a toxic waste spill. "What's in it?" she asked, fearful of the answer. Hic!

The office was small, if not cozy. Pale blue walls softened the space, and an archtop window overlooked the parking lot. A computer, office phone, and an array of folders sat on the neoclassic desk. Books, catalogs, and instruction notebooks lined the bookshelves behind the ornate desk. The full-length oil painting of a younger Marta, with graceful arms and a fierce glare, remained the most impressive item in the room.

"My nagymama, my grandmother, created it. It's a bit of tabasco sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and a pepper dash." Marta shoved the cup into Kristy's hand, then took her place behind the desk. "Drink, then we'll talk."

Judging by the smell, Kristy thought the hiccups weren't as bad as Marta's demon brew. She only got them when she breathed in a burst of air, like during sudden fits of laughter. Or nerves. Still, the genie took a mouthful—and gagged.

"Disgusting!" Kristy put the cup on the edge of the desk. "I need sandpaper to get the residue off my tongue."

Marta raised an eyebrow. "But your hiccups are gone."

"So are my taste buds."

The instructor chuckled. "Touché, my dear."

Kristy suppressed an urge to magic the cup and its contents into the nearest river, hoping it wouldn't kill the fish. "My laughing fit—I assure you it doesn't happen often. Nerves got the best of me and made me more ticklish than usual."

"I figured as much. You'll get used to the nerves." Marta leaned back in her chair. "I've performed and taught ballroom and Latin for over three decades. I know partnering and how to pick them for myself and others. Victor dances well with everyone I've paired him with. Last November, he partnered three students at the Cleveland competition, and they all returned with first and second place medals. I've held back on assigning him a permanent partner because I haven't seen that connection, that spark... until now."

Kristy beamed with pleasure at the thought of another link with Victor. "Dancing with Vic is my dream, but I'm not gold level, nor do I have a couple of championships in my back pocket like he does."

"Doesn't matter. When Victor turns eighteen this summer, I want him to register as a pro and extend his teaching duties while getting you up to speed with competing." Marta leaned forward, her eyes studying the genie. "You claim you've never danced ballroom. I'd call you a liar if I didn't trust Victor."

"In my... country... there are styles of dance that have many of the same principles. We didn't do the partnering part, though." Kristy remembered the rigorous training the women and girls were forced to endure. All for the men's enjoyment. 

"What kind of dancing was it?" asked Marta.

Kristy's eyes dropped to her clenched fingers. "It doesn't translate well."

"I see." Marta raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. "Victor told me you're quietly dating, which is a touchy situation with partners. He won't let your relationship interfere with performing. Can you say the same?"

Kristy could only think of one thing that would ruin their relationship. She prayed Tarje and her father had forgotten about marrying her off but knew it to be a long shot. "Of course, Marta."

"Good. You and Victor will work with me twice a week and start competing in late summer, along with prepping for the summer showcase. I expected this partnership to bring me many trophies and even more recognition for the studio."

"It will! What is—" Her brow wrinkled as she sensed the steady increase of raw power. The sudden buildup of magic vibrated from below, almost knocking Kristy from her perch on the chair. Waves of fury and rage expanded by the second. The energy impressions she sensed were feral.

There was no mistaking it. The manifestations were coming from Victor. She stood, head down, trying to make heads or tails of what was happening. "Vic? What the heck is going on down there?" she muttered. She'd walk as transporting into that much residual magic might injure her.

A puzzled Marta eyed the distracted Kristy. "Are you all right, my dear?"

The rage grew hotter and more robust. She'd never felt anything like this from the gentle teen. Figuring it would be best to hurry, Kristy stood and turned to Marta with a shaky grin. "So sorry," and cast her magic, freezing the dance instructor in place. She turned to run to the door but stumbled in the heels bound to her feet. "Stupid stilts of death." She yanked the shoes off, tossing them behind her.

Kristy bolted to the stairs and heard the loud cracking sounds from the other side of the building.

Victor stood in the damaged ballroom, his right arm thrust toward a cowering Adam and the deadly wreckage. Vivid strands of energy poured from his palm. Joist, trusses, drywall, and concrete from the sectioned part of the roof held firm, suspended inches over the man in danger of a swift burial under the deadly debris. Sweat poured down his face. He fought the fear and continued holding the ruins steady, grateful when the terrified instructor passed out.

Please, don't let me be the death of Adam, he muttered.

He heard the patter of bare feet running down the stairs, knowing Kristy must have felt the magical energy, and came to investigate. Not wanting to lose concentration, Victor didn't turn to her, happy he wasn't facing the mirrors. He hoped she wouldn't look at him and see the rage in his eyes.

Her hand landed on his shoulder. "Vic, what the heck happened?" Kristy peeked up at the visible sky through the hole in the roof. "How did the freaking ceiling─"

"No time... to explain!" he gasped. "Marta?"

"In her office," she replied. "Frozen. How can I help?"

The genie never ceased to impress him. She'd willingly jump in and assist at the drop of a hat. He took a deep breath, feeling better already. Kristy could handle the extraneous task. "Ward surrounding area, no one in... hurry!"

Kristy asked no other questions. Her hand left his shoulder as she stepped out of his range. Victor felt the familiar aura of her magic spread outward, surrounding the building. The spell was subtle, a gentle deterrent as its very nature would discourage those in the vicinity from entering. Once the genie created the magical barrier, he felt her hand on his shoulder again.

"Done." Her voice remained calm in his panicky ears. "I'll pull Adam from under there, and then you drop the load. I'll weaken the structural integrity of a larger sectional area to make it look like─"

Victor shook his head, struggling to maintain the debris as his concentration waned. "NO! Damage severe, won't... ruin studio. Marta... doesn't deserve!"

"Well, what else can we do? Even if you put it back, I'm not sure how much I can dabble with Adam's memories to make it all stick. He's such a closed person, and there's too much energy in here for me to even try."

The dance studio was Marta's heart and soul, her bread and butter. Victor wouldn't let his magical complications be the catalyst for destroying her life's work. People who worked at the studio would lose jobs, and it would take heaps of cash to repair. And Adam, the most crucial aspect in this bloody mess he'd created, didn't deserve injuries, tampering, or death because of a stupid argument.

He had to fix this! If there was only a way to take it back, to start over again.

A do-over! A way to undo what he'd destroyed, a chance at making the incident never have happened. If he could─Victor shook his head. Not if, because he had no choice. He had to reverse this catastrophe.

He didn't consider the possibility or impossibility of his actions. He just did it.

Victor began by gathering every ounce of power he could muster. His outstretched arm radiated with energy. With clenched teeth, he hurled every bit behind his bidding as he visualized the incident in reverse.

Magic flew from his outstretched palm, encircling the roof section and Adam. The energy was so potent he could see the hazy, shimmering wall. He heard Kristy's quick intake of breath as the scene before them, paused.

Then, time began to roll backward in that sectioned interval of space.

Once again, the roof and ceiling were one, and Adam stood, the angry words and gestures somehow comical when seen in reverse. Victor took the instructor to the point before the argument and froze the scene. He fell to his knees, head down as his chest heaved in and out.

Kristy dropped to the floor beside him, and her hand stroked his hair. "Manipulating time... how?" She turned his face to hers, concern etched deep in the sapphire eyes. "Are you all right?"

His eyes must have resumed their usual appearance as Kristy didn't balk. He gazed into her gorgeous eyes, wanting to become lost in them, to forget how he had almost killed a man.

But now was not the time.

"Could you go back upstairs, love? I can't let him stay out of the time loop for too long without causing damage." Victor gave an encouraging nod of his head. "Please, go."

He'd almost killed a man.

Kristy kissed his cheek, then turned towards the stairs. Victor trusted her, knowing she would have his back. She'd take care of Marta as that was her task in helping him hide his monumental mistake.

The mistake of almost killing an innocent man.

He dragged his tired body back to the spot where the argument occurred. He stared at the frozen Adam before releasing the spell.

Adam came to life at once, his thin hand dropping as if they had just finished the handshake. "Don't mention it. I'll tell Marta you'd like to take Danny as a permanent partner."

The warding spell dissipated as Kristy removed it. He sighed in relief before his guilty conscience forced him to smile at Adam and say, "As long as Marta agrees. Thank you, Adam."

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