As it had been over a month since the flower box incident, Katie decided to start training again. She'd consulted with her family, of course, and they hadn't seen any reason not to. They'd all agreed to avoid using magic for a while to show the Council her good faith. Of course, she'd sort of gone against that when she'd used a transportation spell with Luke, but there hadn't been a soul around, so she couldn't see that it would cause her trouble.

"You're getting better and better, Katie!" Kendall said.

Slightly breathless, Katie relaxed her stance.

"Thanks," she smiled. "I wish Mum could say the same about my potion making."

"You're a restless one, and potions take patience," his father said wisely. "Gideon's always been calmer, so he does have a bit more ease. But your potions are fine."

"My sleeping draught would have put anyone who drank it into a coma!" Katie chuckled.

She had been practising her magic again for a few days now, and it felt really good to touch it again. She'd just fired five energy arrows in the same spot at the centre of the target. Of course, she had a secret motivation for training so hard. If the Red Cloak was really going about draining people, she needed to be able to defend herself. What worried her a little was that after two attacks in a few days, there hadn't been anything since. She wondered why. Her energy bow vanished and she turned to take a swig of water from the bottle next to her.

"Say, Dad? Can I ask you something?"

He was looking through some papers on the desk.

"Of course," Kendall smiled. "Ask away."

Katie hesitated, wondering how to put it so he didn't get suspicious.

"... Uh... I was wondering... why do you think whoever killed Victor and Georgia has been staying so quiet lately?"

Kendall's face darkened slightly. He turned to look at her.

"I don't really know. No one's ever drained the power of a single warlock by themselves, let alone two... so I have no idea what effects that might have."

It was true. In cases of Dispelling, which was basically draining one of their magic, but without the intent of killing, it required trained warlocks or witches to do it properly, and even then, the risk of not surviving remained.

"Why would one do that, d'you reckon?" she asked. "It's not a Dispelling..."

"I don't know. It could be in a twisted way," he said. "It is the highest punishment in our world, and a warlock without magic usually doesn't feel like much."

Katie frowned slightly.

"Yeah, but they both died..."

"Well, it's not our job to worry about it," Kendall said. "It's the Council's."

"I suppose so..." Katie agreed. "Do you know if they have any leads?"

Kendall eyed her shrewdly.

"Why are you asking?"

Katie had expected that question.

"Because of Georgia, of course!" She didn't need to fake the indignation in her voice. "Don't you think we deserve to know who killed her and why? That her parents at least deserve that?"

"Of course I do," Kendall said heavily. "But I don't know. I suppose it's possible it could have been personal. If they were the only targets, maybe there won't be any more deaths..."

"Let's hope so..." Katie said.

"So, you're officially together?" Lucy asked.

School had started again. Katie glanced across the canteen at Luke, who gave her a small smile.

"... I guess you could say that," she said. "But our families can't know."

"Yeah, I know, I know."

And while the thought of her family learning the truth worried her, she felt more relaxed since she'd accepted her feelings for Luke. She only now realised how exhausting it had been to fight them.

"So, what are you going to do? Sneak out? Use me as your alibi?"

The young witch heaved a sigh, running a hand through her hair.

"I don't know... I can always say I'm at the library, too... that avoids the risk of my mother calling yours and finding out I'm not there..."

"Good point..." Lucy nodded.

Katie bit into her sandwich.

"So, any news about the Red Cloak?" Lucy asked.

"No. I mean, both Luke and I have been looking in old books, on the Internet... nothing. And all we have is that they're small and probably insanely powerful right now. We have no idea why they did it, why they chose who they did or if they're planning on doing it again..."

"But is it really up to you to do this? It sounds crazy dangerous to me."

"It is crazy dangerous," Katie admitted. "But clearly, the Council either can't find anything, or isn't looking all that hard, so we have to do it ourselves."

"Why d'you think they aren't looking?" Lucy asked, perplexed.

"Well, since the deaths were ruled drug-induced heart attacks by the Unspelled police, they're probably not too worried. Usually, they only really get involved when our secret's in danger."

"Wouldn't this count?" Lucy asked glancing around.

"Nah, no one's paying attention. And we can just say we're rehearsing for a play or something."

She lowered her voice, though with the surrounding chatter, it was probably not necessary.

"We don't plan on killing them, just neutralise them and hand them to the Council."

Lucy frowned in concern.

"Seriously though... I don't think you should."

"Well, if we don't, who else will?" Katie pointed out. "Believe me, I'm not enjoying it much either, but Georgia and Victor deserve justice. Their families do. Plus, Luke seems even more dead set on it than I am, so if I don't hold him back, he could be the next one they pull out of the river."

She shuddered at the thought.

"And I would want someone to do the same for me, for my family. Give them closure."

There was a silence as Lucy studied her, a strange expression on her face.

"What?" Katie asked. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"... You're different," Lucy commented thoughtfully.

"Oh? Different in what way?"

"... It's hard to explain," Lucy said. "You used to be so shy and timid... and now you're... you even speak more confidently. You used to have a smaller voice."

Katie considered that. It was true she felt different. She hadn't buttoned her blazer, the way she usually did, for example, and she usually tied her hair, but she hadn't today.

"And now?" she asked.

Lucy touched her chin, thinking.

"Well... you seem stronger, more... more yourself, you know? It's different."

"... I feel different." Katie said. "I guess it comes with losing my virginity," she added with a grin.

"Probably," Lucy agreed, grinning too. "But there's more than that..."

Katie took another bite of her sandwich and shrugged.

"I guess I'm just tired of thinking ahead all the time," Katie said. "I mean, it's good in a lot of situations, but I suppose I do need to learn to just live in the moment from time to time."

Lucy pointed her plastic spoon at her.

"Who are you, and what have you done with Katie Thomas?" she teased.

"I'm right here," Katie replied, chuckling. "I'm just getting a new perspective on things."

Lucy eyed her mischievously.

"So you'll go to the clubs with me?"

"No!" Katie laughed. "I'm changing, yes, but not that much!"

Lucy could only laugh too, at that. Some things never changed.