A bang resounded through the room, outclassing the buzzing of fans belonging to the Normal's technology clutter. My gaze shot up, scanning the walkways behind me. A shuffle followed by two steady pairs of footsteps pierced the air.

I scampered on my tiptoes behind the apparatus full of green globs and renewed the thin layer of darkness draping my body. Quieting my breathing, I crouched and waited. If this was Erwin, would he find me? No, no, no—don't think the petty thoughts. Rather, thinking or even acknowledging his presence could draw him to my position. Forget, everything.

"Move it," Erwin growled, "while I deal with the police. The fools think they can pull a night raid off on me, pathetic."

I covered my mouth, suppressing the giggle creeping out. My, a tilted Erwin, who could have imagined? The cool and collected gentleman of the night had a few ruffled feathers. Trevor will enjoy this story of his triumphs. I swayed my head. Well, it's not his entire doing. I played the leading part and who could forget my dramatic, awe-inspiring performance. One which has yet to reach the curtain call.

"Sir, the connection point will take time. That beast ruined the piping to transfer the liquid form. Where did it even come from? Leviathans are foreign to this land. If it finds this room, the plan is-"

Erwin interrupted him, his voice low and deep. "Shut up. Focus on the transfer. Max will deal with the beast." The humming fans took over for a moment. "Leviathan, huh? There's one family known for forming contracts with mythical ranked beasts."

My chest ached at his words, but I kept the thoughts buried.

"Sir?"

"What happened to the room's defensive perimeter?"

"I'm not sure," the man whispered. The statement's life verged on being choked by the background noise.

"Go work on the transfer." He went silent, followed by the quickening of footsteps and the bang of the door. "Lanna, why don't you come out?" Erwin mocked.

Aw, why did this happen? Everything was perfect. In two more seconds, he'd have disappeared from the room and gone to fight a different battle with the police knocking at his front door. Why did my amazing luck fail at the most inopportune times? Wait, rather, my luck always failed around Erwin. I bit my fingernail, chewing on the whites. Curse him to Verdina's swampland.

I stood up and released the layer of darkness covering my form. "Darling, did you miss me?" I purred.

"Real cute, Lanna. Why don't you drop the act and call your familiar back?"

"No can do Mr. Miser." I tapped on the glass apparatus. "Why don't you tell me all about your little toy?"

"Lanna, is this pay back for earlier?" He tucked a hand into his pocket, moving towards me like he was stalking his prey, but carried himself with an elegant grace.

I stepped to the side, around the glass centerpiece, using it as a divider between us. "Maybe a little." Peeking around the corner, I winked at him. "So tell me, do you plan to blow a Normal gathering spot up with this nasty piece of work? Or, are your plans more drastic? Perhaps, catch the power players out and finish them in one swoop?"

Erwin chuckled. "Nothing so direct. That's not how this game is played."

"Oh ho, maybe it's the opposite path, you plan to take care of the Nightmare council. Please, add my mother to that list."

"Nonsense, your mother is a work of art. After all, birth creates perfection."

I stopped my circling and tapped my chin. "Should I be offended you called my mother a work of art, or rejoicing at your compliment of my perfection? Sadly, the moment's hesitation caused the would-be feeling to leave. But let's put that aside, your use of those Necromancers intrigued me. Better than your failed compliments. A true plan that packed a punch. And those ugly bracelets, I hope you didn't design them."

"What do you want, Lanna?"

"The truth, nothing more, and nothing less. Tell me why you used me. Then I'll decide if I want to destroy your plans, or just poke fun at you."

"You expect me to believe you came here just to know why?" He snorted, but continued chasing my tail.

"Erwin." I halted mid-step, gazing at him without a smidgen of emotion to reveal my thoughts. "You used me."

"Ah, I should have known. You are that kind of girl."

"I'm glad we're on the same page now. So?"

"Do you expect me to tell you anything when you're contracted with Normals? Who knows, they may have bugged you. Care to prove your innocence first?"

I wagged my finger before my face. "No can do. You expect me to trust you after what you did?"

"You aren't making this easy, Lanna. Perhaps we need a trade? Let's make this an equal opportunity for the both of us."

Crossing both my arms, I stared at his chiseled face of goodness. "I'm listening."

"I'll help dispose of the one person who torments you. In return, you'll call your familiar back."

"Erwin, honey. That's not a deal. You act like I need help to remove my mother. I hate her, but I'll finish her myself. There's a debt to be paid. Someone else can't carry the weight."

"Very well. Then how about I help clear your name?"

I threw both my hands up. "Stop, this is pointless."

His attention shifted to the tactless piece of plastic in his palm. Erwin placed the device to his ear, glancing away from my beauty. Again, he ignored me. How dare he?

"What?" Erwin question into his phone. "Stall them." A simple command, and his focus returned.

"Lanna," he said with our eyes meeting, "I'm sure you've figured out my plan's purpose."

"Control," I muttered.

"Then you must understand, a hierarchy is existential. Time continues but our lifestyles never diverge. There are leaders and there are followers. Altering this reality merely causes chaos."

I grumbled at his proclamation. Truly, I get what he's saying, but he's such a hypocrite. If he cared for stability why risk disrupting the balance? He bound souls to reality, creating a surge of discord. Did he think such a plan would go unnoticed?

"Time moves on whether or not we want it to. You can't control the passing of power forever," I retorted.

He smirked and stepped closer. "Perhaps, but in this moment, I'm sure Supernaturals would rather be ruled by other Supernaturals. They'd never stomach lesser beings in charge. Yet, with the current stand we're outnumbered. We'll have no choice but to hide or be manipulated."

"At least we'll have a choice. The way you're doing things we won't."

"But that's where you're wrong, Lanna. A choice? Normals will look at us like we're monsters. It's just a matter of time before they'll group together and hunt us down. Don't you see?" Erwin took another step towards me.

My body remained cemented to the floor, not by any mundane emotion like fear, but at his truth. Still, this had nothing to do with me. He was using the conversation to influence my thoughts. I was stupid to believe an ounce of his being. But my mind agreed with his reasoning. One day, not long into the future, my happy playground would disappear.

Yes, I hated concealing my worth. When the magic crisis happened, initially, I was pissed. We were blamed for the faults of a few and forced into action. However, without the change in society, I'd never would have met Trevor. Wait a minute, don't forget the freedom to practice magic in the opening, a more compelling tale to tell.

I growled at my growing infatuation. Damn myself. How did Trevor slip into my thought process again?

My eyes widened as fragments of earth were skyrocketing towards my face. A yelp left my mouth as I dropped to a ball.

Shit! I gave Erwin an opening. He jumped into action, diving at me. I scuttled out of his direction, rounding the cylinder's edge away.

"Rude," I barked, leaping to my feet and latching my gaze onto Erwin's form.

"Our talk is over, Lanna."