Alex was shocked. Stunned. Her normally floating gaze was cold and unwavering. Jessie could see the words forming on her unmoving lips: human born into a demon weapon family. It wasn’t possible, surely . . . but nobody knows who her real parents are. Does he know? Would he ever tell them?

Jessie was ready to blare out question after question when she was flying, falling, faster and faster down and down. She landed flat on her back, winded but not dead, and gratefully took Alex’s outstretched hand as she came back to her feet.

”Are you okay?” she asked, brushing dirt off her sister.

”Yeah, yeah I’m fine.” She looked up and down Alex while straightening out her shirt. ”You seem to have fared better.”

Alex smiled and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She opened her mouth to say something but all that came out was a scream mirrored by her sister as she was pulled back by the hooded figure.

His touch was a strange sensation, a burning cold that made Jessie want to curl up in a ball and pray she didn’t exist but all she could do was stand there and watch him examine her, grope her like a precious little doll, a new plaything for him to do as he pleased. She wanted to do something, anything, but all she could do was scream. And his face, she knew his face wasn’t there, only darkness, but she could see the face of a man she swore on her life she would never come close to again. Yet here he was.

Alex saw him too. He saw the man who she would have killed to protect her sister, and here he was thinking he could touch her let alone be near her. ”Leave her alone!” cried the normally quiet Alexandra. ”You get the fuck away from her you backstabbing piece of shit!” She charged forward at them, but the others held her back. ”I’ll kill you! I’ll fucking kill you! Get your god damn hands off of my sister!” Her throat was hoarse and tears were streaming down her cheeks but there was nothing she could do but stand by and watch.

And she watched her beloved sister Jessica perform the most painful transformation she’s ever done.

It was impossible for her to move. Jessie’s scream was nothing Alex had ever heard. It lingered in her mind, blocked out all senses, brought her world to a standstill. There was nothing left for her but pain.

Jessie giggled and popped a piece in her mouth, smacking it with a smile. "Aah, minty. Anyway, I'm Jessie," she tilted to the shorter girl beside her, "and this is my meister, and sister, Alex."

Alex smiled and gave the others a little wave. "Hi. Oh, um, no thank you," she said when offered the gum, involuntarily wrinkling her nose as well.

Jessie gave her sister a curious look, chewing her gum loudly as she did. Then she stopped. "Oh yeah. " She looked back at the other two. " Alex doesn't chew gum."

Alex gave Warren a sympathetic look. "Sorry, I just . . . don't like it."

"She doesn't like mint either.

Alex ran toward the kishin egg, leaping before the ground fell beneath her and landing on his shoulders. She aimed the bow between her eggs, the arrow poised to fire into the man’s skull. ”I see a dead Blackshirt.” Her fingers were about to release when a loud smack resonated across the field. On one side was a rather limp meister, on the other a rather proud Mortecai. Between them was utter stillness. And something about maintenance. Using the distraction to her advantage, Alex cut the silence like a knife as her bow let out a satisfying thwump. She leaped forward, behind Mussolini, and spun around to face her opponent once more, readying another arrow as she did.

"ShIt ShIt  ShIt ShIt ShIt..."

"We're going to be fine Jessie-"

"We're going to be late!"

Alex grabbed her sister by the wrist and brought the two to a stop in the middle of the empty hallway. "Look at me. We're going to be fine, trust me. Remember what the guy said?"

Jessie was bent over trying to catch her breath. She may be a demon weapon, but even she needs to stop running once in a while. "N-no."

"Of course not. He told us that there's always someone who shows up late to class - just like school at home - but Mortecai is one of the best teachers here." She gave Jessie a comforting smile. "We'll just explain to him that we got lost, we're really sorry and stuff, and we'll never do it again and he'll let us off the hook!"

Jessie smiled back. "Yeah. Yeah, we will be fine. But it doesn't mean I like being late."

"Same. Now let's get going."

And the two resumed their jog - which was faster than the average human's sprint.

---

"Why is this school so fucking huge?!?" Jessie asked the air like it actually cared.

"Look, there's the class!"

The two came to a stop beside an empty doorway.

"Where's the door?"

Alex shrugged. "Hmm, Mortecai's Class Of-"

Jessie grabbed Alex by the wrist and pulled her through the doorway. "Doesn't matter, this is his class. Hi Mister Mortecai! Sorry we're late!" she yelled as they entered the classroom.

"How long are they going to keep us waiting?"

Alex was toying with the end of her long, braided hair when Jessie spoke. "Hmm?" she asked and looked up at her sister.

Jessie rolled her eyes and sighed briefly. "When are they going to do something? We've been standing here for ages."

"I don't like it any more than you Jessie," she replied and leaned in a bit closer to her, speaking a bit softer now. "You know I don't like crowds."

She smiled and wrapped her arm around Alex. "I know Sis. Tell you what, when we get to our dorm room I'll let you just chill for a bit while I see what's here."

Alex smiled. "Thanks Jessie."

"Anytime."

Although her expression remained calm, a wave of anxiety rushed over her. She fought to keep her eyes from turning bright yellow. At least she didn't have to worry about her blushing, the warm sun made her cheeks rosy red, and she knew how to keep her voice from wavering. "Ah, my cousin invited me to a small dinner party at his estate a few miles to the south-east, only a day's journey, when his mother-in-law fell ill and I was forced to make leave early." She gestured to her travelling companion and continued. "Thankfully, Sir Tyrren was also returning to the castle and honourably offered to escort me home." She turned and lightly curtseyed to him with a gracious smile. "Thank you kindly, Sir Tyrren."

She giggled at the remark, but said nothing.

The lake Floressa mentioned was more like a pond, but that didn't matter. The water was clear and tranquil and the grass was nice and soft under her bare soles. She dipped a toe into the water. It wasn't as warm as she would like, but it was bearable.

Less than an hour later, she returned to the campsite looking as stunning as ever. Noting the lumpy bedroll, she nudged it with her foot. "Rise and shine Tyrren, you've had enough sleep for today."