The Heir Of Dreams And Curses

Where I'm a stranger in a strangeland, with no clothes on

First thing in the morning, I walked up the stairs and went to Vitaly Malinov's house. Vitaly was one of the few people who had used to their advantage our new cold peace with the humans and had decided to buy a house near Brighton, outside of the city, the only place where it was legal for Enchanters to live.

I knew that living with him there was also Brady Doyle. I expected their house to look just like it did --- a breathtaking 19th century manor, with a huge garden --- but what I did not expect was to find a silvery haired woman opening up the door for me.

I tried, with a struggle, to remember Edgar's words. "You're... Silver McQueen's manager, aren't you?"

The woman smiled. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Severina Soprano and my husband is in there somewhere," she gestured towards the villa, and stuck her head inside the door. "Danny?!"

I was wondering just how many people did Vitaly and Brady shared their house with, when Severina came back, this time followed by a shorter man with black moustaches and short dark hair.

"Daniel Ignacio," the man said, holding out his hand. 

I must have looked terribly confused, because Severina smiled at me. "I know my name isn't typical, not even for an Italian woman," she said. "But what can I say? My parents were eccentric. I suppose it rubbed off on me. It's good to be eccentric."

"When you say things like that, you make me want to kiss you, right now, in front of everyone," Danny said. I couldn't help but think of Brady having unrequited feelings for the woman, and feeling second hand embarrassment.

A few minutes later, I found myself sitting at a wooden table and trying to explain my plan to Vitaly, Brady, and this odd foreign couple.

"So," I cleared my throat. "I was thinking, I'm the Hierophant. Brady is an Enlightener, Vitaly is an Aeon... and truly I did not know who could act as the Jurist, but I see I'm in luck, because, since they are the most common type of Enchanter, it's safe to say either Danny or Severina could be."

"I'm a Jurist," Severina smiled charmingly.

"Me too. And also a hybrid. Just like her former partner, Brady Doyle," Danny winked at me. "My wife's got a thing for hybrids."

Vitaly looked so green in the face, I couldn't help but think that we might look identical at the moment. Not only I took after him in my looks, I was sure I was making that exact same face.

"I don't see," Vitaly said melodiously. "Why I should help you with your bad ideas every time we meet, young cousin."

"The last quest I went on was your own bad idea," I reminded them. "I just followed you blindly. And it did turn out well, so now it's your turn to trust me, I suppose."

Vitaly sighed. "If only trust worked like that... But I imagine I cannot fault you for taking after me. I just wish you weren't doing this alone. When you went on KI you had your friends with you, and I could give you advice. This world you want to journey to, none of us has seen it before. It might as well be dangerous. You might not know what to take from it, or how to have a safe passage."

However, Vitaly was already starting to write a circle with a piece of chalk on the floor of the living room. At the moment, I couldn't find words to show how grateful I was.

"Just promise me that if anything happens, you will go back," Vitaly said, tossing me the piece of chalk. "The last time, it was us who brought you back to our dimension. This time, you should probably create another circle. And do not be mad if, for however reason, we see fit to send someone after you."

"Do not worry," Brady added, when he caught the look on my face. "We wouldn't endanger one of your friends. We'd probably take the chance to send an adult to look after you."