A few days later, everything seemed to have settled down at Russia's house. Ukraine, with the help of her little sister, had successfully moved in on a more permanent basis, though she still insisted she was just visiting. The war between Minsk and her father had ended in a reluctant truce after Ivan broke one of the water guns by accidentally standing on it. Saint Petersburg had gone weirdly quiet and taken to his room.

Also still living more or less in her room, Moscow was scheming. She still needed a way to win France's love. But no solution was presenting itself and the method she ended up resorting to would never have occurred to her were it not for her little sister.

Inna wasn't happy with the way her 'war' plan had worked out, let alone with the 'truce' that was in place until another water pistol was found. So, vaguely aware that her mother kept some carefully hidden occult books, that she was incidentally forbidden to touch after previous incidents with ghosts, the Belarusian girl crept into her parents' room.

Trying to recall where Natalya had hidden the books last time she had found them, Inna started to wander around the room. After a few moments, she remembered that they were in a drawer and yanked it open.

Pulling out a book, she peered at it. It was an old leather-bound book with occult symbols carved into its cover. Tracing them with her finger, the young woman stared at them curiously.

Well, the magic might help her fight her father, but...She did have a bad feeling about the idea. It seemed dangerous.

"Inna! What are you doing?" Nastasya's voice cut through her thoughts. The Russian woman had heard noises from her parents room and, aware that they were both out, had reluctantly got up to investigate them.

"Just...Uhh...Looking for something!" Inna called out, not wanting to tell her sister the whole truth, just in case there would trouble over it.

Her tone sounded suspicious to Nastasya, and the woman approached her younger sibling. Seeing the book cover, she stifled a gasp. "What are you using Mama's weird books for...? You shouldn't, you know. She says not to," She scolded, before adding, "Plus they look demonic," She murmured, fiddling with her cross necklace cautiously. Her religion was deeply important to her, and the symbols on the front of the book made her worry for the safety of her Little's Sister's soul.

"It's fine. It's just a little bit of magic! It'll be harmless and really helpful!" Inna argued, feigning innocence and making excuses.

"Are you sure about that? What will it even help with?" Moscow wouldn't relent and kept up her questioning.

Minsk faltered and tried to think of something that would convince her eldest sibling. Her real reasons certainly wouldn't, she was very sure Nastasya would disapprove of all her plans. "Um...Well, what's something you really want to do?" She wondered aloud, looking for a useful piece of information.

Nastasya's suspicion was temporarily overruled by her desire for Francis, "To win my love's heart!" She gushed without hesitation.

Sisterly urges to roll her eyes at the older woman's 'romance' took over for a second and Inna mumbled, "Ugh..." Under her breath, before turning her attention back to the issue in hand. "Well, we could use magic for that!" She told Nastasya, without actually knowing if that would work, as she hadn't had a proper chance to look at the book's content yet.

"Really? And it'll work?" An excited Russian woman squealed at her, before regaining her composure, "...Safely? Without Mama's wrath or any demonic occultism happening?" She began to interrogate her again, scepticism rising again now.

Inna flipped open the book and peered at the writing, fiddling through it in the hope of finding something of use. Just as Nastasya was starting to give up and thinking up returning to her room to gaze at pictures of Francis again, Inna cried out, "Got it!"

She held up the book, showing the page she was on to her sister. It read, 'Love Potion Recipe'. Her indigo eyes widening in surprise and intrigue, Nastasya gripped the book, pulling it closer and taking a brief look.

It didn't look dangerous. Surely one little potion wouldn't hurt? And if it would bring her and Francis together, then it must be good! This 'logic' convincing her, the Muscovite nodded, "Alright, if you help me with this, I'll help you with...Whatever you're planning to use the magic for." She decided.

Minsk's eyes lit up too. She hadn't been expecting help. She would have settled for showing her that magic was okay and therefore, persuading her to go away. Normally, Nastasya would oppose any of her anti-Russia plans. "Deal!" She cheered, jumping up and dumping the book in Nastasya's arms. "Alright, you tell me what we need, I'll help you." She told her.

"Okay..." Moscow began to read the recipe again. "We need some water, a bowl, a spoon, a strainer and some Coriander seeds..." She read aloud. "Well, that should be easy enough. If you just raid the kitchen, I'll get ready..."

Unsure what 'getting ready' would entail but with no particular concerns about stealing a few little things from the kitchen, Inna nodded and hurried off. There wasn't anyone downstairs, with Ilya hiding in his room, Iryna reorganising the things Natalya had helped her move and Natalya and Ivan on a 'date' somewhere, so her mission was pretty easy.

Grabbing a cup, a bowl, a spoon, a strainer and a tray from various cupboards, Inna filled up the cup, found some seeds in the fridge and poured them into a bowl, then placed everything on the tray to make it easy to take upstairs.

Satisfied with her work, she went back to her parents' room to find her sister sitting on the bed, chanting her Beloved's name. The Belarusian cautiously placed the tray down on the bed beside Nastasya and stood back, waiting for her to finish. She felt a little uncomfortable, unsure that this had been a good idea after all. This 'love' thing had been making her sister act very oddly.

Still sitting in silence, Nastasya strained the seeds into the water, tipped them into the bowl and started mixing up her potion. Then she set it aside on Belarus's bedside table. "It needs time now." She explained, unnecessarily. "What is it you want to do with this?" She gestured to the book as she questioned her.

"It's..." Inna picked up the book and began her hunt for something she was able to use against her father, "This!" She added at last, triumphant as she pointed to a curse.

Now that she had secured a way of winning Francis, Moscow's powers of judgement had returned and she raised an eyebrow at the title of the page. Something about a 'Deathly curse'. "Sestra, this is dangerous! What is it for?!" She started to lecture and interrogate her.

Inna sighed and rolled her eyes. She should have realised it was too good to be true. "It'll be fine! I'm sure Papa won't get badly hurt...Anyway, you promised to help!" She whined.

"I'm not helping you hurt Papa!" Nastasya insisted, folding her arms firmly.

"You said-" Minsk started to argue back, but, in their enthusiasm for the whole magical situation, the two girls had grown loud. Overhearing, Iryna had barged into the room, worrying for her nieces in the commotion.

"Girls, what's going on?" The Ukrainian asked, but she had hardly finished the sentence before her eyes strayed to the book in Inna's hands. She gasped and snatched it, "This isn't a toy!" She tutted at them.

Shutting the book, she shooed them both back to their rooms. Nastasya sneakily grabbed her potion as she slunk out after her irritated young sister. Both were annoyed at getting caught but nonetheless disappeared to their rooms. Iryna started to tidy up her siblings' room, sighing at the trouble that always seemed to be taking place around her.

Well, she had put a stop to the magical games and everything else was quiet now. Perhaps things would be quieter now. She finished tidying, sat on the end of the bed and prayed for a little peace in all their lives.