Fox and Ariana were in the Xanatoses' bedchamber. Fox was standing on a stool while Ariana was pinning a skirt to an evening gown.

"You are an amazing seamstress," said Fox.

"Thank you, Fox," said Ariana, carefully placing a pin at the bottom to mark where she needed to hem.

"You know, I could use a few new suits," said Fox. "David might want one, too."

"That part you'll need to take up with him," said Ariana. "What did you have in mind for yourself?"

"I would like to turn a few heads," said Fox.

"Nothing like an A-line skirt and a fitted jacket," said Ariana.

"Can you do something like that?" asked Fox. "I would like to stray from black and blue and I have a teal suit already."

"I can make something in red," suggested Ariana. She smirked. "What would your father say if you showed up to his office in a red business suit?"

"Oh, Daddy can be so old-fashioned," said Fox. "I think he may have a few things to say about it."

Ariana laughed. "Your father seems really nice though. And I didn't get that vibe about him being old-fashioned at Alex's party."

Now Fox laughed. "He had a few things to say about your hair. He just did not want to say anything in front of you. It was Petros who had the most to say and he was not afraid to say it, either."

"Did your father say anything about Morgan?" asked Ariana.

"Only that he liked her," replied Fox. "Then again, she did heal him." Her tone changed from light-hearted to concerned. "How is Morgan? Is she okay?"

Ariana looked up at her. "She's fine. Why wouldn't she be?"

"I was just curious," said Fox.

Ariana lowered her head and adjusted a pin. "It's because of her scars, right? I figured Xanatos told you. Don't worry. Ruth and I keep an eye on her. She hasn't cut since after I first found out. She doesn't need to anymore."

Ariana got up and took a few steps back to admire her work. Fox's new gown was pushing the limits of acceptability. It was black, the skirt reaching the floor. The over-the-shoulder draping was cut in such a way that it looked as if one wrong move would leave Fox indecent, but Ariana had carefully draped, cut, and sewn it so it would not shift.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," called Fox.

Owen entered the room. "Excuse the interruption, Mrs. Xanatos. I was hoping to have a word with Miss Caelum."

"What's up, Owen?" asked Ariana.

"I was wondering if you would be interested in lessons with Alexander this evening," said Owen.

"Owen, I'm a sorceress, not a fey," said Ariana.

"I am well aware of that," said Owen. "It would be something different for you and you would be able to look at magic in a new light."

"Fine," said Ariana.

Owen left and Fox changed out of the dress.

"It wouldn't hurt for you to learn about another magic," said Fox.

"I know," said Ariana. "It would give me a chance to clear a few things up. And I'll be able to ask Puck some questions that have been needing answers to for a few years." Ariana packed up the dress to take back to the apartment. "I'll get working on those suits right away."

That evening, Ariana returned and gave Fox the finished gown. She also gave her a few sketches for suit ideas.

"Let me know what you like," said Ariana, hurrying out of the room and to the nursery.

"You're late," Puck said, his hands on his hips as he hovered in the air. "I do not like tardiness."

"You could have started without me," said Ariana, draping Manny over the back of a chair. She took the Grimorum Argentum out of its bag. "Hey!" she yelled at Puck as he snatched it out of her hands. "Puck, give that back!"

Puck hovered just out of Ariana's reach and tried to unfasten the clasps. "Huh!" he said in frustration. "It won't open!"

"There's a reason for that," said Ariana. She held out her hand. Puck handed the spell book back to her. Ariana stroked the spine and the clasps open. "Only Argentum blood can remove the clasps."

"Clever little failsafe," said Puck. "Keeps anyone outside the family out of the spells. And considering that the Argentum were feared and revered throughout history, it would be obvious that their power was some of the greatest known. You are aware that a well-trained Argentum blood could rival a fey, aren't you?"

"That brings me to a few questions I've had for a long time now," said Ariana.

"And those would be?" asked Puck.

Ariana shook her head. "Let's get Alex started on something before he decides to go after one of us," she said. "He's a little impatient right now."

Puck turned to Alex. The redhead was bouncing on his toes, which were barely touching the floor at the moment. Puck got him started with manipulating colored water in glass orbs before turning back to Ariana and her questions.

"You were saying, Silver?" he asked.

"Myrddin said something to me about not using an incantation," said Ariana. "I used an invisibility spell and he kept stepping on my foot. So I snapped my fingers and became visible. I thought nothing of it, but apparently not using any magic words is a big deal."

"It doesn't surprise me," said Puck. "I preform spells all the time and don't always use words."

"But you're fey," said Ariana. "I'm human."

"So? It doesn't make that much of a difference," said Puck. "Your ancestors were powerful, Ariana. It would make perfect sense that you don't always need an incantation, or in your case, a conduit like your Grimorum."

"What about Myrddin?" asked Ariana. "We're related. Why couldn't he do it?"

Puck put a finger to his lips. "I have a few theories about that. Either Myrddin's master did not teach him about his ancestry and brainwashed him into doing everything his way or Myrddin didn't get the ability."

"What do you mean?" asked Ariana.

"You know how certain traits skip a generation?" asked Puck. "It happens with magic, too. There's a chance that Myrddin didn't get the ability to cast spells without words or a conduit."

"Okay," breathed Ariana with a nod.

"Answer your questions?" asked Puck.

"I think that covers the basics," said Ariana. "I wouldn't mind knowing more about my heritage."

"I'll answer what I can," said Puck. "I've been around for a long time, Ariana. I know a few things."

"Did you know any of the Argentum?" asked Ariana.

"Personally, no," said Puck. "I have heard many stories about them. One I can recall that you may be interested in is the Silver Mahatma, a great sage in India. He was a great healer, like Morgan minus the psychic stuff. He made potions and elixirs. A king in a distant land wanted the Silver Mahatma to make him immortal so he could rule for all time."

"Let me guess: the king was not a good king," said Ariana.

"You guess correct," Puck said with a wolfish grin. "The Silver Mahatma knew that if the king was immortal, he would destroy everything he laid his eyes on. So he hatched a plan. Instead of creating an elixir of life, he created one of death. But he also knew if he gave the king the poison and said it was the elixir, the Silver Mahatma would be executed on the spot of killing the king. So the night before he was to present the elixir to the king, he slipped the poison into the king's nightly drink. In the morning, the king was dead. Everyone thought that the Silver Mahatma was behind it, but they couldn't find him anywhere. They say that a giant bird came and spirited him away."

Ariana thought for a moment, turning her opaque blue eyes away to find Alex seated in the air, enthralled by his uncle's story. "The giant bird, it wouldn't have happened to be a raven, would it?"

Puck smirked. "Yes, that's right. How did you know?"

"I've been looking through the Argentum and I found a few entries that I haven't been able to translate completely," explained Ariana. "One of them, I believe, is the story you just told me. I noticed a list on one of the pages of animals: raven, owl, wolf. Do those animals have special meanings?"

"Hard to say," said Puck. "If I read the entries, I would be able to tell you."

Ariana looked at the Argentum. "I'm not sure if I trust you with this," she admitted.

Puck looked at her in all seriousness. "I'll take good care of it," he promised.

Ariana handed the Argentum over to Puck.

"Now, back to lessons," said Puck.

"Another story, Uncle Puck," said Alex. "Please?"

"Maybe later," said Puck. "But you have a lesson to complete first." Puck got Alex focused on his lesson, then turned back to Ariana. "Now for you."

Ariana quirked a brow.

Puck gave a slow grin. "What? You didn't think I would leave you out in the cold, did you? I noticed that women associated with the gargoyles have a habit of falling. Well, mostly Elisa. Neither you nor Morgan have taken a tumble off a tower. But just in case, I'm going to teach you a spell. Actually it's just a trick."

Puck flipped through a few pages of the Argentum. "Here. This one. It's a levitation spell. Very basic, but with the right amount of practice it will become second nature to the caster."

"Levitation spell?" asked Ariana. "You mean, use it on myself?"

"No, on Brooklyn. Of course, yourself!" Puck chuckled. "For someone who's made it this far, you sure have your blond moments."

Ariana fiddled with a lock of her hair. "It's the right color," she pointed out.

Puck roared with laughter. "Very good!"

After lessons, Ariana went to her room. It wasn't long before there was a knock on her door.

"Yeah?" she called.

"It's me," came Brooklyn's voice.

"It's open," said Ariana.

Brooklyn came in with a folder in one hand. "Hey," he said. "I didn't get to see you before you had lessons. Fox told me to give these to you."

Ariana took the folder from Brooklyn and flipped through them. "Fox has good tastes," she said, looking at the marked sketches. "I'll have to get to work when I get back to the apartment."

Brooklyn got a depressed look.

"What?" asked Ariana.

"Nothing," said Brooklyn. "You're busy."

He turned to leave and felt something step on his tail. It wasn't hard, just hard enough to make him turn around. Ariana had the toe of her high heel shoe placed firmly on the limber appendage.

"And where do you think you're going?" she asked.

"Getting ready to go on patrol," replied Brooklyn.

"And what? Leave me without a kiss or at the very least a hug?" Ariana asked indignantly.

Brooklyn smiled and gave Ariana a hug, running his talons through her silver hair. He leaned back and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Thank you," said Ariana.

"You're welcome," replied Brooklyn.

Brooklyn was to go with Lexington on patrol. The problem was he couldn't find Lexington anywhere.

"Hey, Goliath," he called to the leader. "Have you seen Lexington?"

"Not recently," replied Goliath. "He ate his breakfast quickly and disappeared afterwards."

"Huh." Brooklyn checked the media room to see if Lexington was playing video games. The television wasn't on but there were voices. "There you are," whispered Brooklyn.

Brooklyn could hear his brother's voice and the voice of a female: Morgan. No wonder he was in such a hurry to finish his breakfast. Brooklyn peeked into the room and saw Lexington and Morgan sitting on the sofa. Lexington was playing with Morgan's hair, a gargoyle's way of a kiss, and Morgan was shyly running her thumb over Lexington's brow ridge. This was just too cute! Brooklyn fought to keep a chuckle from making itself audible. It was a bit odd-looking seeing Lexington and Morgan together as a couple. Lexington was eager to the point of being hyper and Morgan was very modest and serene and in some ways timid. Sure she knew she was powerful when it came to her abilities and she had confidence in them, but when it came to other things, such as being around people, she would rather hide in her hood.

"Hey, are you okay?" Lexington asked.

Brooklyn snapped out of his thoughts and saw Morgan had put her hand down.

"I'm fine," replied Morgan in her small voice.

Lexington shook his head. "I know you better than that. What's wrong?" Lexington looked down. "Oh. Morgan, it's okay. I don't know who told you that you wouldn't be loved because of them, but I love you for who you are, scars and all."

Morgan made an apprehensive sound as Lexington removed one of her fingerless gloves. He put the glove aside and held her arm in his hands.

"I don't mind," he said, running a talon gently over the pink lines.

Morgan looked like she didn't believe him.

Lexington bent his head and kissed the scars. "I don't mind. Really."

"Ahem," Brooklyn cleared his throat.

Morgan jumped and grabbed her glove. Lexington straightened up and tried to appear as if nothing happened.

"We're supposed to be on patrol," said Brooklyn.

"Right," said Lexington, jumping off the sofa. "I'm coming."

Brooklyn turned back to Morgan and gave her a little wink. Morgan got herself straightened up and quickly walked out of the room to see Lexington off.

"Oh, Morgan!" Puck sang from another room. "Come here, I need you for a moment."

Morgan winced. What could Puck want with her?

"Yes?" she asked, entering the room.

Puck looked at her with a mischievous look. "Come here, lovely," he said.

Morgan came closer, keeping a close eye on the trickster.

"I thought it would be nice to have a little time together," said Puck. "Teach you a little something will help you with your powers."

"Puck, Ruth will have your ears if you do something to me without her knowing," said Morgan. "She was very upset with you when you cast that sleep spell on me."

"I won't cast a spell," said Puck. "Not for what I'm going to teach you." He cringed mockingly. "She would cut my ears off? I'd like to see her try."

"Don't push your luck," said Morgan. "She'll do it."

Puck didn't doubt it for a minute. Ghost versus fey. He wondered who would win that one. Probably him because Ruth would most likely become frustrated after a time and leave him alone.

"So what are you going to teach me?" asked Morgan, still a bit wary.

Puck smiled. "Just a little trick to keep your powers under control," he replied.

The lesson was quiet, mostly involving Puck giving Morgan detailed instructions about meditation so she would be able to call upon large amounts of power if she ever needed to. It was also to teach Morgan to strengthen her mind.

"I could give you a training exercise," said Puck. "But I would have to cast a spell on you for that."

"Not tonight, Puck," said Morgan. "I have to be at work early in the morning."

"All right," said Puck with a nod. "Another time then."

Morgan nodded and left the room.