After shifting back to their time, everyone got a bit woozy and Leora declared they all needed rest. No one contested her. All their fatigue seemed to crash on them at that moment. No one could be bothered to go to their rooms, so Leora and Miranda moved the furniture, then summoned a bunch of blankets, pillows, and mattresses so everyone could sleep in the manor's living room.

The next morning dawned quietly. Ryder shifted to the side and stretched. He heard movement in the kitchen and went to look when he heard voices.

"What's your real name?" Leora asked abruptly.

A sigh was heard. "It's embarrassing."

"We can't just keep calling you Forseti."

An egg was cracked and something sizzled.

"Joe," was his short reply.

"Could've sworn it was something longer."

"It's short for Josephus," Forseti—no Joe, explained. "My parents are historians."

She chuckled. "Makes sense."

For a few minutes there was only the sounds of crackling, hissing, and popping. A wonderful smell wafted through the door.

"Do you like my sister?" Leora spoke suddenly.

"As a friend? Definitely."

"What about more?"

There was silence for a few moments. "Maybe. I don't know."

She sighed. "She took your death hard. It's good you're alive, but—how did that happen?"

"I'm just as confused as you are."

Leora didn't speak at first. "Just be careful with her. Both her and Ryder have been through a lot. The last thing we need is to send them spiralling."

Someone poked him in the ribs and Ryder jumped and spun.

Miranda stood there, her hair a bird's nest. "We should talk. Outside."

The two were awkwardly silent as the birds chirped their morning song.

"Sorry about—" They spoke at the same moment before stopping.

"You first," Ryder offered.

She inhaled deeply. "Sorry about…trying to kill you and being a jerk about it."

He laughed. "Uh, sorry about…same. Trying to kill you and being a jerk. Even if it wasn't exactly our faults."

"True."

The apologies thawed the atmosphere somewhat, but there was still distance between them.

"I grabbed you 'cause I knew you'd understand," Miranda said abruptly. "About…the darkness…"

Ryder raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"You're worried too, aren't you?" She crossed her arms. "That ruthlessness you exposed to the world—you're wondering if that's who you truly are."

He stiffened. "How do you know?"

"Because I wonder too." She gave him a wry grin before sitting on the steps. He hesitated a moment before joining her.

"I wonder if under all my PG-friendly traits is a monster, one pretending to be something she isn't," Miranda said. "I wonder if one day, I'll wake up and find that monster in the mirror." She smiled sadly. "I wonder if the world would be better off without me."

"Don't say that," Ryder cut her off.

"Why not?" A bleak hopelessness filled her voice.

"Do you want to put your sister through the same ordeal you went through, only worse?" He became heated. "When I got to Evermoor all I saw was her wearing herself out to train those guys to save you. If Themis had…if I had succeeded, she would've made what you did look tame in comparison."

Miranda chuckled a little.

"Don't mess yourself up with would've, could've, should've," he told her sternly. "You may feel totally alone, but that's never true. You have people you can ask for help."

She held up a hand. "I get it, I get it. I'll listen—as long as you take your own advice."

"Dang, you caught me," Ryder grinned. "The past is past. Guess we gotta reconcile ourselves with it."

Everyone else was getting ready to eat breakfast when Ryder and Miranda returned. Tara darted a quick look at Bella, but she seemed unaffected as she dragged him to sit beside her. Joe moved to take the seat next to Miranda, but Leora squeezed herself in between them.

"Sorry Joe, but we need a little sister time first," she raised an eyebrow. "I haven't talked to her in like, months. You can flirt with her later!"

Everyone hid smiles at his sputtering protest as they ate, not leaving a single crumb behind.

"Thanks, Leora," Sun-ah rose with her plate. "We'll take care of the dishes."

"Good idea," Miranda stood as well. "But first…"

She turned to the Themis operatives. "I'm sorry for almost draining your souls." Then to Miss T. "And sending you to limbo." And finally, the Crossley siblings, Sorsha, and Cameron. "And I'm sorry for the pain I caused you, all of you."

"It's all right, you can't expect us to hold you responsible," Miss T spoke gently.

"The point is I'm not sure how much I was or wasn't responsible for," she stared her in the eye. "I still need to make it right."

Letty rolled her eyes. "Well you know what they say about Canadians: they never stop apologizing."

"Seconded," Bella agreed. "Especially when it's not their fault."

"So I'm forgiven?" Miranda spoke timidly.

"Of course," Leora gave her a tight hug. "After you apologize to me and the rest of the family for what you put us through these last few months."

She winced. "Definitely. I'll go call our parents."

After the dishes were cleaned, the Themis operatives bid their goodbyes to the Evermoor teens plus Ryder, Miranda and Leora.

"Are you leaving before the eclipse?" Tara asked.

"Some of us might stick around," Sun-ah smiled.

"And some of us are going home!" Amaya hooted. "It's not like I can actually see it anyway."

"If you want I can transport you back," Leora offered. "Skip the hassle at the airport."

"Sounds good!" Percy shook her hand. "I'll swing by later to settle the details."

Sun-ah and Joe went with them for the time being but assured the teens they'd return.

Leora elbowed her sister. "So you and Joe…?"

"What?" Miranda blushed. "Should I ask about you and—?"

Leora whacked her sister upside the head before she could finish and Miranda vanished in a flash of blue, appearing a few meters away.

"It'd be an improvement over your last date," She was gleeful. "He tried to suck out your soul!"

"At least I didn't go crazy 'cause my crush died!"

"I don't have a crush on him!"

"Then why're you turning red? Eh? Eh? You see her turning red, right guys?"

"Don't you dare answer that!"

The others decided to leave the sisters to their bickering. Cameron and Tara left with Miss T to visit the library, Ryder and Bella raced off on bikes, while Seb and Sorsha went off to have a private chat.

"It'll be nice to return," Miss T reflected.

"Uh, there's this other lady in the library now," Tara said hastily.

"Well, I'll have a talk with her and perhaps we can work something out," Miss T smiled.

"Was it hard?" Cameron asked. "Being in limbo?"

The old woman hesitated. "Not really. There were times I was just barely conscious of what was happening—May's Shadow kept trying to escape by making dimensional cracks, but I was able to sneak through instead."

"So all those times we thought you were talking to us—it was really you?"

"Yes," Miss T contemplated. "Certain cracks corresponded to certain points in time, and I was able to slip through those and reach you all."

Tara stiffened. "Wait! Your book—I left it at home, I—"

"You can give it to me later," the older woman reassured her.

"Then I'll give you your pendant now," Tara lifted it over her head.

Miss T held it gently. "Thank you, but…maybe I should let it go now."

"But it's yours!"

"Indeed," she nodded. "Thus, it's mine to give away."

Tara sighed. "All right, but keep it for a few days, at least? Figure out whether you want to keep it or not, okay?"

By then the trio had reached the doors of the library. It was still early in the morning, but there were a few people around.

Mrs. Levin sat at the desk, stamping books. Her mouth was twisted with concentration.

"Hello," Cameron greeted.

She looked up with a smile. "Cameron and Tara! Nice of you two to drop by. And this is…?"

"I'm Miss T," she introduced herself. There was a sudden gasp, and they turned to see the Mayor with his mouth hanging open. He abruptly retreated into the stacks.

"It's good to meet you!" Mrs. Levin stood and shook Miss T's hand. "I can assure you the place has been well kept in your absence."

"I can see that," Miss T said amiably. "You've done quite a lot, considering I was gone for only around two months."

Mrs. Levin beamed. "I've been working to digitally overhaul your whole system to make it more efficient, as well as finding ways to push up attendance."

"I see," Miss T yawned. "Oh, pardon me."

"You must be exhausted, it was a long journey back from…wherever you were," Mrs. Levin clasped her hand warmly. "Go home and rest. We'll talk more later."

Mrs. Levin's winged pendant fell forward, and the two teens couldn't help but see the coiled whip hanging from the centre.

Seb and Sorsha were sitting together in the garden. The sun shone through fluffy clouds, and for a few minutes they just embraced the quiet.

"I heard Esmeralda's going to wake up soon," Seb spoke awkwardly.

"The others think so, anyway." Sorsha fiddled with her hands.

"She'll probably tell you to stay away from me."

"Probably."

He turned to meet her teasing eyes, dancing with mischief.

"I never said I'd listen though." Sorsha sidled closer and intertwined her hand with his.

Seb blushed. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," she leaned in and—

"EEWW!"

"Quiet, Bell, they could hear us!"

"They kissed! I can't believe she kissed him!"

Ryder and Bella were spying on the other two from behind a hedge. They'd just returned from their bike ride and spotted them in the garden.

"Now he's leaning in and…how long is he kissing her for?"

"This is so gross," Bella groaned, turning away.

A red rose grew in front of her eyes.

"Just look at something beautiful instead," Ryder plucked it and offered it to her with a deep bow. "I'm already doing that."

"Dirt must be gorgeous then," she giggled before accepting the flower. "No thorns?"

"Just for you." He straightened with a smile and offered his arm. "Now may I escort the lady inside?"

"You may," Bella giggled as she moved closer, linking arms with him. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek before they started walking.

"Why is everyone in couples?" Leora wondered. She was looking down at Ryder and Bella from one of the windows, her sister beside her.

"It's okay, we can be alone together," Miranda gave her a one-armed hug.

"Not if that boy has anything to say about it!"

"Jie!" Miranda complained.

There was silence for a few seconds.

"Speaking of your boyfriend—"

"He's not my boyfriend."

Leora hesitated. "You sensed it too, right?"

Miranda didn't answer immediately, just kept staring through the window. "I'm not sure we should tell him."

"He was mad at you for keeping secrets," Leora reminded.

"But this is different." Her voice faltered. "He doesn't realize he died."

They spent a few minutes thinking, together yet apart.

"We need to check out the area where he woke up," Leora said. "If we see any rocks of silver or gold—"

"I doubt anyone would be that careless," Miranda interrupted. "But the fact he felt a breeze seems to prove it exists, at least."

"Then who wielded it? And for what purpose?"

Miranda sighed. "I guess we'll find out when we go home. After we rest for a while though."

"Agreed. I'll be Indiana Jones."

"The Lost Ark is not the same as that fan."

"C'mon, Short Round, let's find the others."

"That's the wrong movie…"

Leora swung an arm around her sister's shoulder. "Time to rejoin the others. Looks like our adventure's just beginning, eh?"