It had been two weeks since Alexandra had arrived at The Moral Collective Headquarters, and she began to settle into a routine. In the mornings, she would join Maximilian on his fitness activities, choosing to take part in some of the less strenuous exercises. In the afternoons, Alexandra would sit and read while Maximilian practised spells. She desperately missed her wand; although she could still learn magic from books, not having it felt like missing a limb.
In the evenings, Maximilian would go for Moral Collective meetings, leaving Alexandra to her own devices. Members of The Moral Collective would apparate into the manor wearing blood-red, hooded robes, their faces obfuscated by magic. Every now and then one would pass Alexandra, but other than cursory glance, they would pay her no attention. Another one of my father's 'security methods'. Paranoid git.
Alexandra hadn't spoken to her father much since the first day. Whenever she saw him, he was always sitting down, a quill in one hand and a coffee by his side, his face scrunched up in concentration. Every time Alexandra had managed to sneak a glance at what he was writing, it had been intensely complicated arithmancy filled with symbols and Jargon she didn't understand. Their conversations were brief and mundane, and when Alexandra tried to bring up difficult questions about her mother, or Valeria, he would always dodge or give a nondescript answer. One day, she'd had enough.
"You said you were going to be more honest with me!"
"Alexandra, I have never been anything but honest."
"Bull-shit you have! Lies by omission don't count."
"Be respectful," Abraham growled. Alexandra bit back a retort.
"I know you have questions, and it's been hard for you, stuck here with no wand, no school and no friends. I promise, I have plans for you, you just need to be patient."
"You always have plans! You had a plan to deal with Hucksteen, a plan for Max-" Abraham flicked his wand.
"Do not test my patience," he said. Alexandra's face went red as she tried and failed to speak with her mouth shut.
Abraham sighed. "If you must know, one of our agents at Charmbridge was able to retrieve your wand, and that raven of yours."
Alexandra's face lit up.
"Don't celebrate prematurely," said Abraham. "I've done my part, now you need to do yours. I've hidden the wand somewhere in the manor, and I want you to find it."
In the manor, it could be anywhere! This is stupid and unfair.
"Any questions? No? Perfect."
Alexandra glared at him. He chuckled.
"I need to work on some…calculations. The raven's in your room, and you know where your wand is, you just have to use your witch's sight."
Abraham left the room, and Alexandra's mouth opened with a popping sound.
"That…why….argh!"
Screw him, I'll find the wand somehow.
Alexandra tip-toed across a hotchpotch of clothes, writing equipment and open books. She collapsed onto her bed with a sigh.
"It's been three days, Charlie. Three days!"
She slammed her fist into the duvet and kept pounding her pillow, until her fingers burned and her arms ached.
Maybe I'm approaching this in the wrong way. But what the hell does father mean by witch's sight?
"Magic," said Charlie. Alexandra's eyes widened.
"Charlie, you're a genius!"
Alexandra muttered to herself, before stretching her arm out. Here goes nothing.
"Magic search far and Magic search near. Magic search there and Magic search here. The room, the halls, the courtyard and beyond. Magic help me find my wand!"
Alexandra's arm remained stretched, shaking. Nothing happened. She lowered it.
"I JUST WANT MY WAND!"
The glass in the windows shattered, shards flew across the room and Alexandra curled into the foetal position. Charlie squawked and rattled his cage.
"Troublesome."
Alexandra slowly uncurled her body and stood up. The wand lay on her pillow. She ran towards it and clasped it, before running her fingertips along the hickory wood.
My wand! I can finally do magic! She pointed at the broken window.
"Reparo." The glass in the window slotted together like a jigsaw puzzle.
"Congratulations, Alexandra," said a voice by the door, which she recognised as her father's. "This wasn't how I intended for you to find it, but it'll do, for now."
She turned to face him. "What the hell did you intend?"
"That's something your new tutor can explain." Abraham stepped aside, positioning his body towards a small woman with long black hair, and a face hidden by magic. She waved her wand, and the magical mask fell. Alexandra was struck by the startling resemblance to Dean Grimm.
"Alexandra, meet Medea, one of the finest witches amongst our ranks."
Medea walked across the room with a slender gait, and touched Alexandra on the shoulder, meeting her eyes.
"You look so much like your mother," she said. Alexandra scrunched her face.
"When did you meet my mother?"
"Many years ago. We were very close, almost inseparable."
How was my mother close friends with a witch? Maybe she's actually a squib. Is that another lie I've been told?
Alexandra tensed as Medea ran her finger across her arm, stopping at her palm.
"I can feel the raw magic. The potential. I suppose - with such a powerful father, it's only natural." She winked at Abraham.
"Power is useless without control," he said.
"Oh don't worry Abraham, I will teach her control." Medea let go of Alexandra. "If she's willing to learn, that is."
"She's right here!"
Medea laughed. "Of course she is." She glanced at her watch.
"Abraham, let's go. It was nice meeting you, Alexandra. I look forward to teaching you."
The fire glowed in the dark, black night. The wood burned with a comforting crackle that soothed the soul, emanating warmth which melted the ice-cold gusts of wind. Alexandra sat on one side of the log-pile and her brother sat on the other.
"Julia and I used to do this, sometimes, back in Roanoke," said Max, stretching to the bag of Godoy Prewett's marshmallows. He grabbed a few, and put them on the end of his stick, before holding the stick above the flames. Alexandra chewed her roasted marshmallow and swallowed it with a loud gulp.
"Why can't we tell her? It's not fair on her, or Livia!"
"You know why, Alex. The WJD will be watching them like hawks."
"What do you have to hide anyway? You don't have an arrest warrant, and the WJD knows about you!"
Maximilian laughed. "Come on Alexandra, do you really think I won't be arrested the moment they see me? They've only kept quiet because they don't want people to find out how I came back." He bit a large chunk of the marshmallow from his stick.
"Doesn't stop you from sneaking out early in the morning," said Alexandra, arms crossed.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Nuh-uh, you know exactly what I'm talking about!"
"It was twice, Alexandra, and I was glamoured up with a notice-me-not charm." He took another bite from his marshmallow.
"But then why can't you cast the charms on me and I come too!" Alexandra stamped her foot, crushing a stick below her in half.
"It's different, with you. It's too dangerous."
"I'm the one who survived the Lands Beyond," cried Alexandra, before covering her mouth. "I'm sorry-"
"No, you're right. You did survive the Lands Beyond, and the Lands Below." He lowered his voice. "I suppose, as long as we take precautions…" Alexandra grinned. "Don't tell father, or you're losing that wand for good this time!"
"Thanks Max, and I won't."
"Good morning Troublesome," said a voice. Alexandra groaned, before rubbing her eyes and muttering something unintelligible.
She felt someone clap her shoulder. "We're leaving now," whispered the voice, "unless you're too tired."
Alexandra mustered as much force as she could to heave herself out of bed.
"I'm com'n"
"Hurry up! You've woken up earlier than this for JROC."
Alexandra walked with slow, sluggish steps, like she was wading through mud. Maximilian grabbed her shoulder and the world around her disappeared as she felt the familiar sensation of apparition. She fell to her knees on the cold, wet grass of the manor courtyard.
"Why did you have to apparate, Max?"
"We'd never have left the house if I didn't. Now wake up sleepy-head!" He shot a stinging hex at her.
"Ow!" cried Alexandra, rubbing her neck. She shot one back at him, which he deflected. Alexandra grumbled.
"Follow me," said Maximilian.
"Where are we going?"
"Blacksburg Town, a muggle village near The Institute."
Alexandra frowned. "Is it safe, that close to your old school?"
"Totally. We all avoided the place as BMI students. It's utterly devoid of magic or anything else interesting."
"So why are we going then?"
"It's the only place in Blacksburg that doesn't have the eyes of The Confederation on it."
Max withdrew his wand from his pocket and waved it, causing bright pink sparks to fly at Alexandra. Alexandra felt her face heat up, and felt a sharp pulling sensation in her cheeks. She looked up to where her brother had been, and saw a dark haired, brown eyed, slim young man in his place.
"Nice work, although your outfit looks way too formal."
Maximilian shrugged. "It will still be enough to fool the muggles, and most wizards, although the aurors or WJD agents would definitely be able to see through the glamour." He conjured a mirror and handed it to Alexandra. Alexandra stared into the mirror, a ginger-haired, green eyed witch stared back.
"Why did you have to give me ginger hair?"
Maximilian laughed.
The two of them left the courtyard. After emerging from the woodlands surrounding the manor, they walked past grand, Victorian-style houses. Alexandra recognised some of the fancy cars Archie went on about in the driveways. The few muggles they walked past paid no attention to the two of them.
It was windy and bitter, but the night started to fade, as birds serenaded the rising sun. By the time they arrived at the town centre, it was well into the morning.
"What now?"
"Your wardrobe is looking a bit empty," said Maximilian. "How about we buy you some of those strange muggle clothes you like to wear?" He pointed to a shop across the street, which had "Taylor and Taylor" printed on it in large letters. Life-sized mannequins wearing expensive-looking suits lined the windows.
"Er..okay…" He dragged me all this way to go clothes shopping? Somewhere so expensive?
Maximilian waved his wand again, cancelling the notice-me-not charm, and the two of them crossed the road. When Maximilian opened the shop door, a bell chimed. A small, podgy man wobbled over to the door, with a grin so large that his cheeks touched his eyes.
"Martin! It's so good to see you again!"
Maximilian's face tinged pink. Alexandra gave him a sharp look, to which he mouthed "later".
The man pivoted his large body on one foot and gestured towards a door behind the counter.
"Samuel, Martin's here!" shouted the man. He turned back to Maximilian. "How 'you doing?"
"I'm doing well, and you Chuck?
"Not too bad myself," said Chuck. He turned to Alexandra. "So who's this young'en? Is that the Beatrice you're always telling us about?" Maximilian nodded. "How are you, love?"
Alexandra gave Maximilian another sharp look.
"I'm…fine. Thank you."
"That's good to hear. Ah, there you are Samuel."
Alexandra heard a loud creek from the direction of the till. A tall, sandy blonde haired boy opened the door. He looked about Maximilian's age, but was a few inches taller and had more muscle. He looked at Maximilian and smiled, although his expression was much more subdued than Chuck's. Maximilian was staring at him, smiling dreamily.
"Hey," he said, giving a curt wave to Maximilian.
"G'mornin' Sam," Maximilian mumbled.
Okay what the hell is going on here.
"I've got this covered, Dad," said Samuel. "You go and have a lie in, I doubt anyone else will come for a while."
Chuck slapped Samuel's back with an audible clap. "Thanks Sam, I knew I could count on you." He hobbled back towards the door, and walked through it sideways. Samuel watched his father leave the room, and when the door shut, he turned to Maximilian.
"So, what can I do for you today Martin?"
"Erm…my sister needs some m- formal attire."
"Cool. What type?"
"Something dignified."
Samuel laughed. "You're so good at saying nothing at all. I suppose I'll have to pick out some clothes again, like last time," he said. "How's the suit by the way, does it fit?"
"It's perfect!" said Maximilian.
Alexandra tuned out the conversation between them. She couldn't understand why they had come here. Maximilian didn't seem to have any idea what he wanted, and she wouldn't be caught dead in some of the outfits through the window. Her brother had an idle, dazed look which she'd never seen on him before. It was odd.
That's not even mentioning his apparent familiarity with a bunch of muggles. There she had been, a good, obedient prisoner inside the Grimm Manor, while her brother had been off chit-chatting with muggles and adopting the name of his lover.
Alexandra felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Do you like this outfit?" asked Samuel. "I know your brother says you don't wear dresses, so I thought a blouse and some formal trousers might suit you better." Alexandra had to admit that she liked the look of the outfit, although she wondered how 'Samuel' had known about her disdain for dresses.
"Yeah, it's good," she said.
"Great! Are you sure you don't want to buy anything, Martin? I still have your measurements."
Maximilian blushed.
"No…nothing for today."
The three of them went over to the till to pay, the outfit totalled to 450 dollars, but Alexandra noticed Maximilian handing over double that amount.
"I can't take that!" said Samuel. "That's too much."
"No, take it. You do such a good job here."
He's being very odd.
The bell chimed again as the two of them left the shop. When they had crossed the road, Alexandra turned to Maximilian.
"What the hell was all that about?"
Maximilian turned pink. "We…er…needed to get you some clothes, remember?"
"It didn't seem like it was me you were paying attention to in there!"
Alexandra's eyes widened. Oh.
Maximilian rubbed the back of his neck. He opened his mouth to answer but then stopped, looking past Alexandra into the distance. Alexandra's jaw dropped when she saw the person further up the street. Martin. The real one. He was wearing his BMI uniform, and didn't seem to notice the two of them staring.
He stopped.
The crack of apparition was almost instantaneous.