The door to the shop creaks open, the bell attached to the doorjamb announcing a visitor. Blaise has little hope that it's an actual paying customer as she strolls up to the front counter.

Part of her is surprised to see the Witch Child standing in the waning light. Surprised and a bit annoyed, because she hasn't seen the girl since the trip to the mall three days ago and doesn't want to rehash all that.

The other part is smirking inside, wondering how far she's gotten her hooks in this one. Iliana looks tiny compared to the towering shelves, and maybe a little lost. It reassures Blaise that she can still think along the lines of manipulation and personal interest. She's been spending far too much time with Hannah lately for her own good.

"Where's your entourage today?" Blaise asks insolently, ignoring the surge of warmth at the joyful recognition on Iliana's face.

Iliana's sheepish expression does not bode well for her future safety when Keller finds her. "I told them I had to pee?"

"Charming," she says drolly, idly running a cloth over the worn wood of the counter. Blaise wonders how much of the trouble will be ascribed upon her person. "What brings you here, sans bodyguards?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to go for coffee? Like, real coffee." If the light wasn't so poor, Blaise could swear the girl is blushing.

"I believe I've told you all I know about covens," she demurs.

Iliana shrugs. "There're other things we could talk about..."

"I'm not at all as interesting as my reputation, I assure you..."

And Blaise doesn't know why she's wasting this perfect networking opportunity. Maybe it has something to do with Hannah's pitying eyes the other day, or this weird depression she's been going through. But Iliana just looks more determined to have her way.

"We don't have to talk about the Night World," the teenager insists. Blaise clicks her nails along the counter.

"Then what else? We've already covered clothes, shoes and nail polish. So what's next?" Iliana is frowning at her and Blaise feels like she's gaining ground, so she continues. "Television? I don't watch it. You?"

"Not so much anymore..." Iliana murmurs.

"That's out then. What about boys? I find them useful for my purposes. Do you have a special someone?" Her statements are rapid fire and Iliana falters.

"No—Not really. No."

"Hm," Blaise purses her lips, then brightens as though something might have just occurred to her. "Is it girls, then? I hear that's all the rage in the New Age groups, and with Nissa and Winifred around..."

Iliana flounders for a moment, then frowns and puts her hands on her hips defiantly. "Why are you being like this?"

"Like what, dear?"

"So—So—"Shaking her head so her blonde hair flies everywhere, Iliana gives a small stamp of her foot. "Oooh. Do you want to have coffee with me or not?"

A petulant pout, and it is rather amusing to watch. Blaise is all prepared to deny the request on principle, quite sharply in fact, because she never succumbs to any demands. She's always the one in control.

But instead, she finds herself drawling after a moment of deliberation, "I suppose I can take an early lunch break. We'll see how far you get before your watch dogs track you down. It should provide some amusement."

"Great!" And suddenly Iliana is all smiles again, perfectly even white teeth shining out of her tanned face.

Blaise finds herself briskly retrieving her purse and car keys, flipping the door sign to 'Closed' and ushering the girl out. She steels herself against the affection she finds in Iliana's gaze now that the girl's annoyance is forgotten.

"So I hear you're helping Hannah plan the party?" Iliana mentions once they're in the car. Blaise takes a moment to respond, pretending to concentrate on the road behind her sunglasses.

"I might give her some advice..."

"I'd do it just to get to decorate the mansion. It's like a SIMS game, only you get to do it for real. I'm sure it would be expensive, though..."

"Then I'm glad I'm not the one paying for it."

"Winnie said you like to spend a lot of cash," Iliana says without thinking, but Blaise just shrugs.

"Who doesn't, when it's not their money they're playing with?" And the real smile just sort of slips out there, shining in the rearview mirror before Blaise can smother it. The fond look in Iliana's eyes implies that she noticed it, too.

"I know you two will do a great job."

The flattery might have sounded insincere, coming from anyone else. Blaise ignores the glow of pleasure the compliment gives her.

"Of course. I'm me." And she's only half-teasing.

Iliana laughs, and hangs out the window a little, eyes closing in the wind.

They stay silent until they arrive at the coffee shop. Blaise finds a table in the shade as Iliana orders. The Witch Child's skirt clings to her legs as she walks, and Blaise looks away, questioning why she's here. But then Iliana's there, placing her macchiato in front of her and Blaise relaxes back into her chair.

"So I assume since you're here in the middle of the day, your bodyguards aren't letting you go to school?" She asks casually as she takes a sip.

Iliana laughs. "I'm still in school. We had to move so that I could go to one that's already warded, though, because the...other side was causing too much trouble at my old one. I miss my friends, but I didn't want anyone else to get hurt." A frown marrs her perfect features, but the shadow is quickly chased away. "But it's spring break. I'm here visiting and I have a whole week of freedom to enjoy."

Blaise barely has time to process that and its ramifications before Iliana changes the subject.

"So, do you run the shop all by yourself?"

She's almost getting used to the girl's randomness.

"Yes, actually." Blaise swirls her straw for a moment, then decides to be sociable. "The Crone kept a college student around to help her out. Well, more of an apprentice. But I have no need of assistance, so now it's just me."

"That's sounds fun—Owning your own place." Iliana's tone is wistful.

"It has its merits..." Which she's still searching for, besides being able to set her own hours.

"I don't know what I'm going to do after I graduate," the girl says, fidgeting with her cup. "I mean, I didn't even know about all this other stuff a year ago. Now my mom's talking about different colleges and curriculums and careers, and all I'm thinking about is where I can go so that everyone else will be able to come with me. I have no clue what I want to be. Besides my other calling, of course..."

She trails off, fingers running idly over the lid. "I guess I want to go into a field that will make a difference, you know? Like, social work or a non-profit organization or something. Although, I don't know; fashion design does seem pretty tempting..."

There's a halo of sunlight around her when she laughs, even as she pokes fun at herself. It makes Blaise's breath catch in her chest and she understands why the witches and Circle Daybreak and shapeshifters are throwing themselves at this beautiful apparition's feet. Some innate purity that shines out of her eyes, even though Blaise knows she's been touched by the darkness, been forced to kill the dragon.

Iliana continues speaking, unaware of Blaise's scrutiny. "I'll probably go to a school away from my family. It's a little silly, but I have this picture of sharing an apartment with Keller and Nissa and Winnie. I'd like to see what a dorm's like, but I think living with them would be great. Too bad my mom would never go for Galen moving in... Anyway, I figure I'll just take my gen ed courses this first year and see if anything strikes my fancy before I think about a major."

Granting that the Powers That Be don't see fit to end the world this New Year's. But Blaise doesn't mention it because her throat hurts suddenly, tight and dry. Because Iliana sounds so optimistic, so sure that the millennium will come and go with the Witch Child there to witness it. It hurts because in six months, this bright and beautiful child could be—

Just coincidence that she was visiting the Crone, but she doesn't think she'll ever feel quite comfortable, quite safe, again. Having someone there one minute, then yanked away with the splatter of arterial spray on the sidewalk. On her face.

She takes a gulp of her drink, forcing herself to swallow. Dredges up a smile. "I never really thought about college. It just seemed so... mundane. But my cousin went to veterinary school. She and her husband opened their own practice in some backwater town after they graduated."

Iliana sighs happily. "That's so sweet. I'd love to meet someone I could share everything with like that." Her nose wrinkles. "But I don't think I could work with animals. I mean, I love them and they love me, but seeing a sick puppy or hurt kitten? I'd go to pieces. Plus, I have these issues with blood."

She shudders and Blaise grins wickedly. "The inside's the same as the outside, dear. Just different bits get sticky."

Iliana looks at her askance and shakes her head fervently. "No way. Blood's supposed to stay in the body, out of sight."

Blaise shrugs. "It's just another fluid."

Looking a little freaked out by the topic, Iliana stares down into her mocha for a second. The mood doesn't last long. When she glances up at Blaise, her expression is contemplative.

"So the shop is what you want to do with your life?"

It's an actual serious question, and Blaise takes her time responding, wondering how much to reveal. The honest and open gaze has her telling more than she planned.

"I used to hate being stuck there when I was younger. It usually meant me and Thea had gotten kicked out of another house and were just waiting for the next one to open up. But I have good memories of it, too. Back when it was just me and Thea. When things were simpler. I learned a lot from the old lady, even if I felt stifled."

Iliana's next question is soft. "And now?"

Blaise shrugs. "Now, I don't know. It's almost like I'm still waiting for the next place to let me in. Since Thea's been excommunicated, I was the Crone's heir. The shop... sort of fell into my lap. It's not really me; I just can't let it go."

A little silence after that, and she feels awkward talking about such personal things. Iliana's next statement makes her cringe.

"You must miss her very much."

A quiet observation, somewhat hesitant. Blaise looks out at the passing traffic.

"We never got along. Thea used to say we were both too stubborn. But she pretty much raised us, you know? I used to have fun seeing how far I could push her. She never failed to react."

"I only met her once," the blonde says, splaying her fingers across the table top. "She seemed so gentle, but strong. She made me want to believe I was the Witch Child."

Blaise pauses, trying to keep the memories tightly sealed. "Her last words were for you. She believed in you."

Iliana nods, and cradles her cup like it was the finest crystal. "I know."

Something makes her mouth keep moving. "She was lying there, bleeding out, and I couldn't do anything. People were screaming, running all around. She had killed the werewolf that... Toby and I ran the other two off. We hadn't even seen them coming. It just... It happened so fast and I..."

She can't look at Iliana, but she feels the girl's violet eyes on her like a physical thing. The girl reaches out, takes a hold of Blaise's hand, and Blaise is shocked to find herself squeezing back.

She realizes that she missed this, missed connecting with another person. She used to feel like this around Thea all the time before she lost her, and Hannah is a close friend, but Blaise can't tell her everything. But she feels like she can share it with Iliana, and she wonders how much of it is because the girl is the Witch Child and how much of it is Blaise's own want of attention.

They sit like that, Iliana's tiny pale hand resting in Blaise's longer fingers, their skin tones almost matching. There's so much power in the girl, she fairly glows. It's a little awe-inspiring as well as intimidating. But Blaise doesn't want to let go, and Iliana... isn't letting her.

They should head back to the shop, she thinks. She should stop this before it becomes something, she tells herself. The girl is young and untouchable and Blaise always wants what she cannot have.

She uses her free hand to finish off her drink. The sound of the empty cup hitting the table is startling, because the rest of the world has faded away.