Odalia stood at her kitchen counter. She stirred her finished scrying potion. She had tried scrying the Blight manor, but no avail. Likely a ward to prevent scrying. It was hard to scry the Emperor's Coven's offices, but she had managed.

The potion started to give a clear image of the fully masked Golden Guard in an office going over some papers.

A door nearby creaked open. A slim woman in a pink dress with green hair and matching lipstick stormed in. "Golden Guard! I need the names of the scouts on the Sulzbach investigation!"

"Who wants to know?" The Guard replied.

"Me," the woman said. "Those bumblers trampled Mrs. Blight's garden, including her prize-winning zinnias. Tell me those names, so I may extract payment from them."

The Golden Guard's mask hid his expression, but Odalia guessed it was annoyed. "If she wishes, Mrs. Blight may file a claim for the damaged property. However, she has to submit the paperwork herself. You have no business with me. As you were, Snapdragon."

The woman, Snapdragon, flushed with clear rage. "All right, golden boy. You're new, so I'm going to cut you some slack. I said, give me the scouts who were on the Sulzbach team under you. I'll mulch them for my garden. It's only fair that they who destroyed such beautiful flowers should become fertilizer for new ones. Not a request."

And the Guard didn't miss a beat. "And I said," his voice turning icy. "'As you were.' Have a nice day, Snapdragon."

The potion bubbled and fizzled out, and the two figures faded from view.

"Titan damn it," Odalia resisted the urge to knock over the cauldron in frustration. "Only tangential to the investigation. Maybe I can use this, though." She emptied the expended potion into the nearby sink.

"Morning, Dahlie," Odalia's mother entered the kitchen. "What are you doing?" She was dressed in a fancy taffeta blouse in her favorite color, deep magenta pink, and a long black skirt. Her green hair was coiffed in a hairstyle that would be impractical to maintain were it not for the general-use magic she used to keep it perfect. Odalia did admire her mother's ability to at least look perfect every day: no visible split ends in her hair, no visible wrinkles on her skin, shimmering accessories that seemed matched to every outfit.

"Potion practice," Odalia lied. "Mom, you have a lot of contacts in the Emperor's Coven. Is there a possibility you could get me in contact with someone?"

"I can try," Mrs. Astrild answered. "Who do you want to contact?"

"The Golden Guard," Odalia said.

Mrs. Astrild blinked. "I wasn't expecting someone so high up. Why? I hear he's quite young. Odalia, are you…interested in him?!"

"Um, I have no idea what he even looks like under the mask…" Odalia said. "And I have my eye on someone else entirely."

"Really? Whom?" Mrs. Astrild asked.

"Does it matter?" Odalia asked sourly.

"Of course it does! I'm very excited to see you out there in the playing field." Mrs. Astrild gave a beam.

Liar, Odalia thought bitterly. "The Golden Guard, mom! Focus!"

Mrs. Astrild shook her head. "No, I don't know anyone with an inroad to the Golden Guard. And since he has the Emperor's ear, I doubt you could get an audience with him anytime soon."

"That's what I was afraid of," Odalia said.

"Well, you're single and Adrian is single, so maybe…" Mrs. Astrild said in a singsongy voice.

"Ick, no!" Odalia cried out. "Blech! And he's Iphigenia's!" Was.

"Well, Iphigenia is dead, honey, so her claim to him is null and void as they say," Mrs. Astrild levitated her mirror and checked her makeup.

"I'm surprised you even noticed she…" Odalia tried to say died but her voice caught in her throat.

"Yes, but you can't get hung up on that," Mrs. Astrild said. "We can't change the past, but as Oracles, we can change the future. I never want you to lose sight of your future."

"I won't," Odalia answered firmly.

"Good to hear," Mrs. Astrild said. "Whatever Adrian might lack, he makes up for in sheer power. And power counts for a lot."

"So does personality," Odalia said. "And Adrian's own mother admits he's…"

"It was just a suggestion, dear," Mrs. Astrild said, touching up her makeup. "Your father's going to be in meetings all day, so don't wait for him. And I have meetings for the Oracle coven, plus the Bonesborough Brunch planning committee, so I won't be back until after midnight. I left some snails on the counter in case you don't feel like cooking, so…" Mrs. Alstrid was out the door before Odalia could answer anything.

"Love you too, Mom," Odalia said sarcastically. She considered skipping school briefly but decided against it. She returned to her room to change out of her lab apron and old clothing into her Hexside uniform. A week ago, when she had been excited to be in the high school division of Hexside with Iphigenia, seemed so distant. Before she picked up Iphigenia's old staff, she went back to the kitchen to look at her potion ingredients. Only enough ingredients for one more scrying potion. I guess I do need to make this last one count.

Giselle's staff was far more speedy than the school transportation. Odalia managed to make it to Hexside in ten minutes. She glanced through the halls at the students milling about until she saw the one she wanted to speak with: Lilith Clawthorne.

Lilith was poking through her locker, humming some banal tune.

"Lilith, a word?" Odalia asked. "About the murder?"

Lilith took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. She looked tired as she met Odalia's gaze. "You know, I told you not to look…"

"I know," Odalia said. She bowed her head in only somewhat feigned sincerity. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. But um, your sketchbook…?"

"The Emperor's Coven took it as evidence," Lilith replied. "And it was ruined anyway…"

"Look, do you remember anything else? Or overhear something juicy from the scouts?" Odalia asked.

"No," Lilith answered firmly.

"Oh, please, Lilith," Odalia said sweetly. "You've only wanted to join the Emperor's Coven since you were six. You watched those Coven scouts like the little fangirl you are, hung on their every word..."

"Fine, I did," Lilith said. "But they didn't say anything interesting, other than that the body was still warm." She shivered. "The killer might even have still been there. It makes my skin crawl." She gave Odalia the coldest look she could manage, which was only a tad frosty at best. "Is that all?"

Odalia smirked. "One last question. What's your sister's schedule?"

XXX

The day passed sluggishly. Odalia was starting to wish she had taken the day off for mourning. There had been a banal token memorial service, but Principal Faust had mostly implied that Iphigenia's murder had been her own fault for not being on the straight and narrow. During her morning session of Elementary Oracle Techniques, she hid a treatise on oracle blood magic inside her textbook and read through it. Using oracle magic, blood could be matched between two sources, so it was a way of identifying the donor of blood stains and could even be used as a paternity test.

Except how was she going to get a sample of the blood of Iphigenia's child? Odalia racked her brain. Iphigenia's body was presumably still in cold storage with the Emperor's Coven, since the investigation was still ongoing. But there was the question of security.

Not to mention the idea of seeing Iphigenia like…that, stitches from the autopsy covering her, made her want to go home and crawl under the covers. Seeing her lifeless, impaled on that tree like a shrike's kill…that was horrific enough.

Her eye turned to Giselle in her staff form, leaning against her desk. Witches at Hexside were allowed to keep Palismen on their person during classes but keep them in staff form except for training exercises. She wanted to pet Giselle, but she knew enough from Iphigenia's complaining that Principal Faust was a total hardcase and so she shouldn't tempt fate by getting caught breaking a rule on her first day of school.

After two more classes, Odalia went to the cafeteria for lunch. She sat down on the nearest bench. As much as it pained her to eat dessert before the entrée, she grabbed the tiny cup of Ice Scream and started to eat, relishing the taste of sugar and fat.

"Um, may I…sit here?" came a voice.

Odalia glanced up. The speaker was Alador Blight. "Of course."

"The girl who died…" Alador began, taking the seat next to Odalia. He stared down at his lunch tray.

Odalia resisted the urge to correct him. She died and she was murdered at your house…! Of course, that wasn't Alador's fault.

"She was your friend?" Alador finished.

"Yes," Odalia said. "My best friend."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Alador said.

"…That's all?" Odalia asked.

Alador's face stiffened. "Was that the wrong thing to say? I thought it was the right thing." He rifled through his schoolbag and dug out a book: Etiquette for the Growing Gentleman. "Hang on, let me check this chapter…"

"It's…fine," Odalia said. "You can put the guide away. I just…hate this. Iphigenia was supposed to be here. We'd be laughing at some stupid joke right now…"

"Do you want me to tell you a joke?" Alador asked, obeying Odalia and tucking the book back into his bag. "Maybe I can make you laugh."

"No," Odalia said. "I don't think I can laugh right now."

"That's…terrible," Alador said. "I've been sad before, but never like that. But I've never lost anyone. I guess I'd be that sad if my brother Isidor died. Oh, Isidor told me your name was Odalia. Ugh, I guess I should have led with that."

"We did meet at the party," Odalia said. "I guess I didn't get to introduce myself, though."

"I remember," Alador said. "I don't remember much at that party, but you..." He blushed. "Um, I guess you're going to remember that I burped on you for months?"

"It's hard to forget," Odalia said. "You did burp right in my face."

"I am so so so sorry!" Alador bowed his head. "I was trying to work up the nerve to say something."

"Oh?" Odalia asked. "What were you going to say?"

Alador swallowed. "Would you like to…come to dinner? Or go…" He hesitated, as if trying to get the words out. "Oh, titan damn it all to oblivion!"

"Is that a multiple choice question?" Odalia asked blankly.

Alador stood up, leaving his lunch tray on the table and ran toward the bathroom.

Odalia waited, but Alador did not return. She picked at her food and ate as much as she could. Ordinarily, Alador asking her out (?) would have been perfect. But everything emotional felt so blunted. I would be eagerly telling Iphigenia how Alador had asked me out. At least, I think he did. And she'd be so happy for me and we'd go shopping for the perfect outfit.

XXX

After lunch, Odalia took the remnants of both her and Alador's lunch and disposed of them in the trash bin. To her relief, the next class was study hall. And she happened to share it with the other Clawthorne sister.

"Hey, Eda," Odalia took the desk next to Eda, who was obviously reading some comic book instead of a schoolbook. Not that the teacher cared; she was seated at her desk scribbling away on some papers.

Eda looked up from her comic book, made a face at Odalia, and her eyes returned to it.

Odalia snatched the comic book. "It's proper to look at someone when they're talking to you."

"Right," Eda said. "And you're the expert on proper decorum…?"

"I'm surprised you even know that word," Odalia said, keeping her voice down so not to attract the teacher. "Look, I need your help."

"Did you forget I hate your guts?" Eda whispered back

"No, I'm well aware," Odalia said.

"Why do you want my help?" Eda asked. "Since you're 'well aware' of how much I don't like you?"

"Because I hate to admit this but…" Odalia sighed. "You're the best potionist in school. You make them ten times better than anyone around. Even Mama Rue. And Mama Rue isn't returning my crow calls…"

"Mama Rue? As in, Apothecary Sulzbach?" Eda asked. "Right. That murdered girl was her daughter."

"Her name was Iphigenia," Odalia said. "I know her father didn't kill her, but I'm trying to find out who did. And I think you have a vested interest in finding out who did it."

"Why?" Eda asked. "I didn't know her."

"Your sister," Odalia explained. "She was snooping around the Blight estate. What if the killer, who is still out there, thinks Lilith saw something?"

Eda's eyes widened.

"And what if it was a serial killer who killed someone at random?" Odalia continued. "Lilith was alone, sketching. It could have very easily been her…"

"Stop it…" Eda said quietly.

"Whoever did this is brazen," Odalia said. "Leaving the body out there during the party? And you didn't see it because Lilith didn't want you to, but…"

"Lilith told me about how awful it was," Eda hissed. "She couldn't sleep all night."

"So you're going to help me?" Odalia asked.

Eda drew out a long sigh. "Yes. But only because I don't want some murdering creep coming after Lilith."

"Let's go to my house after school," Odalia said.

"You sure?" Eda asked. "Because I am a very busy witch and I don't have all day, so maybe if you want to ditch, I can make whatever potions you'd like and you'd get out of my hair. Then we're both happy."

"Oh, Titan, yes," Odalia said. "Wait…" So much for not breaking the rules.

Eda smirked. "I always knew you had a rebellious streak."

"No," Odalia retorted. "It's that finding a killer is more important than the formality classes for my school transcript."

Eda got up. "Follow my lead." She drew a quick spell circle, then grabbed Odalia's hand and dragged her out of the classroom. Odalia glanced back at the teacher, who was snoring gently on her desk.

For someone new, Eda seemed to have a grasp of Hexside's layout, easily evading the detection of Faust's hall monitors. Once she and Odalia reached the outside, Odalia let out the breath she had been holding.

Odalia took out Giselle's staff. "I guess we can both ride?"

"No, I have my own," Eda took out her own staff, with a cute little owl as her palisman. "A swan, though? That suits you."

"Oh, it's not mine…" Odalia said quickly. "Never mind." She didn't feel like going into how she had inherited Giselle from Iphigenia.

"Lead the way," Eda said.

Odalia nodded, mounted the staff, and led the way back to her family home. She opened the door and led Eda in.

"So your parents aren't home?" Eda asked.

"They never are," Odalia said. "My father's pretty much married to his job. And my mom is obsessed with her social network."

Eda looked at the wall. "Your mom doesn't have any family photos on the wall? Not even of you? Seems like a very…lonely house." Silence hung in the air for a minute, then Eda spoke again. "What kind of potion did you want me to make for you?"

"A scrying potion," Odalia explained. "I've made a few myself, but I'm not really getting much. It feels like I'm failing Iphigenia by not finding the killer fast enough…"

"You obviously want to find the killer," Eda said. "Why?"

"How can you even ask me that?!" Odalia asked. "She was my best friend! You didn't see the scene, but you heard from your sister how horribly she died! And it feels like I'm the only one who cares! Faust used her death as a pretext for a stupid little sermon, her stupid boyfriend evidently hasn't shed a tear over it, her mom won't answer my calls!"

"I see that," Eda said. "You want answers. I guess I asked you the wrong question. What are you going to do with those answers."

"I'm going to make whoever did this sorry," Odalia answered.

"So you want vengeance?" Eda asked.

"Of course," Odalia said. "Wouldn't you, if you lost your sister? Iphigenia was the big sister I never had."

"But what if you get answers, and those answers don't make you happy?" Eda asked. "I just wanted to know if you thought that far ahead."

"Any answers at all would be better than this…" Odalia said. "Not knowing anything."

"My daddy always said to be careful what you wish for," Eda said.

"Well, my dad hasn't said one word to me in two months," Odalia answered.

More silence.

Eda finally spoke. "Okay. Do you have the ingredients ready?"

"Yes," Odalia said. She led Eda to the kitchen.

For all her brattiness, Eda really was a skilled potionist. Eda immediately started to mix the ingredients. Her movements were assured, fluid. No shaking of hands disturbed her poise.

Maybe she really did deserve to be admitted to Hexside early, Odalia thought. Most students at Hexside entered the high school division after completing the lower levels, but it was possible to test into a higher grade. Eda had successfully passed the entry exam so she was in Odalia and Lilith's grade. If Odalia remembered the gossip correctly, Isidor Blight was Eda's age and had also tested into the high school division.

"So what do I tune this scrying potion to?" Eda asked as she poured the last ingredients into the cauldron.

"Anything on Iphigenia's murder," Odalia said. "I tried but I couldn't get much to go on."

Eda stirred the pot. "I'll focus on 'Sulzbach investigation.'"

The mixture bubbled and a clear image formed. This was another Emperor's Coven office, complete with white drapery and gilt sigil hanging on the wall.

The Golden Guard was seated across from the current head of the Emperor's Coven, Marsayas Cimmer. Marsayas reclined in his plush office chair behind an ornate mahogany desk piled high with paperwork. He was a middle aged man, gaunt, with long glossy black hair that hung down his back like a curtain. It was so free of gray that Odalia guessed he dyed it.

"Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, Head Witch Cimmer," the Golden Guard began.

"I'll always make time for you, Golden Guard," Marsayas answered. "What is this pertaining?"

"The Sulzbach homicide," the Guard answered.

Odalia's pulse quickened.

Marsayas' lips pressed together in a firm line. "I told you, Decus. When I let you run point on that investigation. I said to work hard and smart, and make it go away fast. I'm getting the feeling I am going to hate the next words out of your mouth."

Decus' expression was inscrutable, since he was behind a mask. His voice, however, didn't waver. "There are too many unanswered questions, sir. Sulzbach's confession got many of the basic details wrong, no one was able to place him at the scene, and there is something else that's been bothering me."

"What?" Marsayas didn't bother to hide his irritation.

"The security system," Decus said. "Porter told me that the system went offline that morning for upgrades, but there is no way Egon Blight would have scheduled those upgrades at the same time as his son's party."

"Then maybe it was a glitch in the system," Marsayas guessed.

"I went over the magic framework, piece by piece," Decus said. "The security was fully operational, yet…" No answer. "I'm going to need a subpoena, and even then I'm not sure Porter will cooperate. I might need your signature on a warrant for obstruction of Coven business."

"I can tell you think Sulzbach didn't kill his daughter," Marsayas interrupted. "But who do you think we should be looking at?"

"I think you know the answer to that question," Decus answered.

"Indulge me," Marsayas snapped.

"One of the Blights," Decus said. "Porter erased the footage on purpose on orders from his bosses because whatever was on that footage is really bad for the Blights. If it was a servant, the Blights would have thrown them under the bus without a thought. They're protecting one of their own, and I have a good idea which one."

"Which one?" Marsayas rubbed his temples wearily.

"The younger son has no alibi," Decus said.

"I read the report. The Blight boys alibied each other," Marsayas retorted.

"The older one was so drunk he couldn't see the Titan under him," Decus said. "That leaves a window of opportunity…"

"But you can't prove that, can you?" Marsayas asked. "I told you before. You don't have to determine what happened. You only have to determine something that the general public could believe happened."

The potion fizzled, the image of Marsayas and Decus fading.

"Porter?" Odalia repeated. "Any relation to Perry Porter?"

"Yeah, Perry's dad," Eda said. "He's the head of security for the Blights."

"Oh, do you have Perry's crow phone number?" Odalia asked.

"Um, if Perry's dad is covering for the Blights, what makes you think he's going to talk to you?" Eda asked. "Honestly, I don't like this…"

"This?" Odalia repeated.

"The Emperor's Coven…" Eda said. "I always knew they were just a bunch of bureaucrats, but what that Head Witch said was just…ugh! I don't know why Lilith wants to join these…buttholes."

"It's because she's a nerdlinger who craves validation and doesn't think for herself," Odalia said snippily. "At least you know what you think, Edalyn." Before she knew what she was saying, she added, "I respect that."

Eda flushed. "I don't whether to punch you for insulting Lilith or thank you for that compliment, however backhanded it might be, so I'm just gonna change the subject. I think you were right about that confession being phony. It didn't feel like a father losing his temper and killing a daughter, you know? It felt more like…I hate to say it, some sort of mob hit."

Odalia kept silent, thinking about the pile of snails Iphigenia had kept in her room. What did you get into, Iphigenia? "Maybe Iphigenia saw something she shouldn't have."

"Maybe," Eda said. "Even if you and I both know that confession was phony, but if the Titan-hallowed Golden Guard can't get anywhere with that line of thought, what can we do? As much as you hate to pretend otherwise, we're just kids. What can two kids do?"

Odalia smirked. "Glad you asked."

To be continued

Author's Note: Yes, Decus is the Golden Guard preceding Hunter. This is before he met Darius, since Darius is still a schoolboy at this point.

And yes, Decus did lie awake in his bed the night he told off Terra: "Oh, holy Titan, what did I do? Not only did I backtalk a Coven Head, I had to go for the scariest one!"