WELCOME BACK! sorry again for being so absent for so long. But I have some great ideas for this story now and I can't wait for you all to hear them :) I hope you enjoy the first installment of Taryn's next chapter!

For those of you who don't know me - my name is Taryn Bauer. I'm now nineteen, but not much has changed since the last time we were together. I still have the long, unmanageable black hair and sharp brown eyes. People still avoid me as if they're afraid
I'll mug them or something. Dixie said it's because I give off a dark vibe...I'm still not sure what she means by that. My temper is as short as ever, and since the curse happened, it's only seemed to have gotten shorter.

What's the curse? Seriously? You don't know? Well I suggest going back and reading the first part of the story since this one won't make much sense if you don't.

Anyway, for those who are returning to the story, welcome back. After the curse was broken and we had all been returned to the real world, Dixie, August and I found ourselves renting an old, two bedroom apartment together. August and Dixie had both found
themselves decent jobs, but I continued to struggle finding any employment. Apparently no one wanted to hire a brooding, nineteen year our spare time, we searched for any clues that might lead us to August's mother.

We finally thought our lives were beginning to return to normal, but that would have been too easy. Just when things were looking up for us, trouble hit like lightning. Sudden and dramatic. And that's where this story begins. Hold on tight, because this
ride is about to become insane.

The street lamp flickered against the cold rain as it pelted the cobbled streets. Up ahead, the normally crowded street was bare, it's travelers all taking shelter indoors. All except one. Well, ok, two if you count me. I clung to the shadows of the side
streets as I trailed the dark figure. The person did their best to look casual as they shuffled down the puddle ridden street, though they kept glancing over their shoulder as if they were being followed and I had a feeling it wasn't me they were
looking for.

After a year of searching, I had finally come across a lead to find August's mother. Showing what I had found to August, he quickly shut it down, stating that it was far to great a risk and I was not to go chasing after it. So of course, I followed it.
He didn't know I was here and it was going to stay that way, for now. At least until I could find some solid evidence that linked this to his mother. He would kill me if he found out I had snuck out behind his back, especially since this lead seemed
to be linked to one family in particular. Isis's family.

Ever since the curse, August had been extremely over protective. He never let me go anywhere or do anything unless he knew exactly what I was doing or where I was going. Most of the time he made me take him with, 'just to be safe.' Now, don't get me wrong,
it was sweet, but it was quickly getting old. I think I'd proved by now that I could take care of myself.

The dark figure suddenly changed course and darted down a side street. I frowned as I watched them disappear. That was a dead end street. The only thing down there was the White Ghost Pub. It was a shady little place where all the creepy people, who come
out at night, liked to hang out.

Once the way was clear, I followed, slipping around the Art Supplies Plus, and watched around the corner as the figure strode toward the pub. Their demeanor had changed, like it was a completely different person. No longer, jumpy and nervous, the figure
strode forward with an unmistakable confidence. What caused the sudden change?

"What do you think they're gonna do in there?"

I nearly screamed at the sudden voice in my ear. I spun around to find a young boy beside me, his blonde hair plastered to his face from the rain. He had inquisitive, brown eyes that shown with anticipation as he watched the figure. The boy was dressed
as an 1800's, British detective. Sherlock Holmes.

"Who are you?"

He ignored the question and instead answered with another question, his British accent matching his costume. "Do you believe that is even the same person? They looks nothing like they did a few moments ago."

"Who the heck are you?" I demanded again.

He finally looked at me, tearing his attention off of the figure. "Me?"

"No. The bat flying above your head. Of course you! What are you doing following me around?"

"Which question would you like me to answer first?"

"Just answer the freakin questions!"

The boy shrugged. "My name is Magnus. I have been trailing you while you have been trailing this other person though I do wonder why. It does not seem like they have done anything to arouse any suspicion. Many people go to the Ghost Pub at night."

"I have my reasons." I said slowly, trying my best to figure out what was going on. "Why were you trailing me?"

"Ah, yes, well..." he hesitated for a moment, shifting from one foot to the other as he struggled to form an answer, "I had orders to follow the 'brooding, dark haired girl'. I assumed that was you since there were only two people on this street and the
other was a frantic looking brunette."

"Orders from who? Who would want me followed?" My mind immediately went to Colton though I knew that wasn't possible. He and Isis were both locked behind bars with tight security for the rest of their lives.

Magnus shrugged. "I don't know. I assumed it was just for fun. See, I was at the convention down the street and someone asked if I wanted to try my hand at some real detective work. Of course I couldn't pass the opportunity up."

"Well that would explain the costume."

The boy beamed. "When Carly talked me into coming to the convention with her, I never imagined I would get to do some live-action role playing! This is brilliant!"

"You're not doing a very good job of it."

His face fell.

"For one, you should never make yourself known to the person you're tailing. Secondly, you are way too quick to give away information. If this were a real investigation, you'd probably be dead."

"Blast it! You're right. Perhaps I need a bit more practice."

"You think." I muttered, turning my attention back to the pub. The figure had already entered. I wished I knew how long they would be in there. If they didn't come out soon, I would have to follow them in, and I was really hoping it wouldn't come to that.
"Look, Magnus, was it? Go back to the convention. Tell them I gave you a six out of ten. Good job, buddy."

"But I have not finished my task yet. I was meant to find out what it was you were after."

"Information."

"What sort of information?"

"Top secret."

His eyes were the size of bowling balls. "I am sure that this is not real, but it is still most exciting."

"I'm sure it is. Now run back to the convention. I have some work to do."

"Of course, of course." He tipped his head in my direction and politely said goodbye before strolling back off in the direction of the large theater.

I watched the boy enter through the large doors, as suspicion crept its way through my mind. Sure his story was believable. I knew for a fact that there was a cosplay convention happening there tonight, Dixie had tried to get me to go. She thought it
would be amusing to go as our prospective Disney characters since we knew them as well anyone ever could. I had quickly refused. I'd had enough fairytales to last me a lifetime. But who would send that boy out to follow me? I doubted anyone in there
knew who I was or that I was even out here. There was just something about the situation that didn't feel right. Besides that, he had looked familiar. I couldn't place who it was, but he had definitely reminded me of someone.

Shaking my head clear of those protruding thoughts, I turned my attention back to the pub. It didn't appear that the figure would be emerging any time soon. Which meant I would have to enter the pub myself. I had really been hoping to avoid that, since
I knew several of the regular attendants. They liked to use me as punching bag whenever we ran into each other, and although I was fine at standing up for myself and holding my own, I wasn't keen on the idea of purposefully meeting them. But it seemed
as though I had no choice. I had to find out what that person knew about August's mother. I wasn't about to give up.

Stealing my nerves, I picked myself up and left the sanctuary of the shadows, striding confidently toward the entrance. I decided this wasn't any worse than facing any of the poison monkeys or the hungry big bad wolf. I could handle this. At least that's
what I thought, until I stepped into the small, cramped building. The smell of cigarette smoke and liquor immediately flooded my nose and the constant noise of people shouting at each other filled my ears, overloading my senses. I nearly backed out
right then, but instead took a deep, calming breath and looked around the room. The sea of faces was not easy to comb through, especially as several of the people had gotten into a fight and there was a crowd gathering to watch it unfold.

My eyes finally landed on a familiar, cloaked figure and I began making my way toward them. I threw the hood of my cape up over my head to conceal my face as I took a seat at the table across from theirs. The person, who I could now clearly see was a
woman - just as Magnus had said - was speaking with a man that I did not recognize in hurried whispers. It was difficult to hear them over the sound of the bar fight. I kept my head low and stared into the coffee that I had ordered from a passing
bartender.

"I simply do not want any harm to come to him." The lady's voice sounded as if she'd been crying. "He's been through so much already."

"It's too late now to be making deals, Miss." The man said. "You should have done your bargaining when you first signed on."

"I did not know then that you were planning on dragging my boy into this. If I had known that, I never would have agreed to any of this. What my sisters do is none of my concern."

"It is now. You're in too deep to back out. Your sister will have your head. Isis has failed her part and now it is up to you to right her wrongs."

"I told you, I don't care what my sister does. She can't hurt me. As for Isis, she deserved what she got."

"Are you sure about that?"

The woman hesitated. "Iris may be powerful amongst her people, but I am not one who will willing bow down to her commands. If she wishes for me to continue helping her with this endeavor, she will need to change things around so that the boy is no longer
involved. That is the only way I will grant her my assistance."

The man sneered. "You will regret this. Believe me when I tell you that Iris will not take this news well. She only used your son to lure you into helping in the first place. Now that the cards are changing she will not be pleased at all."

"Most people may be afraid of my sister, but I am not. And you can tell her as much."

"Trust me, Sam, I will."

I made sure to keep my face down and hidden as the man stood to leave. The two of them said a quick goodbye and then the man shoved his way through the crowd and back out the entrance. Sam, which must have been the lady's name, remained at the table.
I heard several deep sighs escape her lips, as if she were holding the weight of the world in her hands.

"I am deeply sorry, my son. It is my fault you are trapped in this mess."

Taking a quick scan of the room to make sure that the man was truly gone, I slowly stood and approached the distressed woman. If they were talking about the same Isis that had managed to curse me, then Sam and I had a lot to talk about. I sank down into
the vacant seat across the table from her, though she hadn't noticed me yet. Her head was in her hands and she seemed to be crying.

"Excuse me?" I spoke quietly so as not to startle her.

It didn't work.

The woman's head shot up and her startled gaze met mine. "Who are you?"

"I find names to be unimportant." I shrugged. "Besides, it is not me you need to be concerned with."

Sam gave me a suspicious look. She didn't trust me and I couldn't blame her. After a conversation like that, and not knowing who I was, trust wasn't something I expected.

"There's something I need to ask you...and it involves Isis."

"How do you know Isis?"

I shook my head. "That's not important."

"Yes it is."

"Let's just say that Isis and I have a history together, and it's not a very pleasant one either." I said, rolling my eyes. "Look, here's the thing, I don't really care about this deal that you seem to have gotten yourself into, or even how it relates
to Isis. All I care about is finding some information on a person that I have reason to believe was taken or used by Isis in some way. A person that's very near and dear to a close friend of mine."

"And who is this person?" Sam was still skeptical, though she seemed willing to hear me out.

I sighed. "To be completely honest, I'm not sure what her name is. All I know is that she's August's mother. I'm not even sure if he knows her name."

Sam's face lit up in what could only be pure shock and recognition, but it was gone so quickly that I thought I'd imagined it. She thought about it for a minute before answering. "That doesn't do much to lower the options. Isis has conned and used a lot
of people in her lifetime. However, I might know a place where you can start your search."

I looked up at her in surprise. "Seriously?"

She nodded. "It's a record book where Isis keeps track of all the people she's ever cursed. I can't say for sure whoever you're looking for is in it, but at least it's a place to start."

There was an extended moment of awkward silence after that. I couldn't help but wonder why this woman was so eager to help me. Clearly she knew Isis on some level, well enough to know about this supposed book. So why would she sell her out? It didn't
make much sense.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked slowly. "I mean, I was expecting a bit more of a fight from you and no where near as much information."

Sam closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Just as you said earlier, Isis and I have a history. One that is not very pleasant. Now that she has been successfully placed behind bars with her brother, there is no more need to hide all of her secrets.
Although," she suddenly became very quiet, leaning in close to whisper to me as she scanned the room, searching for any potential eavesdroppers, "there is one other who you must watch out for. Her name is Iris."

"You're sister?"

Sam flinched when I mentioned their relation. "Yes, unfortunately we are blood sisters. Though I do prefer not to associate myself with her in public. Isis and Colton may have been vile and cruel, but Iris has so conscious. She will not hesitate to kill,
unlike Isis. Isis enjoyed tricking people and messing with their heads, but she wasn't a killer. Their names may be incredibly similar but they are two very different people."

"What does this Iris person have to do with me?" I asked with a frown.

"Iris is also in search of the book. It seems as though there is a specific name she is after."

"Do you know who it is?"

Sam shook her head. "I do not know the name. If I did, Iris would not be searching even now. I do know that it is the name of a young girl. The girl who's said to have put Isis and Colton behind bars."

Wait, was she talking about me?

"It is said that this girl is extremely powerful, and Iris will stop at nothing to find her."

I had to bite down a snort. Was she serious? There was no way that could be me. I wasn't at all 'powerful'. It was by sheer dumb luck that we managed to escape the curse, let along destroy it. Alfie had died during the process. What could this Iris person
possibly want with me anyway?

Sam seemed reluctant to spare any more information and I didn't push her. She had helped enough. She gave me a place to start, and that was more than I could have asked for. I thanked her for her the help and then started to leave. I hadn't reached yet
though when I heard a familiar voice say my name.

"Hello, Taryn. It's been a while."

I sighed. The voice belonged to none other than Brutus Hammons, one of the jerks who like to beat me up. This wasn't going to end well.

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