"Maya, please think this through," Dahlia said.

"I have," Maya said. "I can do this. Don't worry, I'll even have my hands tied so Iris can't do anything funny. Plus, she's not so stupid as to try something in a courtroom."

"What does she have to lose?" Dahlia said. "She's dead, and anything she does could fall on you."

"If I can handle her, you definitely can," Maya said.

"But you've never even channeled someone like this before!" Dahlia said.

"I'm going to be the Master," Maya said. "I'll have to channel a spirit eventually."

"I know, but…" Dahlia searched for anything to talk her cousin out of her plan.

"Dahlia, think about it," Maya said. "If I channel Iris, I'll be helping. And, everyone in the courtroom will see it. This could be a chance for redemption!"

"Redemption?" Dahlia stared at Maya, and it dawned on her. Aunt Misty, Maya's mother. The former Master of Kurain.

"See?" Maya said. "I have to do this. Not just for Mia, the entire Fey clan."

"Maya…" Dahlia was at a loss for words.

"Well, I have to go," Maya said. "Larry wants to prep Iris before the trial."

Dahlia sighed. "You're sure you can do this?"

"Yes," Maya said. "This will work out just fine. I read that it's even easier to channel someone with Fey blood."

"So I'm finally going to meet Dahlia's twin," Pearl said, nibbling her thumb nail. "Voldemort."

"What?" Phoenix said.

"I don't know, blame Maya," Dahlia said, rubbing her temples.

Maya stuck her tongue at Dahlia. "Whatevs. Wish me luck, guys!"

Maya walked out of the defendant's lobby, which fell into an awkward silence.

"So what's Iris like?" Pearl said.

"I guess you'll find out for yourself soon enough," Dahlia said. "She's not going to be anything like me, but she'll look exactly the same."

"Remind me not to join you guys next Thanksgiving," Phoenix said, rubbing Dahlia's hair.

She smacked his hand away. "Don't mess with the hair."

"Alright," Phoenix said, his smile unwavering.

The recess ended, and everyone was back in place inside the courtroom.

"Is... the next witness ready?" the judge said.

I guess this is a lot to take in. Dahlia sighed. Course, it's only going to get crazier from here.

"Yes, Your Honor," Larry said. "Let's bring her to the stand."

Dressed in Maya's acolyte, Iris Hawthorne took the stand. She had undone Maya's topknot, and her black hair flowed down, brushing against her sparkling smile.

"My, you look familiar," the judge said.

"She's my twin sister, Your Honor," Dahlia grumbled.

Iris giggled. "I don't think he was talking about that, silly. You remember me from my last time as a witness, don't you Mr. Judge?"

"Indeed, it's definitely you," the judge said. "Amazing."

"Tee-hee," Iris smiled, and Dahlia could swear she saw butterflies.

One of the butterflies fluttered up to Dahlia. Her eyes burned white, and the butterfly was gone.

"Long time no see, Dahlia," Iris said.

"Get bent, Iris," Dahlia grumbled, squeezing her desk.

"Wow, she really does look like you," Phoenix said.

"Careful, she hypnotizes men," Dahlia said. "Don't look her in the eye."

"Miss, state your name and occupation," Larry said.

"Iris Hawthorne," the spirit said. "Occupation? I guess I'm retired."

Don't you mean assassin? Dahlia glared at her sister.

"Well, what shall we have this… witness testify about?" the judge said, still looking shell-shocked.

"Ms. Hawthorne, perhaps you could testify about the letter your mother wrote?" Larry said.

"What letter?" Iris said.

"The one about your younger sister channeling you," the judge said.

"Younger sister?" Iris said. "But I was born second."

"Not me, you-" It dawned on the defense attorney that Iris had never met Pearl. I never got the chance to tell her she even existed.

"Wow…" Phoenix said.

Dahlia turned towards him. He is not falling for her!

"She's so… creepy," Phoenix said.

"You think so?" Dahlia said, perking her head.

"Well, I mean, she's dead," Phoenix said. "And she looks so similar to you, except she's so different. And that look in her eyes…"

"Uh, yeah," Dahlia said, bringing her attention back to the trial.

"So you're claiming to have no relation to the murder then?" Larry said. "But then…"

"How could I have known about anything my mother wrote?" Iris said. "I was dead."

"You must have known something!" Dahlia said.

"Nope," Iris said. "I'm sorry, everybody."

"You are not weaseling out of this one!" Dahlia said vehemently.

"But I have nothing to say," Iris said. "I wish I could be more helpful, but-"

"Fine! Don't testify about the letter!" Dahlia said. "But you're going to talk!"

"About what, Ms. Fey?" the judge said.

Think, Dahlia! There must be something! Dahlia scrambled her brain, searching for something.

"The defense requests that the witness testify about…" Finally, a light bulb went off. "Her death!"

"Huh?" Iris said.

"Iris, for reasons no one was able to figure out you committed suicide before your death sentence," Dahlia said. "Why did you do that?"

"Dahlia… I don't want to talk about that either!" Iris said, tears welling in her eyes. "That was so awful!"

"Why?" Dahlia said. "You never explained yourself; it was completely out of nowhere."

"But… do I have to, Mr. Judge?" Iris said, pouting.

The judge was silent for a moment. "Yes, I'm afraid so."

"You're all so mean," Iris whined.

"What a shame," Dahlia mumbled.

"Fine, I'll testify," Iris said.

Testimony

I was thrown in jail, with a death sentence over my head.

Some of the officers were nice enough, but everyone else was so mean and hated me!

None of my friends ever visited me, and my family only spoke to me a couple times.

It was just too much; no one thought I had a chance of redemption.

I was going to die anyway, and I wasn't going to accomplish anything in prison. So I figured, why wait?

"My, that's quite a tale," the judge said.

Iris nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "It was so frightening."

Dahlia wasn't sure what to make of her sister's testimony. I thought there'd be something more sinister underneath. But, she did kill herself. Is that really all there is to it?

"Whatcha thinking?" Phoenix said.

"I think we just made Iris look good," Dahlia said.

"That's kind of what I was thinking," Phoenix said. "Still, guess we can't back out now huh?"

"I just need to think it through," Dahlia said.

Cross-Examination

I was thrown in jail, with a death sentence over my head.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Well, you did kill a guy. Twice, in a way."

"And there was that thing a few years ago," Larry said.

Iris pouted. "I know. You're all just like everybody else."

Some of the officers were nice enough, but everyone else was so mean and hated me!

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Not to sound like a broken record, but you did kill a guy."

"I wasn't the only one!" Iris said. "My cellmate did too, and she was awful."

"Leave Viola out of this," Dahlia said. "That's not the point."

"How did you…" Iris stuttered.

"She was my cellmate too," Dahlia said.

"Isn't she creepy?" Iris said.

"Again, not the point," Dahlia said. "Besides, knowing you I'm sure there was a swarm of people falling all over themselves for you."

Iris shook her head.

None of my friends ever visited me, and my family only spoke to me a couple times.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Who visited you?"

"Mom and Dad," Iris said. "Separately, of course."

"Our mother visited?" Dahlia said.

Iris hung her head. "She was ashamed of me."

"Gee, wonder why," Dahlia said.

"I got caught," Iris said.

Dahlia rubbed her temples. Okay, I need to think this through if I'm going to get anywhere.

"Let's reassess what we know," Phoenix said, as if reading her mind.

"Well, we know Mother met with Iris," Dahlia said. "And Mother expected Iris to kill Mia."

"Yeah, but it's not like Iris would get channeled and just immediately think 'let's kill Mia,'" Phoenix said.

"Good point," Dahlia said, and turned back to Iris. "So what else did you and Mother discuss?"

"What else would we talk about?" Iris said.

"Mother's plan," Dahlia said.

"What plan?" Iris said.

"The one where you kill Mia," Dahlia said. "What else?"

"Mia Fey?" Iris said, her smile twitching.

"You two weren't exactly on good terms with each other," Dahlia said.

"Be that as it may," Iris said. "Mom never brought up a plan of any sorts."

"Hmm…" Dahlia said. "I'd like you to add that to your testimony."

"What's the magic word?" Iris said.

"Stupid says what?" Dahlia said.

"What?" Iris said. "Ooooh!"

Dahlia stuck her tongue out at her sister. "Ah, 'what' certainly is the magic word."

Mom never brought up a plan to kill Mia Fey. This is my first time hearing about it.

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "That's bogus!"

"You can't just say that!" Iris said, stamping her foot indignantly. "Why would you say that?"

"Look at this letter Mother wrote," Dahlia said, holding up the letter. "It states for the reader to 'channel Iris Hawthorne. She'll know what to do.' See where I'm getting at?"

"No," Iris said.

"Not surprising," Dahlia said. "Think about it, but don't hurt yourself. Mother expected you to kill Mia Fey once you were channeled. But if this is supposedly your first time hearing about this plan, why would Mother expect you to know what to do?"

"Dollie, I have no idea what you're talking about," Iris said. "I barely knew Mia Fey."

"That's not true!" Dahlia said. "She was the defense attorney for the trial of Terry Fawles!"

"Oh, you mean poor Terry-Werry," Iris said.

"What is it with you and those stupid nicknames?" Dahlia said.

"Do you guys always argue like this?" Larry said.

"Quiet!" the twins said. Both of their eyes flashed white, draining the color from the prosecutor's face.

Larry rubbed his eyes and look at Phoenix. "Did I just see something catch on fire?"

"You're seeing that too?" Phoenix said, blinking his eyes rapidly.

Dahlia sighed, relieved. "Oh thank goodness you guys see those too."

"Hmm?" Iris titled her head. "Are we done here? Can I go back now?"

"No!" Dahlia said. "Stay put!"

"That's right… Iris. We've still got questions for you."

Dahlia gasped, immediately recognizing the voice. It can't be…

"Mia!" Dahlia said, staring at the woman standing beside her. "Wait… that hair…"

"Pearl's channeling me, yes," Mia said.

Dahlia broke into a grin. "It's so good to see you, Mia!"

Mia smiled. "Oh yes, good to see you too. Dahlia."

"Mia Fey?" Iris said.

"The one and only," Mia said.

"Wait, where'd Nick go?" Dahlia said.

"I believe that's Nick passed out by our feet," Mia said.

Dahlia rolled her eyes. "Wimp."

"I will never get used to this," Larry said.

"Don't be so sure," Mia said. "Once you're dead, nothing will surprise you."

"My, that's reassuring," Larry said.

"Hey, speaking of reassurance," Dahlia said. "It was Iris that killed you, right? Not me?"

"Oh, uh, well… I'm not sure," Mia said. "I wasn't really there at the time, you see."

"Huh?" Dahlia said. "You weren't… Wait, that's right!"

"What's right?" Iris said.

"Iris Hawthorne, are you sure you want to claim no association with this case?" Dahlia said.

"I have nothing to do with this, I have no idea what our mother was thinking," Iris said.

"Then testify to that effect!" Dahlia said.

"You want me to testify again?" Iris said.

"Yes!" Dahlia said. "Answer the court why Mother involved you in her plan, and why you didn't actually have anything to do with it!"

Iris giggled. "That was a weird sentence."

Dahlia glared at her. Maybe it's because it's impossible.