A/N Kick back and get some popcorn, it's a long one! DQ


Chapter Fifty

The Living Daylights

Not long after they had stepped out of the painting, Alexandria went over to the window and pulled the curtains wide, opening the window and staring out onto the Piazza Castello.

"It's so beautiful here!" Alexandria said with open admiration.

"Oh, yeah. I take it you've never been here before," Alicia said with a smile.

"Not ever!" Alex replied with fascination.

"We're in the heart of the city, and it stretches out like a giant wheel from here. Most of the touristy stuff is in walking distance or a quick rail or bus ride away from here. You'll find lots to do; there are palaces, historical churches, museums, art centers, and lots of shopping. You can also rent a scooter to get around if you like, just be careful about watching for pedestrian only areas and one-ways streets and such," Alicia advised.

"I think I'd rather walk and soak it all in," Alexandria said enthusiastically. "Where's your exhibit?"

"The Galleria della Magia, it's not far," Alicia assured her. "Maybe we should walk over there first."

"Fine by me. Thanks for inviting me, by the way," Alexandria said sincerely.

"Sure. It's been a very long time since we've had one of these sorts of adventures together," Alicia said with a smile.

"You're right, it's been ages," Alexandria agreed, following her out of the room. "It really does make it hit home just how long it's been since I've had a real holiday. How I love this sort of exploration!"

"We should do it more often. Once every year or so," Alicia suggested.

"Well, at least every couple of years," Alexandria said, pausing as they stepped out of their hotel and out into the city streets, watching all of the tourists wandering by with anticipation. "Which way, Alicia?"

"This way," she said with a gesture and Alexandria followed her eagerly, looking around. "While we walk, maybe you can tell me more about how things are going between you and the Magician."

"What? Oh, no! I don't want to think about him, let alone talk about him," Alexandria protested.

"I'm going to keep bugging you until you do, so you might as well get it over with and talk to me about him so I leave you alone for the rest of the trip," Alicia warned.

"There's nothing to tell. We're still not speaking to one another," Alexandria scowled at her.

"Yes, I know, but that doesn't answer my question. How do you feel about him?" Alicia asked.

"It's complicated," Alexandria admitted.

"Well, do you want to make up so that the two of you can be together?" Alicia asked.

"That's even more complicated," Alexandria protested.

"Do you know what's complicated? Falling in love with a dead guy. Now that is complicated," Alicia said unsympathetically. "He's not dead, is he?"

"No. To be perfectly honest, I don't know what he is," Alexandria said.

"Wow! That's rude," Alicia replied bluntly.

"He's from some other culture or something. He thinks I'm his family just because we... well..."

"That does sound pretty old-fashioned, but is that really the end of the world? That he already thinks of you as his family? Maybe he's never had a family before and dreams of having his own," Alicia suggested. Alexandria felt comfortable.

"I think... I think that is close somehow," Alexandria murmured. "But since I already have a family, his bold assumptions go against the grain. It's presumptuous and even threatening in a way."

"Is it intentional?" Alicia asked.

"No, I'm sure it's not intentional at all. That's why I'm so determined to figure out what culture he's originally from so I can get to know him better," Alexandria said.

"And just talking to him won't do that," Alicia said skeptically.

"How can I talk to him when I don't even know how to can communicate with him on the same level? I really think I need to figure out where he's from. If I learn more about his background, maybe then I can meet him half way," Alexandria said. Alicia smiled.

"Well then, you're in luck, Sis, because Milan has got some libraries so fantastic they'll blow your mind," Alicia said.

"Really?" Alex asked brightly.

"Definitely," Alicia confirmed. "Hey, how about coffee before we go in?"

"Aren't you worried about what all that caffeine's going to do to you baby?" Alexandria scolded.

"It didn't mess up the first three, so why worry now?" Alicia reasoned, ignoring when her sister rolled her eyes. "Come on, I know a place," she said, leading Alexandria further down the street.

Cid Strato watched the two witches go into the coffee bar, leaning against the corner of a building. Next to him stood a rather plain-looking man wearing a work apron as if he had just come out of a local shop.

"It's like coming home, in a way," Cid commented as he waited for them to come back out again.

"For you perhaps," Aiolos Cole, the Metamorphmagus replied. "Do you want me to get closer?"

"We're not likely to learn anything from them getting coffee," Cid said.

A moment later, a thin wizard walked up to them. It was Caleb Nemo, better known to the public as Deathwatch, assassin for hire.

"I have some information," said Caleb Nemo. "Apparently, Alicia Snape has an exhibit at a local wizard gallery. Perhaps Clemmons is just here as an escort."

"If so, it's going to be a very dull trip," Cole said.

"The boss warned us to take nothing at face value. Clemmons makes her own coincidences," Strato told his team. "Let's see if we can find out what she's really after."

As the three assassins melted into the crowd, a tom cat who had been taking a bath under the table took notice of their direction before getting up to follow the one tailing the two witches as they made their way over to the gallery.

Alexandria had been on enough of these trips to know that Alicia could sometimes be pretty demanding when it came to the correct the height, sequence, and lighting of her paintings so that their movements were smooth and didn't detract from the other pieces around them. Once Alicia was preoccupied, Alexandria snuck down the street to the Cioccolat Italiani only to return with someone who might have had a religious experience.

"I just had the best hot chocolate I have ever had in my entire life," Alexandria declared to Alicia, who was standing in the center of the gallery. "And don't even get me started on the chocolate gelato. Maybe I should move here."

"I think the price tags would catch up with you after awhile," Alicia warned with a slight laugh.

"It's a good thing I have a rich sister then. Speaking of price tags, just how much are these again?" Alexandria inquired.

"They represent countless hours of work, the cost of materials, and my reputation in the art world, which I had to work for from the ground up," Alicia scolded her. "I went through a lot to get my art to this level, and it's a privilege to show my work here."

"And how did you get your portfolio viewed in the first place?" Alexandria teased.

"Yeah, okay, Francis knew a guy, but that's not the point. My work got in on its on merits," Alicia said proudly.

"Yeah, I know," Alexandria said with a grin.

"I need to speak to the curator to make sure he's as happy as I am with the arrangement, then we can go to lunch," Alicia suggested.

"Lunch? Do you know how much I just ate? They have ice cream sandwiches on real bread... brioche at that. I couldn't eat for a week!" Alexandria protested. "In fact, I've a bit of heartburn."

"And I thought I'm the one that always got heartburn. Well, I'm starving, so we're going to go to lunch anyway. And no more sneaking off to gelato shops without me," Alicia scolded.

"Yes, alright," Alexandria said with amusement. She wandered towards the front of the gallery, staring out the glass.

That's when Alex saw a strange shadow that immediately ducked out of sight when she looked out. Had she imagined that, she wondered with a frown. After all, there were many people out on the streets. She didn't know why it bothered her. And yet at the same time, she almost felt as if there were eyes on her. Alexandria pulled the chain her father had given her out of her disguised cloak, taking a moment to put it on. There was no reason for her to suspect she was being watched when they were so far from home, but considering who she was, she was better safe than sorry.

For a moment when she put it on, she could have sworn it had gotten warm, but it faded so quickly that Alexandria wondered if she had imagined it. Alicia walked up to see her big sister staring suspiciously out the window.

"There we are! He is happy and we're all done here until the reception," Alicia informed her. "Is something wrong?"

"I had a strange feeling like we're being watched," Alexandria explained.

"Oh, who would watch us here?" Alicia said with exasperation. "Are you positive you didn't just pick up something random?"

"Not completely positive, no, but I do have one of the newer chains on... one of the ones that only picks up when someone is up to no good."

"Maybe they're casing the gallery," Alicia said with amusement. "And if they are, they won't get far. As you know, my paintings have built in security these days. Thanks to everything I learn after making those security paintings for the museum, I've made sure that every painting I've done after that point knows how to take care of themselves."

Alexandria reluctantly followed Alicia to a wizard restaurant but only having a hot drink and a small salad to keep her company. For the rest of the day, they walked around the palace gardens. Every now and then, Alexandria would feel a sudden warmth that would cause her to look around, only for it to sensation to ease again. She didn't mention it until they got to their rooms after the reception that night.

"I'm pretty sure we're being tailed, and I'm pretty sure whoever is tailing us are professionals who have been trained to minimize how often snooping devices go off," Alexandria said. "I'm rather worried that it may be some of Bagman's men. If I'm right, they'll probably send someone back for a device to counter them. They're extremely hard to get outside of my department, but I would be shocked if Bagman himself doesn't have one stashed away..."

"Why in the hell would Bagman's men be down here?" Alicia asked her sister with exasperation. "I may be working, but you are on holiday, and you're on medical leave on top of it. They have no reason to come after you."

"But Father warned me to be on the lookout for people attempting to take advantage of the fact that I'm on leave," Alexandria explained.

"I seriously doubt he meant Bagman, considering you know as well as I do that Garvan's protection order extends to us. Besides, why would he have reason? It's not like we're doing anything," Alicia reasoned with her. "Look, I asked you to come with me not only to help me translate, but to give you some time to do something you like to do and get you further away from all that Minister of Mysteries madness that has been stressing you out. By imagining all of this stuff, you're doing nothing but bringing your work with you. I know it's hard to let go, but you're not going to really find yourself until you set all of that aside. You're not your job. So who are you?" Alicia asked.

"I don't know," Alexandria admitted. "I've been struggling with that question since it happened."

"I know that. We all do," Alicia said sincerely, putting her hand on her shoulder. "Put work aside. It's time to concentrate on you." Alexandria sighed.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But I'm not going to let my guard down all the way, you know. That wouldn't be good defense. We're still Snapes," Alexandria pointed out.

"Fair enough, but that's different," Alicia said, and Alexandria nodded, getting out the map so she knew where she was going tomorrow.

Strato and Caleb were having breakfast at their hotel when Cole scrambled in the next morning.

"Well? Did he part with the Incognito Ring?" Strato asked.

"Yes, but he said it'll be our necks if I lose it," Cole murmured.

"Then don't lose it," Caleb said dryly. "Just remember that ring only covers the person who's wearing it, so we still have to be careful when the three of us are together, or they're going to still pick us up on their devices. Care to sit down for a minute? I put a charm on their doors so we'll know when they leave their rooms."

"I'd rather get into a comfortable position before then," Cole decided, and slipped back out the door.

"I take it I'm going to end up on gallery surveillance," Caleb said with annoyance. "You?"

"I'm going to dig into their reservations and expenses until Cole gets back in touch," Strato said. "Got your Pumpkin phone and watch?"

"Sure, but I won't be able to use any Wiznet devices in my Deathwatch beetle form," Caleb reminded him, finishing the rest of his coffee.

Armed with determination and a diplomatic passport, Alexandria was more than ready to dive into research in one of several libraries scattered around the central part of Milan. Now that Cole had a way to keep Alexandria from noticing him as easily, Cole found that he had very little trouble following her, touching his Pumpkin watch and bringing it up to his face.

"She's at a library, doing more research," Cole reported.

"Really? Then go figure out what she's researching," Strato said.

"It's all in Italian," Cole reminded him, glancing around.

"Just find a way to copy down all of the titles, then. I'll translate them when you get back," Strato said.

"Fine. Hey, um... what are the chances of her having a bodyguard with her on this trip, anyway?" Cole asked, looking around again. "The hair on the back of my neck is standing up."

"That would depend on if they were expecting us to follow them," Strato replied. "But there's no indication from their expense records that they have anyone else with them, nor have they exhibited any behavior that would indicate they have someone watching over them. I don't think Clemmons would have been quite so wary that first day if she knew someone was watching her back. Now get in there and find out what research is so important that she put her job on hold for it!"

"On my way," Cole said.

The Metamorphmagus took the visage of an unassuming local gentlemen before going into the library, making his way over to where she had been pulling books off the shelf. But before he could get more than a glance in that section, he suddenly felt quite drowsy and had to sit down.

Alex looked up from where she was studying when she heard some intense snoring. Leaning forward to see that one of the locals seemed to have fallen asleep in his chair, she smirked with amusement. Well, it was quiet in there... or at least, it was. Gathering up her books, she moved to a different section so that she could focus.

A few hours later, Cole woke up with a start, blinking and looking around. Alexandria was nowhere in sight. Sheepishly wondering if the back and forth last night hadn't caught up to him, he got to his feet and went over to the section she had been in, copying down all of the titles before finally coming out of the library and getting out his Wiznet phone.

"I've acquired the titles in the library section," he reported.

"You're still at the library? You know she left for lunch half an hour ago, right?" Strato said critically.

"Yeah, sorry... where did she go?" Cole asked.

"Look for the golden arches."

"Ugh! I don't want to go there!" Cole protested.

"You can eat after you find out where they go next. Why did it take you so long to copy down book titles?"

"I may have dozed off for a bit, but I'm on my way now," Cole admitted, quickly turning off his phone so that Strato couldn't yell at him. Afterwards, he found a quiet spot from which he could Apparate.


Alexandria and Alicia stepped out of the McDonalds with Alexandria looking very unimpressed.

"I can't believe we're in Milan and you pick McDonalds for lunch," Alexandria said disapprovingly.

"I'm sorry, I had a craving. Sometimes I decide, and sometimes the baby decides," Alicia said.

"I also can't believe that it actually sounds like you're enjoying this, especially after what happened this morning," Alexandria said critically.

"I am determined to enjoy it! This is my last one!" Alicia announced.

"You said that last time. This entire family says it every time they have a kid, and yet they still don't stop," Alexandria complained.

"Haven't you heard of depopulation? We are saving the wizard race one baby at a time!" Alicia declared.

"How about we work on immigration reform instead," Alexandria said grumpily.

"Look, since you humored me by letting me choose lunch, how about going for a castle tour before we head back to the gallery?" Alicia suggested.

"I'm totally game for that... as long as there are benches here and there," Alexandria amended.

"That's weird. I'm the one that typically wants to make sure there are benches," Alicia commented.

"That's why I'm asking in advance so that when we get there, you don't want to immediately turn around and leave," Alexandria improvised.

"Good point," Alicia said with a grin.

As the two girls went off to play tourist again, Bagman's men took the opportunity to grab lunch, finding a bench to sit on in case the two witches came out of the Castello Sforzesco while they were sitting there. As they ate, Strato went over the list.

"These are all books on subcultures around Europe," Strato explained. "The ones you said were disturbed all have to do with Basque and Romani. Why would she be studying gypsies? As for Basque, she'd be better off studying that in Spain, France, or in the region itself."

"Perhaps she is looking for origins, or information on them before the Roman Empire. Perhaps she's trying to find a connection to some of the wizard communities connected to those subcultures," Cole suggested.

"Are there many wizard communities with ties to those cultures?" Strato asked.

"Yes, quite a number," Caleb confirmed. "Some of the Wizard Romani camps are elaborate... and great places to hide out after a hit," he added with a thin smile.

"Perhaps that's why she's interested... perhaps she's on the hunt for someone who may be hiding out with one of those wizard camps," Strato guessed. "If so, she'll be headed to the wizard library next."

"Is there one in the area?" Cole asked.

"Yes, but it's further out, and it's on a crowded narrow street," Strato warned. "We may want to rent some scooters since it would be difficult to Apparate in without being noticed."

"Scooters?" Caleb asked skeptically.

"People don't use brooms here outside of a school, Quidditch Pitch, or Broom Park. Most wizards here ride on magically enhanced scooters," Strato explained.

"But neither of us know how to drive one," Caleb said. Cole shook his head vigorously.

"Fine, I'll rent a car, because we can't possibly keep tabs on those witches if we try to take the rails," Strato said with exasperation. "We'll have to be extremely careful while the three of us together. That snoop-negating ring only works for one person," he reminded them, getting up as they finished their lunch.

"What a wasted opportunity... borrow that ring and using it to fall asleep in the library," Caleb said critically.

"He's right. We need to stop wasting opportunities, before someone takes notice of us," Strato said as they walked towards the Metro station.

Underneath a nearby bush, the black tom cat came out and watched them walk off before jumping down and going the other way.


The next day, Alicia decided to go along when Alex expressed plans to head to the wizard's library.

"I don't have any meet and greets or appointments today, so there's nothing to prevent me from tagging along. Besides, you haven't used the underground yet and it's easy to get turned around if you don't know where you're going," Alicia said.

"I was actually looking forward to going out on my own for a bit and getting away from the city center. I'd love to have a better look at some of those canals," Alexandria said.

"No problem, we'll do that after you're done with whatever it is you're researching," Alicia said.

"Are you sure you won't get bored at the library?" Alexandria asked.

"Well, I'd probably be a lot less bored if you let me help you with your research," Alicia hinted. Alexandria sighed.

"Fine, maybe it'll go faster if we work on it together," Alexandria agreed. Alicia grinned and nodded.

When they finally made it off the Metro, they walked down a long narrow street leading to a small group of wizard owned businesses. By the time they got there, they were more than ready than to step into the unimposing door leading into the library.

"So what are we researching again?" Alicia asked Alexandria as they used a small map to find the right section.

"We're looking for small wizard communities which, because of culture, religion, or isolation, hold onto very traditionalist ideas about relationships," Alexandria explained. "I was thinking maybe it might be tied to the Roma somehow since he's such a wanderer, but it could easily be any isolated community."

"He may be a wanderer because he's an outcast of some kind," Alicia pointed out.

"I'll admit that it is possible. He's either been very isolated or his culture is vastly different from mine. I can translate any language, but I still don't always understand what he's trying to say. There must be a reason for that. And since he won't tell me about his background, I need to figure out which culture matches his idiosyncrasies, or at least narrow it down to a handful I can study."

"I'll get the atlas," Alicia volunteered. The two of them found a table and pulled some books to get started.

They had been combing over books for a little when Alicia smiled, putting one book aside and pulling another one over.

"This all feels familiar in a way. You have no idea how many books I had gone through about vampires when I was trying to find out more about Francis," Alicia admitted. "Of course, I spent a lot less time on clans than I should have and a lot more time on philosophical books on whether they had a living soul or not."

"At least that's one problem I don't have," Alex said, writing down several wizard communities to do further research on.

"Are there any communities of wizards that still heavily believe in Fate rather than Free Will?" Alicia suggested. "If so, that'd explain why he's so adamant that the two of you belong together."

"You definitely have a point," Alexandria admitted. "That does make a lot of sense. But although there is some belief in Fate in general, none of the communities I've researched so far has the level of belief in Fate that you're talking about."

"Maybe not in human communities, but what about something like a Centaur?" Alicia asked. Alexandria rolled her eyes.

"He is not a Centaur. He hasn't mentioned anything about stars or patterns or anything not once. I know they can have an Animagus form, but I don't know if they can be a Metamorphmagus, even if they do have high levels of Life Magic," Alexandria said. Alicia snapped her fingers.

"He's from Tir Na Nog," she guessed.

"I already confronted him with that possibility, and he denied it. Besides, do you really think someone from Tir Na Nog would be that into James Bond movies? I'm sure he's from here, even if he is a bit obsessive about Muggles. He's just so weird..."

"No wonder the two of you are so perfect for each other," Alicia said.

"Very funny, Sis. Stop whispering and start looking," Alexandria said. But Alicia only read a couple more pages before she shook her head.

"I don't think what we're looking for is here. I can't find anything about a Wizard community that driven by Fate, no matter how isolated they are. Do you have anything else you want me to look up?" Alicia asked.

"The only other question I have is why he won't tell me his name," Alexandria said with a sigh, writing down one more town name before closing the book. "Corey thinks it's to protect someone or something really important. But what would be so important that he wouldn't even tell me, especially if he really considers me family like he says he does?"

"The only thing that makes sense is if he is hiding it to protect you or to protect himself from you," Alica decided. "After all, leave of absence or not, you're the Minister of Mysteries. Maybe he thinks you might not accept him if you knew his real identity."

"But he's the one not accepting me at the moment," Alexandria said.

"Not accepting you?" Alicia repeated.

"He's not talking to me," Alex explained.

"Oh. I don't think it matters who is not talking to who. I think the fact the two of you are fighting makes it less likely that he'd open up," Alicia replied. Alex sighed.

"We should probably finish up. I think you're right that we won't find anything else, Alicia. Maybe we can explore the area before we leave," Alex suggested.

"I'm all for that. I think we're close to one of the canals if you want to walk over and find somewhere for lunch," Alicia suggested.

"Great," Alexandria replied and the two of them put the books away.

She felt her necklace get warm and looked around, but she couldn't tell where it was coming from. Frowning slightly, she was glad when the two of them left the building, glancing at the busy street before Alicia led her down a very narrow sidewalk.

"My necklace went off again a moment ago," Alexandria informed her.

"In the library? Maybe some wizard recognized us," Alicia suggested.

"Maybe. How long before we're out of the wizard business area?" Alexandria asked.

"It only runs to the next cross street," Alicia said. It wasn't long before Alexandria slowed and then stopped.

"My chain is going off steadily now," Alexandria informed her.

Alicia sighed and pulled a Snoop device, and it immediately went off. Alicia quickly stuck it back in her pocket and looked at her sister.

"Believe me now?" Alex challenged her.

"Yeah," Alicia said. The two of them slowly began walking again while staying more alert. "So I guess we have two options... either we try to figure out who's tailing us so we know who we're dealing with, or we find a painting and get the hell out of here."

"Can't you call up a picture with your wand?" Alexandria suggested.

"My magic is about fifty-fifty when it comes to whether it's going to work or not. Do you really want to find out what would happen if it fails?" Alicia asked her bluntly.

"How about this. First, we try to find out who's tailing us, and then, since we're still in the wizard section, we take a broom out," Alexandria said.

"Nobody uses brooms in Milan, Alex, and I do mean nobody. We'd be sitting ducks... and I think we'd probably be breaking a few laws since there's a high chance some Muggle might see us," Alicia said. "We'll just dive into the nearest shop to find some cover. Is your chain still picking something up?"

"Yeah, it's persistent despite us walking, which means that we should be able to spot who's doing it if we change our pace," Alexandria said, and the two of them began watching the reflections in the windows.

At first, Alex didn't see anything, because she had been concentrating on watching the pedestrians. But after someone began honking and sped by another car, she realized just how slow the other car was moving.

"Go to the nearest crosswalk and prepare for anything," Alexandria murmured.

"Why?" Alicia asked.

"We're being tailed by a car. If it keeps staying behind us, we may be able to cross in front of it and get a look at the driver," Alexandria said.

"If they're hostile, they could run us over," Alicia noted.

"Not if there's another car in front of them," Alexandria pointed out. "And if there isn't, get ready to dodge."

"Right," Alicia said, now completely alert.

Alexandria tried to pick up the pace without looking as if it were intentional. Glancing back at Alicia, Alex waited for the red light and immediately began to cross, turning her head to see who was behind the wheel of the car.

It was Strato, and there were two of Bagmen's men with him.

"Craters, run!" Alexandria exclaimed, and the two of them dove across the street.

Alexandria slid her wand out of her sleeve, aiming for one of the car's tires. Unfortunately, the light turned green and her shot went under the car as Strato attempted to change lanes. Noticing the attempt to stop them, Cole rolled down the window, pulling out his own wand. As several wand blasts were exchanged, Alicia began looking for a shop for them to retreat into.

Just then, an Aston Martin pulled up and the door popped open.

"Get in," ordered the Magician, pulling the seat down so that one of them could get into the back seat.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" Alexandria demanded as Alicia hopped inside and put her seat belt on.

"Get in before they cast again!" the Magician snapped. "This is no time to die!"

"You can say that again," Alicia agreed as Alex got in and shut the door. The belt came down in front of her even before she had time to grab hold of it. Then the Magician pushed hard on the gas, forcing them back in their seats.

"Maybe I should drive?" Alexandria suggested, looking at the busy narrow streets as they dodged cars left and right.

"My dear, you haven't driven since you sold the people carrier. I've driven in the Ferrari Invitational and in the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. The roads are narrow and difficult to navigate, there are rivers and canals criss-crossing the city, pedestrians and scooters en masse, and thanks to your overreaction by casting magic at their car, we're about to be in for a challenging ride," he informed her bluntly.

"I didn't overreact! They're wanted men!" Alexandria snapped at him.

"And so am I, yet here we are," the Magician replied, shifting gears as he sped up and took a turn so sharp that Alicia and Alex were glad to be strapped in, tightening their belts.

"Mind if I throw a momentum dampener inside the cabin?" Alexandria suggested.

"Please, be my guest," he said as cool as a cucumber as he screeched onto a one-way street.

"They're keeping up with us..." Alicia reported as she looked behind her shoulder.

"Lorry!" Alex shouted, and the Magician immediately reacted.

The right-side wheels came up off the ground, leaving the two witches screaming in surprise as he slipped between the lorry and the sidewalk, barely getting through. The lorry driver stopped and stared in surprise, amazed at the crazy driver that continued down the street.

"Did we lose them?" Alexandria asked hopefully.

"No," Alicia reported. "Apparently their rental car is more magically adapted than ours, because they simply flattened themselves and went under the lorry instead."

"It may be more flexible, but I have the car with more speed... and style," the Magician added, crossing the lane long enough to get past traffic.

"I'm starting to see why you fell for this guy," Alicia told Alexandria from the back seat.

"Have you fallen for me, Alexandria?" the Magician asked, not taking his eyes off the road.

"NO!" Alex protested immediately. "No, I haven't! Alicia -"

"Is right as always and Alex is trying to hide her feelings," Alicia explained as she finished Alex's sentence. "Alex has trouble communicating her feelings, you know," Alicia confided to the Magician.

"Oh, I know, I know," the Magician admitted.

"Where are they now, Alicia?" Alex snapped at her.

"Right behind us and... uh oh."

"Uh oh? What..." Alex's words fell short when she turned and saw the flashing lights chasing after Strato's car.

"Uh oh," Alexandria said, wincing.

"No doubt about it. This is going to cause an international incident," Alicia commented as they sped through another red light, dodging cross traffic.

"Because it wasn't going to cause one before now?" Alexandria asked Alicia curtly.

"Alexandria, do you happen to know a spell that can make this car weigh less? Preferably by half if not more," the Magician requested, his eyes never leaving the road.

"I know a low gravity spell, but it has limitations... the more mass you try to reduce, the less time it lasts," Alexandria explained.

"Then we will save it until we need it... on second thought, reduce it now!" he ordered sharply.

Alexandria didn't know why he changed his mind until she looked around to see they were heading straight for a pedestrian only street on either side of a canal. She gasped in terror but managed to cast the spell non-verbally just in time. A strong blast of wind between the buildings helped lift the car up and sent it sailing over to the other side of the canal, barely missing one of several umbrella-covered tables at a cafe next to the canal.

"Wow! That was close!" Alicia exclaimed.

"You're right. The top of those umbrellas could have scratched the paint," the Magician agreed. "Did we lose those thugs?"

"I don't see... no, wait! I see police motorcycles on a bridge that crosses the canal one street over," Alicia reported. "That means Strato's car might be traveling right beside us."

"Then it may be time for a bit of old fashioned misdirection," the Magician replied.

Strato thought for certain that taking the wrong street for the bridge would have at least slowed the Aston Martin down. Instead, the car jumped the gap to the other side while the Muggles below obliviously went on eating and drinking as if nothing had happened.

"I think they're beside us," Cole reported. "Turn down the next street going right!"

"Let me get in front of them first so I can try to cut them off," Strato said, picking up the pace. But at the next light, an Aston Martin zoomed across their path. "Wait, there they are!"

"Turn left! Turn left!"

"There are cars in the way!" Strato snapped. "Hold on!"

Strato spun the wheel hard as they tried to dodge cars across multiple lanes to get in a better lane to make the turn.

Using a magical car-squeezing technique to get past a particularly precarious situation that would have sandwiched them between two cars, they temporarily became the width of a scooter and then snapped back to normal width again, finally having enough space to continue the chase. But as they looked ahead of them, the silver car was nowhere to be seen. Strato sped through the next intersection to try to figure out where it went.

Hidden from three wizards' view by the roof of their own car, they were unaware that in that moment, the Aston Martin was driving up the side of an office building.

"It's sooooo bumpy!" Alicia complained with a staccato voice as they surged vertically up the face of the building.

"Sorry! It looked smoother than that from the ground! After all, these windows weren't exactly meant for cars," the Magician shouted.

"If that gravity spells gives out right now, you're not going to have to worry about how smooth the ride is, because the crash will be anything but smooth!" Alexandria snapped.

"Almost at the top!" the Magician assured her.

As they reached the roof, the Aston Martin was suddenly air born as the Magician struggled to get the front wheels of the car down. But finally he was able to force the car level, landing on the roof with a jolt that rattled everyone in the car. The Magician turned the engine off for a moment to give everyone a breather.

"Are you two alright?" the Magician asked them, turning to look at them.

"Shaken, not stirred," Alicia replied.

"Would you stop encouraging him?" Alexandria shouted at her sister.

Just then, the car sank down another inch.

"What was that? Did we just get a flat tire?" Alicia asked.

"I believe that was the low-gravity spell wearing off," Alexandria reported.

"You had better cast it again then, Alex, or we are going to have a hard time getting off this rooftop without leaving a mess," the Magician advised.

Alexandria pointed her wand at the floor of the car just like she did before. But this time, nothing happened.

"Uh... this may take a minute," Alexandria warned. In the back seat, Alicia let out a very audible gasp.

"Alexandria?" she gasped in shock.

"Just shut up and help me cast this spell," Alexandria snapped at her.

It was then that they heard sirens, and the three of them looked out to see a couple of police officers hovering on Wizard Scooters.

"Perfect," Alexandria groaned.

"Let me deal with that. You just try to get that spell to work," the Magician said, slowly opening the car door. He pointedly putting up his hands, smiling at the police officers.

"Good afternoon, Gentlewizards! If you will allow me just a moment, I'd like to show you my credentials," the Magician told them as he stood up. The two police officers landed their vehicles on the other side of the roof. "I happen to be acting on behalf of the British Government at the moment, and I have the paperwork to prove it."

"The British Government? Have you any idea of how many laws you just broke?" one of the policemen asked, the other keeping his wand steadily on the Magician.

"I've always had a particular knack of breaking them," the Magician admitted. "Unfortunately, I seem to have no talent at all in putting them back together again once they've been broken."

"You two! Come out of there as well!" the second policeman snapped.

"Oh come now, officer, what interest would you have in two beautiful witches who rather naively got into an expensive car with a handsome stranger in the hope of getting a ride? They've already been put off by my driving as it is! Do you really want to make the situation worse for me? That wouldn't be fair. Are you ready to see my papers yet?" the Magician asked.

Suddenly, there was a flash and the car shook. The first officer also took out his wand and they both pointed it at the car.

"Done!" Alexandria announced unnecessarily.

"Thank you, darling," the Magician said, shaking his head slightly. "Witches, eh? Well, it's been a nice conversation..."

The Magician suddenly made the shape of two guns with his fingers, pointing them at the two officers. Both of them suddenly looked blank and then slumped over on their scooters.

"Have a nice nap! I hope you know that I still hold policemen in the greatest of esteem," he added as he hopped back in the car and shut the door.

"Would you get moving? I don't know how long that gravity spell is going to last, you know," Alex scolded him.

"Yes, dear," the Magician said tolerantly, putting his belt back on before getting the car in gear and driving off the side of the building.

"And stop calling me dear," Alexandria snapped.

"Yes, darling," the Magician replied. He navigated the car as best he could so that when the vehicle dropped, it would avoid the jumble of vehicles and pedestrians below.

As it turned out, the safest spot to land was in the middle of a T intersection.

As it turned out, Strato's car happened to be three cars back at the light, attempting to figure out where the Aston Martin went.

In their minds, the car seemed to quite literally drop out of the sky. Recognition took hold, and the Aston Martin spun around, zooming down the only street that was currently clear.

"I need you to get another spell ready for me, Alexandria," the Magician said as he turned another corner. "Can you make this cabin entirely airtight?"

"Uh... sure... that's a second year spell, but why would you want that?" Alexandria asked suspiciously.

"Because we just got confronted by the police, and I highly doubt they're the only officers currently racing to the scene. They will start blocking off roads and bridges next. If I keep the chase tight so that we only go down a couple of streets, they may be able to box us in," the Magician reasoned.

"You sound like that's something you want," Alexandria said, then gasped and covered her eyes when he barely missed a boy on his bike. The Magician even managed to skirt a mother and her baby carriage who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"It is something I want," the Magician confirmed once he was past them. "Because it boxes Bagman's minions in as well. Since they have no idea what I'm planning, the chance of them reaching us before the police catches them is remote if not altogether impossible. Now, try to cast that spell!"

"I'm going to help too!" Alicia declared, knowing her big sister was very bad at taking advice despite always being in a rush to give it. "And I think you're right about the police. I'm already starting to see more lights and a lot less regular cars on the streets."

"I've noticed a decrease as well," the Magician confirmed. "It's now or never, girls."

"Give me your hand, Alicia, I may be able to get it to work with the Synchronius Spell," Alexandria told her.

The Magician protested when Alexandria loosened her belt long enough to join hands, but it only took a moment before the two of them managed to get the seal around the car.

"Done!" Alexandria reported, sliding back in her seat and tightening her seatbelt once more.

"Just in time," the Magician said, peering down streets before finally veering down one where he saw a long chain of lights.

Just as he expected, the police had cut off the bridge across the canal. As they came closer to the bridge, the Magician floored the gas. Police ducked or dove behind their cars and motorcycles as the Magician intentionally veered the car straight into the canal.

An impressive splash of water came up on all sides as the car hit the water, nearly capsizing a pleasure boat of tourists. The magically-driven car didn't seem to mind the lack of friction, and the low gravity spell kept it floating without too much trouble. Even so, the Magician hadn't forgotten how temporary the gravity spell was and kept accelerating, a giant rooster tail of water spitting out behind the car as it sped away.

When Strato's car got to the bridge, the other car's dive off the side came as such a surprise that there was no way they could follow them, and in front of them was a line of wizard police vehicles. As Strato spun around in a desperate attempt to go in the opposite direction, the tires on their vehicle suddenly deflated. Sparks flew, and Strato had no choice to bring the car to the stop. That was when the three of them found themselves surrounded on all sides by police officers, and they did not look happy. Not one bit.


It was Alex who finally thought of disguising the car as a canal boat. They slowed the car down to blend in with the other boats, watching as frantic police lights zoomed past on either side of the canal and out of view.

"Look, there's a boat ramp to the right," Alicia pointed out.

"Excellent. Time for a new disguise? As a Fiat perhaps?" the Magician suggested.

"Yes, fine. I'm sure I can manage casting more reliably now that the pressure is off," Alexandria said with a sigh.

"Good," the Magician said. "Let's find somewhere on the outskirts of town to take the car to have it professionally valeted. After that, I suggest that you two girls return home for your own safety, while I go have a chat with the British Wizard Embassy and sort this police business out on a diplomatic, Agent of Mysteries level," he suggested. "I'm sure you can find someone else to represent you at your gallery for the rest of the exhibition, can't you, Mrs. Pyther?"

"Yes, I can. I guess there's no helping it," Alicia agreed with a pout that almost instantly went away. "Alexandria, I have just got to tell you that I love your new boyfriend! He's totally perfect for you!"

"He is not my boyfriend!" Alexandria snapped at her fiercely.

"Alexandria is quite correct in that," the Magician replied. He was now driving very casually down the narrow streets, obeying the speed limits and stopping at every light. "I am her life mate now and forever, whether she chooses to acknowledge that fact or not."

Alexandria stared at him, unaware that her mouth had dropped open.

"I love him! You're going to be the best and funnest brother-in-law ever!" Alicia declared enthusiastically.

"Three approvals now! I feel like I'm a part of the family already," the Magician said with a mischievously curled lip.

"Three approvals?" Alexandria repeated.

"Oh, yes, your parents approve of me as well. In fact, your Father was the one who sent me down here to look after things in case there was trouble," the Magician explained. "Of course, it took him a day or two to figure out who I was... your mother knew straight away."

"WHAT! Do you mean my parents know who you really are?" Alexandria flailed.

"Oh, yes. Once your father figured it out, we had a long heart to heart talk, you see. Afterwards, he made me an Agent of Mysteries on the spot, as well as his assistant. He trained me at the same time that I worked in the office with him," he explained. "This is my first solo mission! Do you think I did well?"

"There's a bit of a mess to clean up," Alexandria pointed out critically.

"To be sure. Do you mind getting out that pocket Wiznet of yours and find a trustworthy shop to get the car cleaned? We can't be driving around all day, you know," he suggested.

"Fine," Alexandria said, getting out her phone. "So my parents know who you really are?"

"Yes."

"Then when are you going to tell me?" she asked.

"When you are ready to acknowledge once and for all that you are my family and my forever mate," the Magician said.

"Not going to happen!" Alexandria snapped at him.

"Oh, do it, do it," Alicia coaxed.

"Especially not when my sister is in the back seat of the car!" Alexandria added, glowering at Alicia's eager expression.

"Car wash, Alexandria?" the Magician reminded her.

"Fine," Alexandria said, looking it up on her phone.


As they were standing outside the car wash watching as several workers polished around the dents in the front of the Aston Martin, Alexandria shook her head.

"I can't believe you spent so much money on a hand wash with all those dents you put in it," Alexandria scolded him. The Magician had been concentrating on Alicia, who had gone to a lunch counter across the road to get them some food.

"I always make certain that I have invested the full amount of insurance possilbe any time I rent any sort of vehicle. But I couldn't take an Aston Martin back without a full wash, that wouldn't be respectful. I'm doing it for England," he added, earning an eye roll from Alexandria. "Anyway, there's something I want to discuss with you while we have a moment. I want you to be exceptionally careful once we return home," he explained, taking on a much more serious tone. "Bagman will likely be quite unhappy to learn that three of his assassins are in legal trouble in Milan thanks to my clever driving. He may even be unhappy enough that he chooses to confront you because of it."

"Just how did you learn to drive like that, anyway?" Alexandria asked, and the Magician sighed, seeing that she wasn't listening to him again.

"The same way I learned how to operate all of the vehicles, Alexandria, by putting students to sleep and taking their place at the wheel or the pilot seat, whatever the case may be," the Magician explained. Alexandria stared at him. "Don't worry, I always pick a different student every time so they never get harmed by losing one individual lesson... sometimes that means I get stuck in a review, but overall, the system works splendidly well."

"Do you have any idea just how illegal that is?" Alexandria asked flatly.

"No, but I'm sure you're willing to tell me. How about we hit the pause button for now?" the Magician suggested. "I really need to send the two of you home while I attend to the headaches and politics of this car chase incident. Continuing our fight will have to wait for now."

"Are you two fighting again?" Alicia asked, coming back over with some paper bags.

"I am asking for a temporary truce so that I may finish my business as an Agent," he replied.

"It's probably best," Alicia said. "Can you drop us off at our hotel before you drop off the car? Once we have our bags, I can simply take Alex home through a painting. It'll be quick and safe."

"Provided I can check over your rooms first, then yes. Standard procedure, is it not, Alexandria?" the Magician inquired.

"Yes, fine," Alex said with a sigh.

"Good, then your part in this business is over, ladies," the Magician said.

"It's rather nice for someone else to handle the cleanup for a change. Isn't it Alexandria?" Alicia offered.

Alex, who had been thinking the same thing, finally gave in to an exasperated smile.