Loki made a decision. Quickly. Maybe not the best one, but she didn't have much time to waste. Something had to be done. And quickly. Loki got out of bed, grabbing Dean by the arm to pull him back.

"I understand that you think you're doing your best," she said, "but you're trying to screw me over."

"I don't know what you mean."

"What I mean is, what do you think is going to happen? I don't have any proof. Are they going to send Armsmaster or Miss Militia in civilian clothes to investigate Winslow? And even if they did that, how many people would talk to them? And tell them what Sophia does? It's her word against mine. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Look, I don't know what they would do. That's not my business, but they would handle it. Somehow."

"I told you. It's her word against mine."Taylor squeezed his arm tighter. "You would only give credence to Sophia's accusations, that I'm trying to sabotage her somehow. Don't you understand? You would ruin me."

"I don't think it's that easy, Taylor," Dean replied. But, suddenly, he seemed much more unsure. "They wouldn't have proof of that either. I mean, they can't if you're not doing it."

"Sure. But they don't need proof to make my life more difficult. And for Sophia to come out on top. Smelling like roses, with the perfect excuse for everything she's been doing lately. How she's been behaving."

Taylor looked away. She ran her other hand over her mouth. Her lips were dry, she noticed.

"I don't know. What you say makes sense, but..."

"But what, Dean?" Taylor let go of him. "I can't stop you from doing anything. I'm not even going to try, but I'm asking you. Now is the worst time to reveal something like that."

"I guess... I don't know... I guess you're right. Even if I don't like it."

"Thank you."

"Or maybe..."

Oh, shit! Here we go!

"I read your file. I'm sorry. The the incident with the locker, there's really no one who can testify Sophia doing that? Pushing you inside? From what I understand, it was quite public."

Loki looked at him with something akin to pity.

"It shows that you're a rich kid, huh? You'd be going to a private school if you weren't a Ward."

"And because I don't want to abuse my privileges," he replied, clearly defensive. "But what does that have to do with it?"

"Things don't work like that, Gallant. They just don't. Nobody would testify for shit. If they were going to, they would have done it a long time ago."

Gallant lowered his head, clearly thoughtful. The problem was that she had no idea what the hell he had to think about. Seriously? Had she really not managed to convince that stupid son of a bitch yet? Incredible.

"Okay, Taylor. I won't say anything for now. See you later."

Then he turned and left. And Loki didn't stop her. She had already done everything she could do. However, she gritted her teeth, grabbed the lamp on the nightstand, and threw it against the wall, causing it to shatter into pieces. However, it didn't feel like a victory, far from it. "I won't say anything for now." For now. She gritted her teeth even harder. They were chattering.

There was only rage there. No fear that her game would end too soon, you stubborn idiot. She was pretty sure she had everything under control. Just not 100%, maybe 99.9%. Still, the difference was enough to drive her mad with rage.

She needed control.

—

Taylor went home. As soon as she finished, there was training and the routine patrol. She didn't see Sophia all day, which she was quite grateful for. She didn't need any more reasons to lose her temper. She did see Missy and she was grateful for that, especially after she asked her if she wanted to go out for a drink, have some fun together, clear her head. Although, unfortunately, she had to decline her offer. It was something she had been hoping for deep down, but she really wasn't in the mood. She hoped that wouldn't undo the progress she had made, that Vista would understand. If she didn't, well, Taylor had done everything she could. It wouldn't be her fault.

Danny wasn't home when she arrived; better, in a way. Taylor undid the illusion she called her costume and took off her mask. Then she took off everything else to get in the shower. She did need to have some fun, clear her head, but alone. Deep down in her heart she didn't want to be alone, or so she thought. But when her back hit the wall, she always went back inside her shell. Actions spoke louder than words, after all.

Taylor sat in the bathtub and curled up into a ball while the water kept falling. A blurry curtain covering the narrow walls that surrounded her. Enclosed her. She felt overwhelmed, there was a knot in her chest that she couldn't undo. Taylor doubled over even more, convinced that she would vomit, but in the end she didn't. Good, good, because she was exaggerating.

Gallant wouldn't say anything. And even if he did, nobody would believe him. Nobody would believe him and, if necessary, even she would deny it. She would give Sophia a rope to escape with, at least for a few extra weeks. Would she be able to do that to herself just so her plan would work out perfectly? Would she be able to betray herself like that? She didn't doubt it. But she had told Vista. She knew too.

Then what?

Nothing. She was sure she could get little Missy to say what she wanted, or at least to keep her mouth shut about it. She had nothing, nothing, nothing to worry about. Nothing.

She felt like vomiting, out of pure rage, even so.

"Did something happen, Taylor?" Dad asked. "You look a little pale."

"What could have happened? We're the Wards, Dad, not the Guardians." Taylor shrugged. "It's to be expected. But hey, you know what I mean."

"I wasn't thinking... Well... Yes, I was, but not about that kind of thing. I was thinking about that girl, Shadow Stalker. That maybe she'd... gone too far. I don't know."

"Well, I don't even see her around lately."

Danny nodded.

"You said she's off-duty until an investigation clears everything up. But she still hangs around the base, right? She wasn't banned from that?"

"Not really, but I guess what happened has humbled her a bit. She's not as unpleasant anymore. She knows how to keep quiet."

"Ah, I see. Maybe that's what she needed. I'm glad."

She needed it, Loki thought. There's no doubt about that. But it's not enough. I've only just begun.

Dad stared at her, looking dazed.

More and more so, as she finished breakfast and headed for the door to run to school.

She thought he wouldn't say anything, but in the end, he spoke.

"I love seeing you like this, every morning."

"Like what?"

"Like this, you know, happy to go to school, excited even."

Loki nodded.

"Well, I have reasons now."

Loki turned around, while Danny said goodbye, and waited until then to smile ear to ear, as if reveling in something.

—

As soon as she arrived at school, Loki looked for Gallant and quickly found him. He looked at her as if he didn't know what to think. She supposed that happened often to people who were "a bit slow." Speaking of slow people, more than one girl looked at her as they passed, as if thinking, poor stupid ugly girl, she doesn't know he has a girlfriend and that he's out of her league anyway.

Which annoyed her a little, even though she had zero interest in the guy. He might be handsome, but he was too frustrating. She'd end up killing him in a few weeks. They were right about one thing, of course. She couldn't win over someone like Gallant, even if she used her best tricks and deceptions. Not with this appearance, at least.

Ugly girls were very aware of that. No one needed to remind them. Luckily, she didn't care about that anymore; she had other priorities now.

"Before you say anything," Dean began, "I haven't told anyone, yet."

Loki nodded. "Good, keep it that way."

"I still think this is a mistake," Gallant said, "that things can't be as bad as you say."

I don't give a shit what you think, Loki almost spat.

"But you've never been through anything like this," she said calmly. "So you can't know."

"No, I haven't." Dean sighed. "But if I find out that Sophia has done something, crossed another line... Look, I'm not going to stand by and watch someone suffer, okay? You can't ask me to do that."

Loki smiled. "And I haven't. Relax."

"Okay, that's a relief."

Loki patted him on the back. "Don't feel bad. You're not doing anything wrong. You're a good guy." It was very difficult to keep the condescension out of her voice. Dean could read emotions, so maybe he picked up on something. Maybe. But if he did, he didn't say anything.

Taylor turned to leave, but she didn't get far.

"Wait."

Loki turned on her heels, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Can I ask you a favor?" Gallant asked. "I don't know if you're the right person for this, but I don't know who to turn to. So..."

No details, but it sounded juicy.

"Okay, I'm listening."

"Not here. Let's go somewhere more private."

"As you wish."

Loki followed him. Some of those girls who had looked at her so condescendingly were now dumbfounded. Well, they couldn't know the content of the whispered conversation. And Gallant had his back to her, so Loki took advantage. She looked at those stuck-up bitches and made a universal gesture with the fingers of both hands.

Once they were alone in an empty classroom…

"What do you want?"

Loki got straight to the point.

"It's something incredibly personal, I don't know if I should tell you."

Loki shrugged, even though she was dying to know what it was.

"Then don't tell me. I can't and won't force you. It's your business."

"I feel lost and I don't know who to turn to." Dean sighed. "I don't talk to many girls. Well, except for Victoria and her sister. But that's the problem."

"Glory Girl and Panacea?" Loki raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with them?"

Dean turned away, put a hand to his mouth, thoughtfully. Loki thought he would change his mind. That he would leave with some clumsy apology, playing the gallant. But then he looked back at her, though clearly hesitant, and said:

"What would you do if you knew someone was very close to a mental breakdown?"

"Is this your subtle way of asking me about Sophia?"

"What? No, I already told you it's about my girlfriend and her sister."

"What's going on? Did you cheat on Glory Girl?"

"No, let me finish, okay? It's about Panacea, about Amy."

Dean sat down, pulling out one of the chairs from under the table. He took a deep breath and then exhaled deeply, as if he believed he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

What a melodramatic boy. Loki thought it must be a teenage thing.

"I can't tell you the details, I'm sorry. But it's bad. It's really bad and I'm afraid something will happen one day. That's why I spent some time away. Some things happened." Dean shook his head. "What would you do?"

"Do you know for sure? Is your power that good?"

Probably not. If it were, he would have found her out already. She wouldn't have been able to fool him so easily.

"It's not that my power is as precise as some people fear. It's just that Amy's emotions aren't very subtle. The girl has a lot of problems and responsibilities. The healing. Family problems. Guilt and other things I can't tell you about."

Fucking hell. Curiosity was eating her up inside. What was going on with little Panacea?

"You're not giving me many details. I don't know how you expect me to help," Loki pointed out. She didn't expect him to open up with that, but it was true. "Take her to a therapist or something, what do I know." She crossed her arms.

"I'd say that only works if you want to be helped."

"Anything you come up with will only work if she wants to be helped."

Gallant reacted as if she had slapped him. He blinked rapidly. He looked away.

"That's true. You're absolutely right. But I don't think... I don't think she'll go to any psychologist, even if her sister asks her to. And she's the most important person to her."

A strange expression crossed Dean's face, and Loki would have liked to know what it meant. Damn, she'd give an arm for it.

"If even the most important person to her can't make her change direction, or at least try, I mean, what makes you think you can help her?"

"I feel like I have to. Because I'm the only one who knows how bad it really is. One of these days, I don't know..."

"I'd tell you I'll talk to her," Loki said. "But you haven't given me anything to talk about."

"I know, I know. You don't have to keep reminding me." Dean ran a hand through his hair. "This is complicated, Taylor. And very personal. She's my girlfriend's sister. And more importantly, she's a good girl, deep down. I don't want anything to happen to her."

Deep down, Loki suppressed the urge to smile. What had little Panacea done or wanted to do?

Deep down, huh. Deep down. Very interesting. Very interesting.

"You want my advice?" Loki began after thinking about it, not too much, to be honest. "I'll tell you not to think you're so important, tell Victoria. Tell her how bad she is, whatever it is that even she doesn't know about her own sister. You said it, right? She's the most important person to Amy. If anyone can help her, it's her."

Dean tilted his head, clasping his hands in his lap.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

For a moment it crossed her mind that Amy might be jealous of her sister. Well, that was for sure. Amy was a normal girl, rather plain, while Glory Girl was a total Barbie. Tall, blonde, a waist as thin as a pencil, and breasts almost as big as her butt. Well, not quite, but compared to Panacea...

Anyway, she meant more specific jealousy, about the knight in shining armor. But Loki dismissed the idea almost as quickly as it had come to her. After all, Gallant had said that he was sure Amy was a good person deep down. A very curious choice of words. She couldn't get it out of her head. She couldn't wait to find out what secrets New Wave was hiding.

Taylor didn't let her thoughts show on her face, and simply shrugged, as if to say "what can you do?"

"Well, I tried. I don't know what else I can tell you."

"You've done everything you can. Thank you. I'm sorry I couldn't have made it easier for you, but I think you've helped me."

"I'm glad, then. Is that all, Dean?"

"Yes. Besides, we're going to be late for class if we're not careful."

"Right, right."

They left and went to the classroom they were actually supposed to be in. Taylor, lost in thought, her main target was Sophia. Then Emma and Madison, they would pay too. It would be easy.

But Amy...

Loki didn't believe there were good people deep down. Only good people, and bad people. It didn't matter if she was a supposed heroine who saved the lives of countless people, or improved them. If it was necessary... If what she had seen in Gallant's eyes was more fear of what Amy could do than what could happen to her...

Then she would also pay for her mistakes.

The serpent would smile from the shadows all the while, silently balancing the scales.

Making the world regain its sanity.