“That’s enough, Elizabeth,” Feron said, making no attempt to hide his also rising frustration. “I’ve also spoken to you about this many times. Or did you forget?”

If Feron was trying to strike fear into Elizabeth, he should have realized the person he was dealing with for a wide and wicked grin of joy from Elizabeth was suddenly shining upon the Vampire Prince. “Oh, My Prince, I would never forget anything you say.”

Feron tensed up and made a ‘tsk’ sound with his mouth as though this exact moment had happened more times than he could count. But he took a deep breath before continuing, “Let’s get this over with. Do you have what I asked for?”

Elizabeth nodded. Then, with a wave of her hand, a gray piece of paper appeared in her hand. Grasping the piece of paper, she then dipped it towards Feron. “The names of all 10 of you, as requested.” As Feron reached for the piece of paper, Elizabeth jerked it back. “And you said you needed this for what?”

“I didn’t say,” Feron replied.

“Then I see no reason to give it to you,” Elizabeth snickered, “That is… unless you fill me in on what it is that you’re up to.”

“Lady, you are a real piece of work,” Kylia stated.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Elizabeth replied.

“I wouldn’t,” Kylia said.

“Feron, is there a problem with me knowing?” Elizabeth asked Feron directly while ignoring Kylia’s last statement completely.

“I know how you are, Liz. If I tell you, you’ll stick your nose in it. And this time, I won’t be amused by it.”

“But you need this info, right?”

Feron glared at Elizabeth for a moment, and then two. Finally, Feron sighed again. “We need to find them for their help.”

“I see,” Elizabeth calmly replied, “And I’m guessing their help will not be for you since the gods know you don’t need it. So I’m guessing it’s for the fragile, magical human bomb behind you.”

“My name is Harriett,” Harriett angrily replied through a still heightened tone.

“Yes, for the human named Harriett. Is that it?” Elizabeth asked Feron.

Feron nodded. “But you knew that already, didn’t you?”

Elizabeth smiled at him. “It’s not too complicated to understand. The girl still lacks control and despite your best efforts, which I’m sure were extraordinary, you’ve decided to seek out the others of your “Preschool Class” in order to see if they can pass on their own knowledge to her in the hopes of allowing the human girl there to thereby obtain a glimmer of control on her amazingly wasted talents. Am I right?”

“You already know the answer to that, Liz,” Feron begrudgingly replied.

Elizabeth’s smile softened as she extended the list of names towards Feron once more. Only this time, when Feron reached out, she did not attempt to pull it away. Once the list was in his hand, Harriett and Kylia both approached Feron and looked at the list over his shoulders. At the top of the list was a name Harriett immediately knew to be the true name of the preschool class she and Feron had attended.

“The Gifted Offspring of Destiny’s Strings?” Harriett read out loud.

“The G.O.D.S.,” Feron summarized.

“A bit pretentious of you humans, is it not?” Kylia asked more to the room than to any one person in particular.

“Say what you will, demon princess,” Elizabeth replied.

“And this is all of them?” Feron asked the Magical Investigator.

“Do you think I would lie to you?” Elizabeth slyly asked him.

Feron gave no reply.

Seeing this as her cue to continue, Elizabeth did just that. “The people on that list, including the two of you, are all cogs in the tapestry of our current century and as such, are highly monitored. Each person is capable of changing the fate of our entire world should they ever truly grow into their own power. Should you decide to find them, you should know what you are dealing with.”

Kylia chuckled. “If the people on this list are anything like these two, then I don’t think we’ll have a problem. I’m surprised we can’t simply call them for their advice on those clever little devices you humans are so proud of.”

“We’re trying to be a bit stealthier about this, Kylia,” Feron clarified, “And that’s why we came to her.”

“For her masochism?” Kylia jokingly asked.

“For my position,” Elizabeth stated with no such humor in her tone. “My nobility and position grant me a modest amount of power and my young prince here deduced that I would be able to cover your tracks at least until you get the answer you need.”

“And how long will you be able to get us?” Kylia asked.

“Well before, I could have afforded a month no problem. But after a certain human decided to flex her incapableness,” Elizabeth glared at Harriett at this, causing Harriett to slink back farther behind Feron, “Well… let’s just say it’s a bit less now.”

“How much is less?” Kylia questioned.

“Less is my nice way of saying you should get out of my office before less becomes none.”

Kylia tensed up at Elizabeth’s cold remark, but Feron stepped a little bit into her way. “She gets the hint, Liz. Any time you can afford us is appreciated. And as you said, hopefully, this won’t take too long.”

“I should hope not, for I will collect on our price as soon as I am able.”

“I expected no less. Thanks, Liz. It’s always… well… it’s always something to see you. Come on, guys.” Feron turned towards the door, followed by a still highly disgruntled Kylia. But as Harriett also turned, a quick “A moment, human child” from Elizabeth halted Harriett’s movement and caused her to turn her attention back towards the Senior Magical Investigator.

“You, Harriett Carefree, do you know what you are?” Elizabeth asked in a rather plain way.

“I don’t understand the question,” Harriett truthfully returned.

Elizabeth sighed before speaking again, “Then I will try my question another way. Do you understand what you are?”

“Just ignore her, Hare,” Feron said, “She’s just trying to read you.”

But Harriett placed her hand up to halt Feron where he stood. “It’s alright, Feron. I can handle this.” Feron made no movement to speak further.

Sensing that the floor was hers once again, Elizabeth continued. “So… an answer to my question then, Harriett Carefree?”

Harriett searched for an answer deep within her mind, but the only things that came back to answer her search were grasps of the expansive nothingness that was her thoughts, their usually ceaseless chatter suddenly silenced by her risen emotions and her flustered attitude.

“Nothing? At all?” Elizabeth sighed. “Then I shall tell you what I think you are. You are a Carefree, the daughter of two of the most highly respected individuals in the entire magical community. But you are also a tragedy waiting to happen. You are a forgotten kettle about to explode; A deer with 3 of its 4 feet already stepped out in front of an approaching car; A magical bomb too close to the end. What I’m trying to say is this.” Elizabeth rose from her seat, walked to the window behind her, and pointed out towards London. “This entire city means nothing to me in comparison to the boy you travel with. I could watch all of Her Majesty’s streets burn countless times before I lifted a finger. But if even a single hair on this boy’s head is harmed by your incompetence over your own power, well then… I will forget my place and I assure you that a little bit of water will be the least of the nightmares I will one day inflict upon you. Are we clear?”

Harriett didn’t answer. For when their eyes connected, Elizabeth had no problem discerning that her message would forever be engrained into Harriett’s heart, the fuel of 13 years of fear being rekindled anew.