Conri was no stranger to Thompson’s house having visited many times before, even babysitting Anna on occasion, but after the unwanted encounter at work it was hard to enjoy the ambience. Cutlery and dishes littered the kitchen island as Conri mulled over his thoughts at the kitchen table, paying little attention to Thompson preparing dinner. The two exchanged brief words after their shift, each trying to change the subject of Jeris and Rovin, but finding the other unable to stick with a topic for so long. Dr. Bromley would often say that healing is uncomfortable and Conri gave into the uncomfortable burning in his chest while Thompson seared chicken on the stove. 

“Early when you asked and I said I’m fine, you knew I wasn’t right?” his voice blunt, turning to look into the kitchen. 

“Of course,” Thompson replied, back still turned as he focused over the food. “Who is actually ever just fine?” 

Conri’s groan was expected and allowed despite the majority of his feelings being easily read by others. The fact that his friend happened to be a parent who also studies psychology was just a terrible coincidence.

“If you’re ready to let it out, now would be the best time before Elena and Anna get home.”

“In all honesty, I’m scared, but not surprised.” Conri started, unsure how short his open window was before they’d be interrupted. “Rovin was always stubborn and arrogant, but I thought he’d left for good. A whole uninterrupted year of peace and now Jeris is showing their twisted face as if nothing has changed.”  

Thompson lowered the heat and took a sip from the beer next to him, only listening. Rovin was no secret to him or to Mrs. Kast, but it still hurts to listen to his friend begin to relive certain memories. 

“I thought I was finally in the clear since he hadn't directly made himself known.” Conri’s hands now held his head as it raced. “I kept telling myself that he left the city or better yet was put in prison. God knows what he’s been doing.” 

Covering the food with the lid Thompson turned to face his friend, crossing his arms and staring with apologetic eyes.

“I know its not my business, but if you’re scared, maybe you should call–”

“No.”

Conri cut him off, knowing who Thompson was referring to and that wasn’t a possibility anymore. “They wouldn’t be able to do much from where they are now. Plus it would just burden them and their family.” 

“Conri, I know you don’t want to, but you and I both know that they made you feel safe. I know it can be uncomfortable involving your ex, but I know Emmett wouldn’t think less of you.” 

Deep down Conri knew he couldn’t do anything without giving too much truth away surrounding his ex. Emmett was the name they came up with since Conri couldn’t understand demonic and it was Emmett’s family that advocated for the breakup. That was all true: the specifics surrounding it were left out to his friends. 

“You know I would if I wanted, but that wound is still fresh and they're taking care of their family now. Its not about sounding desperate Thompson, I don’t want to get hurt again on top of Rovin.”

Thompson dropped the Emmett topic. He finished dinner preparations and checked the clock before taking a seat at the table next to Conri. Elena and Anna would be home soon.

“I understand.” giving Conri his best reassuring smile. “You know you’re welcome to stay here if you aren’t comfortable being alone. What else can I do?”

Sliding his hands down from his head to the neck, Conri exhaled and gave an unenthusiastic smile in response to the offer.

“Depends, how much do you know about magic?” Conri sounded teasingly. 

“I can pull a quarter out of your ear.” Thompson teasingly quipped back. “I only know what Elena has shared with me. You know she’d be more than happy to help if you have specific questions.” 

“I suppose. I went to the academy, but they really couldn’t offer me much during our short interaction.” Lifting his eyes, he started grounding using the surroundings: everything was accounted for. “The best they could tell me was that it was some form of transmutation magic. I hadn’t noticed it too much until Emmett and I broke up.” 

Thompson finished his can of beer and wiped the remnants off his mustache in thought. 

“I’m no expert, but isn’t magic itself just unpredictable as in you may not always have a specific answer for why it does or acts in a certain way?” 

Conri gave a half shrug. 

“More or less. Eli says something similar and that's based on what the academic has taught them: there are rules, consequences, but also short cuts from my understanding. I just never really thought about my own affinity to it I suppose. I can shift, sure, but that's more genetic similar to how Elena can appear more earthy or human.”

At the comment about his wife, Thompson made a face, letting Conri know that he would have chosen a more complimentary word to describe her Eladrin form. Ethereal perhaps. He didn’t take it to heart given how Conri was rambling and so he let him until the sound of distant keys jiggled into the front door lock. The two at the table exchanged a look before Thompson got to his feet and stationed himself at the entrance of the kitchen as light footsteps padded down the hallway from the front door. Seconds later Thompson gave a dramatic gasp tumbling over onto his back with little Anna in his arms laughing with him on the floor. 

Anna was not Thompson's biological daughter, but you really couldn't tell him any different since he treated her like she was. Her and Elena shared many similar features like their heart shaped faces and silky black hair, but Anna's green eyes and and freckles were from her biological father who was no longer in the picture. Elena referred to him as a juvenile love that was kept aflame through their daughter. but with him gone, it made Elena that much more focused on Anna's future. Thompson was just a happy accident. 

Elena entered the kitchen not long after Thompson rolled up onto his feet, already in a very detailed discussion with Anna about her day and what was for dinner. Elena and Conri exchanged friendly greetings as she joined him at the table, both now engrossed in watching Thompson and Anna set the table for dinner. 

________________________________

"I'm afraid I'm not as educated in transmutation," Elena said between sips from her wine glass. "and yet I'm fascinated by that story." 

Conri nodded having taken her aside after their meal to ask away about his predicament. He explained the same story from the night with Emmett's family to his vision and hearing suddenly faltering. He detailed Emmett arguing with his younger brother in front of his mother and twin sisters, both shouting and threatening each other until the younger brother turned his attention to Conri. Hurling insults and filling Conri's head with sudden doubts about Emmett until the room became filled with heat. Demonic flames erupting from the light fixtures of the dinning room licking the air around them as Conri felt his lungs fill with smoke. Conri instinctively reached out to Emmett out of fear while Emmett's family watched with amusement; it was Emmett's mother's face who caught Conri's attention right as the flame should have taken him. Her jaw tightened as the fire avoided contact, the vibrant orange was immediately a deep indigo that arced, swallowing both Emmett and Conri. 

"We then found ourselves on the roof of my apartment complex as if the fire teleported us instead of harming us." No matter how many times he told the story, he could not remember how it happened. "I first thought Emmett did something, but they said they weren't capable of achieving something like that." 

"Well then it was a pretty smart assumption you had to think it was you." she gave a weak laugh. Her quips weren't as witty as Thompson. "Its an impressive feat to pull something like that off without thinking, you should feel proud."

Proud wasn't the world he'd used. He and Emmett were both thankful to be alive, but it wasn't too long after that they broke up. The information exchanged at that dinner brought up some hard truths that they both had to face which led to Emmett leaving.  

"I'd just feel better if I knew what I was dealing with." He gave her a hopeful look. "I'm not ready to spend years at the academy studying either. I know its a lot, but given your natural attunement, do you think you could give me some direction?"

Placing her wine glass down on the living room table, she took Conri's hand in hers and gave a half nod. 

"No promises, but I'd be happy to do what I can." Her words filled him with the same drop of hope he felt when he discussed this with his therapist and the academy's counselor. 

Once his hand was clasped in her, he watched the wispy stray strands of her hair rise through some sort of static as she looked on with a face of blank concentration. Elena's fingers started lengthening as her body started to change: her once human features beginning to recede as new ones bloomed. The tips of her ears elongated, her black hair shined with silver and her skin grew pale. Surrounding her were ripples of liquid air that bounced freely, encasing her protectively without her needing to say anything. It was enchanting to watch someone easily access arcane, it reminded him of when Mrs. Kast would deep dive to speak with her ancestors during full moons. 

Conri's attention was drawn to a sudden chill from his encased palm. Staring at a small marble sized dot that was drawn at his wrist: blinking caused it to vanish, but then reappear as if it was something in his eye. He felt no pain or discomfort, but the dot moved up Elena's hand making him start to panic. He watched it stretch and crack into the ripples surrounding her, interrupting their movements. 

"Conri," Elena's voice broke through his growing panic as she looked up at him, her features were all greyed out. He couldn't hear Thompson or Anna in the other room. The only color he could see were the cracks that now overlaid the shape of the veins on his forearm: the once black lines now feeding up his arm becoming a silver that mimicked Elena.

Finally having enough, he tore his hand away from hers, showing the overlay stretching and still connecting the two like fresh spider webs. Elena's shoulders slouched as she fell back onto her seat, her features reverting: her chest inhaling deeply as Conri watched the silver disappear. Though panicking, his physical response was unaltered: his muscles felt relaxed and felt like he just awoken from a full night's sleep. 

"Elena. Elena, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, are you ok?" 

The volume of his voice grabbed the attention of the others who came in cautiously. Anna was in Thompson's arms and her eyes were wide with curiosity as her grip tightened on her step-father. 

"Everyone alright in here? Not messing with dangerous magic right?" Thompson asked trying to ease the newly found tension. 

Thankfully it was Elena who responded on cue, her hand giving a small wave in the air. 

"We're ok here, mommy just had sudden headache is all." she gave Conri a reassuring smile as she sat up, turning to give her family a playful wide smile. It wasn't until they were alone again did she turn her attention back to Conri. "I'm ok, really. Are you?"

"Physically, but I saw something this time. I don't know what but-"

Her hand went to his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. 

"Easy Conri. It just took us by surprise is all. I know you didn't do anything to hurt me." Once she saw him take a couple deep breaths she continued. "The easiest way I can describe it is that you seem to be devoid of magic and your body is trying to compensate by feeding on the magic of others."