Later, Daphne was never quite sure how they managed to convinced the girl to drop her club and return to her apartment with them. Maybe it was Sabine's kind eyes and sweet voice. Maybe it was because the girl was exhausted and willing to accept the help of strangers. It was most likely that she was under the influence of a light calming charm Daphne was surreptitiously casting as Sabine talked to her, but who knows? In any case, they managed to get the girl's somewhere safe—and to get a name.

"I'm Rhode," she said once she was back in Daphne's cozy apartment. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her dark eyes were downcast. Her wildly curly hair partially hid her face. Even though she seemed as if she was trying to make herself small (shy, quiet Daphne had tried to do the same thing many times), she still had a certain energy about her. She seemed twitchy and ready to spring at any moment. With her fur-collared coat and cut-up face, she reminded Daphne of an alley cat.

"Rhode," said Sabine with a warm smile. "I'm Sabine; this is my friend Daphne. It's very nice to meet you." She put out her hand, which Rhode only glanced at. She let it drop. "Why don't I make us some food," she suggested awkwardly before hurrying into the kitchen.

Daphne sat down on the couch beside Rhode. "Hey," she said, trying to make her voice soft and comforting like Sabine. "Why don't you let me take a look at those cuts?"

"I don't need a doctor," grumbled Rhode.

"I can fix all of these," Daphne said as she examined her face.

"Good. You got some Band-Aids or something?"

Daphne smiled slightly. "Better." But she noticed a trickle of blood streaming down from Rhode's jacket. "Let me see," she said, going to move the fabric aside, but Rhode resisted.

"I don't need a doctor," she repeated, more forcefully than before.

"Just let me take a look," Daphne coaxed. She reluctantly let her pull her jacket open. The front of her tee shirt was soaked with blood. Daphne peeled it upwards to see the damage. Rhode had eight round punctures that looked like they came from a giant bite. They were circled by angry red inflammation and the beginnings of a bruise. Daphne let out a low whistle.

"No doctors," said Rhode, pushing Daphne away from her.

"You don't need doctors," Daphne replied. "I can fix this too... I think."

Rhode's eyes narrowed to slits. "Oh yeah? How?"

Daphne opened her mouth, not quite sure how to answer. If she told the truth, she would be revealing magic to yet another mortal. She supposed she could erase her memory later, but that became riskier as more time passed. Should she take the chance?

She was saved from making a decision by the arrival of Sabine. "I hope you like grilled cheese," she said, setting the plate down next to Rhode, who took one look at the sandwiches before snatching one and devouring it. "I... guess you do," she said as she watched Rhode finish the first grilled cheese in three bites. "I can make some more."

"No, that's okay," said Rhode after swallowing a huge mouthful. "I'm just really hungry. I haven't eaten in a few days."

"Why not?" asked Daphne without thinking.

Rhode stopped eating long enough to fix her with an angry glare. "None of your business."

"Sorry," said Daphne, blushing. Looking at Rhode's worn-out jacket and tattered shoes, she might have guessed that she was homeless, but she didn't think about such things. She was one of the lucky ones with a house, a family, and the constant promise of a meal. And cats. She was lucky that cats existed.

"You know what? Don't be," she replied, tearing into another sandwich. "Blondie's cooking makes up for it." Sabine smiled gently. "But hey, how were you gonna fix me up again?"

Daphne closed her eyes and prepared to embrace life as an outlaw. "Sabine, do me a favor and get me the green book with gilt edges and the bags marked 'Carob,' 'Arrowroot,' and 'Mesquite' from the study." She broke off a sprig off a violet from a nearby pot and looked at Rhode again.

"Do you believe in magic?"

Rhode's eyes widened. "After what I just saw? I believe in everything."

And so Daphne explained to her the existence of magic, the Reliqua, the coven, their mission, and that no, her cats weren't magical spirits."Now we fight the Reliqua because the Coven doesn't think it's important enough, I guess," Daphne finished.

"It seems like the Coven is a bunch of jerks," Sabine added in a stage whisper.

"Sabine," Daphne laughed nervously, looking around the room. Even though it was unlikely the Coven could hear them (her mother had wardings and charms all over the apartment) and even less likely they'd focus on a measly insult when there was proof of criminal activity, Daphne was still irrationally worried. The Coven was just so powerful... how could they ever do wrong? "The Coven tries its best," she added awkwardly. "Anyway, do you have any questions?" Their new confidant had been silent this whole time.

"Nope. No questions. You don't have to say any more," said Rhode as she licked the last of the crumbs off her lips and gave the cat on her lap another scratch. "I'll help you fight the baddies."

"What?" the other two girls asked in unison.

"The Relics or whatever we're fighting."

Sabine threw a puzzled glance at Daphne. "I think you misunderstood. We weren't asking—"

"Well, if you weren't asking, why did you tell me all this stuff?"

"I thought you had the right to know," said Daphne meekly as Sabine sighed beside her.

Rhode rolled her eyes. "Look, where I'm from we don't wanna know any more than we have to. Keep your head down and your nose out of other people's business, you know? It's the only way to make it." She leaned back into the embroidered couch cushions, again crossing her arms over her chest. This time, though, it was less trying to hide and more trying to spread out, like the man who always spread his legs to take up three seats on Daphne's bus. "You told me for a reason. And that reason is you need my help."

Daphne looked at Sabine to see what she thought about all this, but she just shrugged and murmured, "It's your wand on the line."

"Listen, I've got the brawn, the brains, and the looks," She flashed them a cocky smile, tossing her coiled curls. "Ginger and blondie, you have the magic and the fancy weapons we need to take these suckers down. What do you say?"

Daphne took a deep breath. "I'm becoming quite the criminal, aren't I?" she asked Sabine in an undertone before putting out her hand to Rhode. "Welcome to the team."

Rhode held up a finger. "One condition: I get to stay here. Team members can't be living on the streets, right?" she said, her confident demeanor dropping for a moment as she looked up at them, eyes pleading. "So... I should get to stay with you. Deal?"

"Deal," Daphne happily agreed.

"And Sabine makes me more grilled cheese."

Sabine grinned and shot her a wink. "Coming right up."