The Dueling Duo cheered as they ran to the teens sprawled on the lawn, leaving Nick to follow behind. Both dived on their brother, causing him to wince in pain. Kristy prudently pulled them off, protecting Victor from the children and the bulging pillowcase filled with Halloween candy.

Victor sat up, his eyes landing on a beamy Nick. "Are you alright?"

"I'm a bit shooketh but fine." Nick reached out a hand, pulling Victor to his feet.

"You probably hate me after tonight. Nick, I'm so sorry." Victor shuddered at the thought of losing his oldest mate. "I understand if... if you never want to speak to me again."

"Hey, you kept your promise. We're alive and safe. The Duo explained about you being a caretaker and having magical woo-woo and stuff." Nick wiggled his fingers as his face oozed with compassion. He reached out and yanked a surprised Victor into a bear hug. "Your life is like a fantasy book, dude. Why didn't you tell me? We're bros, English. I'd have been there for you."

Victor teared up, burying his face in his friend's shoulder. "Would you have believed me?"

"True dat 'cause it is unbelievable. But you supported me through some hellish times in my life, like when my Gran died or getting my heart broken twice by the same girl. That accounts for a lot in my book. Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." Nick patted his back. "Nobody would believe me anyway."

Kristy peeked up at him as she surveyed her ruined costume. "Quite true."

Victor relaxed for the first time since being transported to that horrid reality. The only thing his group had lost was time. "Jason, what time is it?"

Jason checked his phone and then whistled. "That's weird. It's not even nine yet."

"Time isn't always linear in an alternate reality," explained Kristy as she gave up on salvaging her costume. "Rats, I liked this outfit."

The glow from the streetlight shone like a beacon in the moonless night. By mutual consent, they made their way to the sidewalk, the lamppost creating distorted shadows as they headed for home.

Victor ambled between Kristy and the talkative Nick, worn out but content. They'd made it through another tricky altercation, thanks to Lady Luck. It broke his heart that lives were lost, but the blame lay on Oliver's selfishness. Still, guilt lay heavy on a heart that knew there could be no regrets. He'd have never given up his loved ones to the Four.

His hand touched his burning chest—probably heartburn.

"Kris, what happened to Oliver and crew?" Nick asked in a low voice.

The genie sighed. "Dead. Oliver blew the tunnel."

"Wha? But, why?"

"Well, you see—"

The explanation ended as the ongoing argument between the Duo grew heated.

"I wasn't crying," said Rosetta. "I just teared up."

Jason laughed. "Yeah, right. You cried like you had diaper rash."

"Did not."

The boy tossed the heavy candy sack over his shoulder. "Did too."

"Did not."

"Did too."

Victor listened with half an ear. The sensation in his chest grew warmer, and he began to sweat. His inner column of magic pulsated like a beating heart. The odd feeling caused the teen to look within. Strange for the white column to thump now. But there, right in the middle—

No! It can't be.

Victor began to sway. Nick caught him as he tilted, then lowered him to the sidewalk. The Duo squawked and rushed to their brother's side.

"Vic?" said Jason, dropping to the concrete. "You look sick."

The genie kneeled by his other side, slender hands wiping the sweat from his brow. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Did the blast hurt you?"

Victor gazed at the girl, fear in his green eyes. "The column. The containment... it's... cracked."

The genie turned to the others. "Let's hurry it up and get him home."

Two hours later, a battered and bruised Kristy stood in the Hall of Magi, located in the Central Realm—the land connecting the genie, witch, and fae realms. The chamber was large as a cathedral with floor-to-ceiling glass walls decorated with intricate patterns made of gold and silver. The white marble floor, polished to a glossy sheen, reflected light like a mirror.

Against the far wall sat a silver dais, and on top stood a long table made of marble and glass. Here sat the leaders of the Tribunal, and to the rear were comfortable chairs for their staff. A column of swirling red, green, and blue magic resided behind the dais. The enormous structure, the central power source for all the realms, drifted down from the ornate ceiling before embedding itself into the floor. Its gentle hum made up the background noise of the governing body of the Tribunal.

The city outside the Hall of Magi was one of delicate architecture and intricate structures constructed of white marble. Its parks, with carefully sculptured trees, gardens, tamed rivers, and fountains, were visions of perfection in a city where night never descended. It remained a world of difference from the desert-like land of the genies.

Kristy couldn't decide which realm she hated more—this one or hers.

Any magi in the three realms could venture to the central realm. Spectators would enter the Hall of Magi and sit in the balconies or the floor seats to watch the proceedings. Most times, the Hall never filled with magi interested in seeing the Tribunal govern. But since the former Speaker of the Tribunal was tried and convicted there, viewership had increased.

The magi who ventured to the Hall today were delighted as it appeared another spectacle had arisen.

Kristy stood before the dais facing Arabella's replacement, Minister Roe. She was summoned by the Tribunal moments after they'd gotten Victor to bed. The spectral-looking man ruled the witches' regime, the Circle, and now the Tribunal as Speaker. His low, rough voice and gloved hands irritated the girl. He didn't speak without waving them around as if conducting an orchestra. Roe's pale skin, colorless eyes, and hair were eerie, but as he questioned her under his piercing stare, Kristy felt he wanted her to become like him, bereft of anything resembling life.

"You're claiming their leader's actions killed the witches who caused this new Disturbance?" The minister's gravelly voice was cool and suspicious. "They claimed to be the Four, a mythical group that hasn't held power in the witch world for centuries?"

"Yes, I am," said Kristy. She shifted her weight from one booted foot to another. "As I said, we were out on a human excursion, not witch-hunting."

"I say you are a liar." Minister Roe eyed her with distaste. "You and the One Magi, vindictive against witches because of the former speaker, set up this falsehood in an attempt to weaken our relations in the Tribunal." His dead eyes met hers. "And our citizens died in the process."

Before Kristy could reply, a little blond girl clothed in a blue sleep shirt jumped on top of the marble and glass slab from her booster seat at the table. "I object," she declared, shaking a tiny finger at the minister.

Mistress Fawn, the First Secretary and leader of the jinn sat between the witch and fae delegates. She sighed. "Goodness gracious, Gigi, what are you objecting to now?"

The little fae crossed her arms and scowled at the minister. "Besides his ghostlike pallor—Dude, get some sun already—I object to his unfounded accusations concerning the half-fae and Vickster. Not once has the One Magi shown any animosity towards the bitches...." The little fae covered her rosebud mouth. "Oopsie, I mean, witches, for the atrocities Arabella committed. And now you accuse him and the genie of becoming vigilantes? How stupid can you be?"

The minister glared at the fae leader before motioning for his second-in-command to come forward. "Elita Princess, a sacrifice was needed to create and destroy the alternate reality, correct? Didn't you find a murdered witch in the human world while we were investigating the Disturbance?"

Kristy gazed at the woman who stood, a beauty nearly six feet tall. Her brown skin glistened in the light while plaited braids fell past her waist, almost invisible next to her dark robes. The genie remembered from her schooling that elitas were witches of immense power, rare and subject to few laws in their realm due to their illustrious status.

The elita's silver eyes swept across the genie before turning to the minister. Kristy shivered from the woman's penetrating stare.

But her words did not match the look. "What difference does it make where the killing occurred? It wasn't murder. The sacrificed witch had no troubling aura surrounding him, probably some kind of fanatic. If what the half-fae says is true, we need to determine if we've been negligent and investigate if an established Four has formed on our watch. Remember, I found signs of forbidden black magic."

"That's not what I asked, Elita." The pale eyes narrowed.

"There have been rumors of the Four for years, Minister, more than just witches branding the mark for status, and we've ignored it. I know better than anybody." The woman did not back down, meeting his daunting glare. "Dark magic created that alternate reality. I don't believe a half-fae taught the human our Discipline and the required dark spells to do it. She hasn't the means, and the One Magi is supposedly new to his power."

"Well, if you ask me, the minister makes an excellent point," said Mistress Fawn, her dark curls pulled into a messy bun. The curvy woman wore the typical genie crop top and harem pants, the silky outfit ruined by the clashing array of neon green, purple, and orange. "That Victor probably knows more than he lets on. I know from experience he can be quite vindictive."

Wise not to mention that you attacked Victor first, mused Kristy.

Gigi marched closer to the genie leader and stamped her bare foot, scattering piles of papers everywhere. "You're just pissed 'cause you couldn't capture him. Didn't enjoy Siberia any better the second time, didja?" she taunted.

Mistress Fawn stiffened with anger. "How dare you!" she replied, the words said in a southern drawl.

The look on the little face was menacing. "Oh, trust me, I dare."

Kristy closed her weary eyes. It surprised her that Gigi, a fae, had come to her defense even though she was only half-fae. "I swear, our party was attacked. Victor fought in self-defense to protect his siblings and me." She didn't think it wise to mention Nick in this mess.

The minister's secretary, Verde, cleared her throat. "Minister, we've identified three members of the murdered group when investigating the Disturbance. A warrior witch named Terek Goffe, Solan Kolaris, who previously harassed the One Magi, and Oliver Puedater, Arabella's half-brother. Arabella and Solan once bound this genie." The thin brunette glared at Kristy with accusing eyes. "I think that points toward vengeance as a motive."

"The essences of the dead witches were laced with dark magic. I examined the bits of them that returned to this plane of existence." Princess nodded toward Kristy. "I sense nothing on the genie."

"Ah-ha! Point for my side," said Gigi, sticking out her tongue. "And you wouldn't let any of us check out the evidence."

Minister Roe frowned. "It was a Circle matter."

"I knew Solan from my captivity," Kristy admitted. "And I told you, Oliver identified himself."

"You're pulling at straws. She did nothing!" Gigi's eyes narrowed as she tapped her little foot. "Hmm... I wonder why you guys are so eager to declare guilt?"

"Her story makes no sense, Gigi. Remember, witches died." Minister Roe gazed at the weary genie. "I believe you and the One Magi had no time to come up with a plausible story. Didn't think you'd be summoned so quickly, eh?" He turned to the genie leader. "Mistress Fawn, I insist you let us take this genie to our realm for further questioning."

Kristy knew she'd be dead minutes after stepping foot in the witch realm. She held her trembling hand toward Mistress Fawn, appealing to the genie leader with desperation thick in her voice. "First Secretary, mercy... I did nothing!"

Mistress Fawn didn't bother looking at the young genie, her eyes on the pale leader. "I want no bad blood between us. She's yours."

The minister motioned to his guards as Gigi bristled. "Take the girl."

But the guards did not move. The irritated minister glared at them. "I said take her."

At the chamber entrance, Kristy heard a familiar voice filled with the lilt of the English countryside.

"Beg pardon, but it's not their fault, sir. I know Kristy speaks the truth because I was there. So, you shan't touch her."

All heads turned to see the One Magi, pale but determined, standing in the entrance with two giggling children in tow.

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