Zachary didn't know if Ms. Jezebel believed them or not. Maybe she thought Mona and Haden had cracked under the terror of the attack and lost their mind, but, after a strangely nervous glance at Sophronia's limp form, Ms. Jezebel explained what had happened.

"That Governor,” she started, the word laced with venom. Zachary noted how different she spoke of him now compared to how she'd taught Sophronia to be proper. "His latest decree, that anyone who employed the use of magic, is to be exterminated. His words. I'd come to warn you after catching one of his Night Cloaks near my house. I'm sorry. I was too late.”

Haden's eyes went wide. The claw marks glistened down his face, two of which cut through his nose and lips. Dried blood stuck to his cheeks and his nose. He looked furious. "What?"

Mona sat beside her husband, holding onto her daughter, her hands trembling as though she didn't know what to do. Should she console Haden or hold onto Sophronia? "Why would the Governor do that?" she asked.

Ms. Jezebel grit her teeth. Then she looked at Sophronia again. "He's a coward. He's a blasted coward who thinks one day we will rise up against him and that one amongst us will overthrow him."

Haden sighed, and Zachary knew what he was thinking. The Rebellion. The magic users who were trying to sow discord and remove the Governor from his position. But Zachary couldn't understand why that was a bad thing. Clearly, the Governor was messed up in the head if he'd ordered a goddamn genocide.

"It's genocide," whispered Mona as though she'd heard Zachary's thoughts. But he didn't get a chance to react as Ms. Jezebel continued.

"Rollo has his Night Cloaks pasting their symbol on everyone's door, descendants of Nodai or otherwise." She pointed dramatically to the paper that had been stuck on the front door. The octagon with triangles. The bizarre-looking sun that had glowed a violent red before the Hound attacked. "It's loaded with a special charge, a trigger, so that whenever anyone uses magic, something of suitable rank will be summoned to eliminate them."

“How efficient,” said Mona bitterly.

Haden shook his head. "We were all asleep. Mona. Me. Sophronia was asleep too. I know. I checked on her before we turned in. I-"

Mona glanced up at the ceiling, and Zachary felt a pang of guilt. He'd been the one who used magic. He'd grown his body. The house. He'd expanded the rooms. It had been his magic that triggered the symbol! He'd accidentally brought the Daemonic Hound upon them. But Mona didn't seem mad, and she didn't even voice the accusation. She wrapped her arms around Sophronia. Haden had more questions. And Ms. Jezebel tried to answer.

“I'm sorry, Haden. I don't know. My own home was attacked. By morning... I dread to think how many... I must go. Please. I rushed here as quickly as I could for your daughter’s sake. For your sake. Join us, Haden. Mona. We have to warn everyone. Even the slightest bit of magic will trigger it."

“They laid a goddamn trap,” spat Haden. He clenched his jaws, and blood ran down his face. “I worked so hard...” He shook his head. “I don't know... Why is this happening? How do you even know?"

Then she explained something nobody saw coming. With a sad smile, she raised her left sleeve and showed Haden and Mona, as well as Zachary who hovered close, the shiny crescent moon mark on her weathered forearm. Her veins stuck out against her skin. It was like she was made out of paper; she was so old. And the crescent had a silver glow, as though it was alive. "I have been with the Rebellion all my life. I'm sorry you had to find out this way.”

Haden closed his eyes. He was shaking. Mona swallowed hard, staring at the crescent moon with bulging eyes. Zachary knew what they thought of the rebellion. What it meant to them. They’d trusted Ms. Jezebel. He’d trusted her too. She’d been such a good teacher to Sophronia.

Did this mean trouble?

Ms. Jezebel was already standing. Her face was stern again, but she looked vulnerable. Afraid. "I have to go. There are other families I have to check on and warn. How many will wake up in the morning, use a simple spell and suddenly....” She grimaced. But before she stepped out the broken doorway, she turned and her eyes flashed. “I have not told the Rebellion of Sophronia. She is my student. I would not put her in such harm. I care for the child. She has a great part to play in all this.” And before anyone could react to her simultaneously reassuring and ominous words, she'd rushed down the pathway to the gate and vanished.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Wind blew in through the open door, carrying in snowflakes and a chill. Zachary tried to relax, his insides groaning. Mona's hands were on Haden's face, silver light glowing softly.

"It's not healing," she said, her voice breaking. “Maybe Sophronia can...”

"No," said Haden, sternly as he grasped Mona's hands. Then his face softened when he realized he'd been too brunt. He tried to smile, but with the gruesome claw marks, it only made him look worse. "Ms. Jezebel is right. We have to warn our neighbors. That Symbol is recharging right now, look at it. Once it’s red again, we’ll be in danger.”

“What?” whispered Mona, squinting at her husband. “Let me heal you right now then. Before it...”

“Ms. Jezebel knows more than the both of us combined,” he said, but there was a bitterness when he said her name now. “If her magic couldn’t heal this then... we need to help our neighbors. She might be part of the Rebellion but she’s right.”

“I can’t believe it,” said Mona. Her shaking hands dropped away and she scrunched up her face. “I can’t believe it. Sweet Ms. Jezebel.”

"Rebellion or not," said Haden, standing with a grunt. He walked over to the door where it hung off its bottom hinge. The top hinge was bent impossibly, and Zachary felt Haden’s every step across the burnt bits of the floor. Grasping the sides, and with another guest, Haden raised the door back into place. He stared at the paper. "The Crown of Cerulea," he said, touching the sun symbol with his fingertips. He sighed heavily as Mona picked up Sophrona in her arms, the girl's chin resting on Mona's shoulder. She walked over to Haden and placed her free hand on his shoulder.

“Do you remember what I always said?” she asked quietly.

Haden nodded, his mouth pressed tight. "We can't make a better world for her without..."

"Without a fight." She smiled encouragingly then passed Sophronia to Haden before he could object.

"What are you-?” he asked, one arm holding Sophronia up, one hand on her hair to steady her head. He looked alarmed.

"You're in no condition for this," said Mona bluntly. She stuck out her chin, in the same way Sophronia always would when she knew she was right. "Your magic is completely out of practice. And you're injured. I'm gonna go help Ms. Jezebel."

"No. Wait-"

Mona smiled warmly. She pulled a knife out of her pocket. "I'll be okay," she said confidently. "And if I can warn people before anyone uses magic, we won't have to face anything."

Even Zachary wanted to protest. Mona hadn't been able to put up any fight against the Hound. But in her defense, she'd been trying to shield Sophronia and she'd been caught completely off guard. But more than anything, Zachary felt so guilty. I'm so sorry, he wanted to tell them. But what good were apologies if he couldn’t make amends?

And as if she really could hear him, Mona touched the broken doorframe. "Keep them safe, House." Then she grabbed her coat from where it hung near the bedroom and rushed out the door, even as Haden continued protesting and saying it should be him. But it was obvious he was in no condition. He could barely stand and it took all his effort to hold Sophronia. Hurrying around town, he'd be too slow and likely to get injured further. If there was a fight? He wouldn't last long at all.

"Tell her what’s going on," she said quickly. Mona kissed his cheek and wiped away some blood. Then she kissed the back of Sophronia's hair and hurried out into the night, her dark coat billowing behind her as she held her head high. Zachary opened the gate for her, feeling helpless, and she rushed down the block, vanishing from view.

If only I wasn't so weak.

If only I wasn't so pathetic.

If only I hadn't-

"House?" called Haden, a hint of uncertainty in his voice as he walked around with Sophronia in his arms. He looked up at the ceiling. "I... I’m... uh, thank you for helping us."

Zachary hovered in front of Haden. Not sure what he should do. If he could even do anything, but something about Sophrona's dad thanking him jostled his freeze response loose. And he remembered the only time Silver light shone from him was during the Size Update. When he used Ingestion or Poltergeist, there was no light. And his attempts at removing the paper hadn't activated it, so he was confident he wouldn’t trigger the symbol.

He could still use some of his abilities. And to respond to Haden's gratitude, Zachary shut the broken door gently, the cracked wood rippling and breaking. His hinge was completely bent out of position, but Haden stared at the door, holding Sophronia’s head with one hand. The claw marks glistening on his face. Then he nodded like they’d both come to some agreement and turned away, carrying Sophronia back to her bed.

He tucked her in gently and kissed her forehead. Then he grimaced and wiped away the blood he’d smeared on her face. The girl was fast asleep, her face flushed. She'd overexerted herself, and as strong as she was, as strangely powerful as she was, this was another reminder that she was still just a little girl. She’d looked so fearsome floating in the dining room surrounded by golden light, sweeping the Daemonic Hound off her father with a blow from the table.

The more Zachary thought about it, the more he wondered if she’d completely gone all out. She’d been very adept at moving things around with her magic, and they’d never tired her out like this before. He wondered if she’d released too much Essence all at once, causing her to shut down like this. Or maybe it was a trauma response.

Haden was whispering something to her. It sounded like words of comfort and love, and Zachary didn't listen out of respect. But he waited outside until Haden walked back to the dining room and sat cross-legged on the floor where his blood stained the wood. The door didn’t sit properly in the frame anymore, but Zachary held it in place. A few snowflakes drifted in through a crack, and Haden waited. And Zachary waited with him. They both waited for Mona to return.