Those words echoed around in Colin's skull for a bit. " He's probably going to kill you though." Colin slowly glanced over the side of the chair as it teetered and tottered in the brisk winds. The ground was awfully far away. And guaranteed to be fatal. Maybe, just maybe he had some wriggle room with door number two. Moira's phone lit up as she dialed the number, the dim green glow from her screen matched the green painted all over her face. Her stomach was begging for mercy from the distressing sounds that Colin heard coming from it. Well, soon that'll make two of us as he wondered what kind of hulking supernaturally infused angry father awaited him.

Moira pulled the phone to her ear, her other hand desperately clinging to the handlebar on the back of the wheelchair. Colin was so close he could hear the phone ringing. Once. Twice. Thrice. The dial tone droned on. Then there it was. A muffled hello? Was barely audible from the receiver?

" PLEASE COME GET ME DAD I MIGHT HAVE MESSED UP A LITTLE BIT." Colin was unprepared for the shrill verbal assault that plagued his eardrums. The waterworks too. Moira paused for a second to let the response come in.

" WHERE AM I? i'm STUCK HIGH ABOVE THE CITY. Moira gasped for a breath," My levitation spell was just too effective."

There was another pause and muffled talking on the phone.

" Well there is someone else with me, but he's cool I swear. " Moira swelled up another breath," JUST COME GET ME NOW WE CAN TALK ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY LATER!" she choked through some fake tears.

She hung up the phone with a confident smile on her face.

" That's charm not magic by the way." Moira promptly leaned over the side of the chair and emptied the contents of her stomach on whatever unsuspecting thing was below.

Colin was unfazed. Mostly because he was more fazed from some earlier comments. " He's cool? Are you trying to get me killed?" Colin threw his hands up in the air, turning their makeshift aircraft into a rocking chair. Moira clung on tight, her face buried in Colin's shirt " We can worry about that later! He'll be here any minute."

The sky around them crackled and popped, it hummed for a brief second until the crackling gave way to a man. His eyes scanned from behind a pair of lopsided spectacles. The man's eyes moved from Moira curled up with her vomit-covered face pressed against him to Colin himself. Talk about first impressions. Colin gulped.

" Hi, sir." Colin sheepishly let out.

The man or Mr. Greyvale just floated there, not acknowledging Colin's small presence in the sky.

Moira pulled her head from his shirt and let out an excited yell, " Hey dad!"

" Moira. We've got some talking to do, about things." Mr. Greyvale's spectacles were focused directly on Colin.

" Save it for the ground please, pops," Moira called out.

Mr. Greyvale reached forward and grabbed the armrest of the wheelchair. With a snap crackle, and no pop the sky was replaced with a much more forgiving environment, that of a kitchen. Moira sloppily rolled off of his chair and hit the ground with her arms outstretched in a loving embrace. Mr. Greyvale walked towards the table and pulled a gauntlet from his wrist and haphazardly threw it on the table. It was identical to the one that Moira had shown Colin earlier, right down to the mysterious blue liquid-like substance.

Mr. Greyvale tenderly pulled his daughter from the floor and helped her to her feet.

" Are you alright Moira?"

" Never been better," Moira said with a smile. " What a crazy day!! Pretty soon I'll be flying!!"

Mr. Greyvale smiled. " I'm glad, you're ok, but why don't you run off to your room and get changed. You're outfit's looking shabby. And a little green."

Moira looked down at herself." Alright, I'll be right back." She started towards the door. " You better not try anything with my friend while I'm gone, DAD." She threw a look at her father from the doorway before scampering off.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Mr. Greyvale reached back for the gauntlet on the table and slid it back on his hand without saying a word. Mr. Greyvale waited until he heard the door safely close down the hall. He pointed towards the doorway and waved his hand, muttering under his breath. The liquid shone a bright blue for a brief second. He tossed it back on the table and turned towards Colin. The eyes behind the spectacles seemed to readily acknowledge him for the first time.

Mr. Greyvale slowly dragged a chair over to across the floor. He stopped until the chair was a few feet across from Colin. He sat in his seat and took off his glasses, polishing them with a small cloth. Mr. Greyvale's silver beard moved as he talked, " Why don't you tell me about yourself friend."

Very careful now Colin, very careful now. " Well, uh my name's Colin."

" I wish I could say it was nice to meet you Colin, but these days I'm not too trustful of people, with the whole me being a wizard and all. You can understand that right?" Mr. Greyvale finished cleaning his glasses and turned his sullen green eyes on Colin.

" Oh of course!" Colin exclaimed a little too enthusiastically, nodding his head. " You need to keep a low profile, and sir, you seem like you know what you're doing."

Mr. Greyvale's face stayed solemn. " So why are you hanging around with my daughter Colin? Don't they tell you witches are dangerous?"

A bead of sweat formed on the back of Colin's neck. Then another. And another. He smiled. " Ah she recruited me actually," Colin craned his neck towards the doorway." Where is Moira anyway I'm sure she could tell you all about it."

" Ah don't worry about her. " Mr. Greyvale waved his hand." With that little wave earlier I changed the locks in her room." He noticed the look of horror on Colin's face." Don't worry Colin, my daughter is a very smart girl. She'll figure it out in a few minutes, I just wanted a few minutes to talk."

Colin laughed. The sweat on his neck multiplied. You could have just asked, it's not like I'm going to run away."

" Are you using her for her magic Colin, I can see why someone in your position would like a friend that has seemingly limitless power." The sullen green eyes stayed fixated on Colin, watched his every move."

"Well sir, it's not like that I swear she's grown on me... these last few weeks have had their ups and downs but they have been fun. I swear." Colin replied slowly and carefully.

Mr. Greyvale got up from his seat and put his hand on Colin's shoulder.

" It's ok if you are. I won't be mad. If that's the case I can wipe your memory of this whole thing, and I'll do my best to fix you up. The papers will love it, they'll call it a miraculous recovery. They sure do love miracles."

" You.., You can do that?" Colin stammered out without thinking.

" Through magic, you can do just about anything Colin." Mr. Greyvale glanced at the gauntlet on the table. He walked away and sunk back into his seat. " That's why I hate magic, Colin. All it does it cut corners for those looking for power. Maybe it's walking, maybe it's a weapon. The Current's energy was our greatest gift and look where it's gotten us, the near extinction of a group of people and the most catastrophic war the world has ever seen."

" You hate magic? But you're teaching Moira all about it?"

Mr. Greyvale stood up, and spoke." Magic is all I know Colin, without it, we wouldn't be alive, and I do truly hate that fact. But the fact is my daughter is a witch, and therefore every day of her life she is in danger from people. How is she supposed to defend herself, Colin? How am I supposed to protect her?"

There was silence as the two looked at each other. The sullen old eyes made much more sense now. Mr. Greyvale got up and walked to the table and stopped by the sink. With his back to Colin, he spoke," The offer still stands Colin, if you ever want out you know who to talk too."

Moira bounded through the door frame. She sucked in some air and quickly looked at Colin. She thoroughly inspected him and once she was sure that he hadn't been tampered with she let out a quick sigh. She ran up to Mr. Greyvale who had started washing some dishes by hand. " Nice one Dad, you didn't pull any funny business while I was busy with that surprise training session?"

Mr. Greyvale turned his head and smiled." Danger could be anywhere Moira, you can never be too prepared, and look for yourself, didn't touch a hair on his head." Mr. Greyvale put up his hands in a display of innocence.

Moira wasn't convinced. She stood there, her hands on her hips. " No curses?"

Mr. Greyvale went back to washing the dishes." Oh you know me, I couldn't help myself you can never be too safe. I just gave him the usual nothing too serious. If he tries to talk about you, or me to anyone his mind will go empty and he'll be in la-la land for a few seconds. That's all."

Colin looked at his shoulder. He could still feel the spot where Mr. Greyvale had briefly rested his hand.

" I'm right here you know," Colin said

" Oh we know, well why don't take Colin back to where he needs to be Moira, it's getting late."

" Alright, I'll be back in a few," Moira said as she skipped towards Colin. "Well that was fun huh, are you ready to go?" Moira laid her hand on Colin's shoulder.

"I'm ready when you are," Colin responded. The room began to crackle and pop with blue energy.

Colin's gaze was fixated on the back of Mr. Greyvale, who was still slowly washing some dishes. With one final pop, the image of Mr. Greyvale disappeared and was replaced with the familiar setting of the pier and the great sunken warships jutting out from the waves.