Anna stared at the number in the TV in disbelief. She had not, obviously, come all the way to Brazil expecting to get rich. She had come expecting to become powerful. Yet, that brat of a wannabe-necromancer had refused her advances, claming she had to be ready for the gift he would bestow upon her. Excuses! She knew everything there was to know about magic, save for contracting it herself. She was readier than that asshole had ever been.

But then, things had taken quite an unexpected twist. First she had been "saved" by one of the close associates of the person she wanted vengeance upon. Then, the boy with the impossible skill had made them all rich. The money would, for sure, make her plans much easier to accomplish. Yet, she would need magic. She couldn't defeat someone like Heinz Werdin without it. She had also realised she needed some training. First, get "infected" with magic, get someone to teach her and then, find that bastard of an occultist.

Now, the question was: could she just buy someone to give her the power and teach her. Could Azucena? She had not been very specific on how the magic was transferred during the intercourse, and whether it worked between two women. Was it like an awesome AIDS? All that talk of a Blood Ritual made it sound like that. But it was most likely a moot point, since Azucena was now also as rich as she was, and didn't seem like a person who could be bought to do that. The only other person with magic Anna knew was Luca, and, well, he was 12 and she draw the line somewhere. Unless…

She was in the lounge of the dingy hostel she had managed to book after the whole mall incident. There was only one other tenant, who was reading a book and not paying attention to the lottery that had just changed Anna's life, and the clerk, who seemed to be dozing off. The room barely had space for the rundown couch and the oversized TV, but they had somehow managed to squeeze in two tables and a handful of chairs, each and everyone mismatched. She got up and went to the front desk, if such word could be used for the haphazard collection of planks and stools.

"Hey, is there a chatroom nearby?"

The clerk, a young man with dark braided hair, looked up. "Uhhh, I think there's one two streets down. There's a café that has one. I think it's called Sunrise Brew, or something."

She nodded, and left. The lazy clerk just stared, as if expecting a longer conversation. She, however, had no need or patience for small talk.

Turned out, he was right. The place was called Rise & Brew, which was close enough. She ordered a coffee. Black.

"Can I use the chat room?" she asked.

"Occupied," the barista answered in broken English. Plump girl who looked like she had not slept in a century.

"For how long?" Anna asked.

The woman shrugged. "We have an hour, max, but we don't usually enforce it."

"Could you enforce it tonight, so I could get in too?"

"I guess," the barista said with a voice common to every worked who knows they don't get paid enough for this shit. Anna knew that voice very well, as she had used it herself countless times. In bars, cafes, restaurants, once as a guide dressed as a jester in an old castle. It hadn't even been her most humiliating job.

"Thank you," she said and smiled. As she had not received the favour she was asking for, it paid to be polite.

The café comprised of a small round entrance with the bar is self, and a narrow corridor-like space that contained all the tables. None of them had more than two seats, or, admittedly, room for more than two seats. Fortunately, the place was almost empty, and all the tables save one were free.

She sat down and sipped the coffee. It was bitter, but fine. She felt alone. She was often alone and had been for a long time. Ever since… they died. But she rarely felt alone. Solitude was like a warm thick blanket for her, if a blanket that had been bound from the outside. Her own warm and comfy prison. Now, possibly because of her plans entering a complete tailspin, as she had lost her only lead to acquiring magic, she felt like she wanted someone, anyone, to talk to. An accomplice. But there was absolutely no one she could trust. The other girls from the mall had been closest to friends she had had for an eternity, but she doubted they would agree with her plans for vengeance. Azucena wouldn't, for sure, and everyone seemed to look up to her.

The cup was empty. She got another. Then, she got a tea. She didn't even like tea, two coffees were more than enough.

"So, it has been over an hour, right?" she asked while getting the brew.

"I don't know, has it?"

She sighed. "I arrived an hour and a half ago. If the person went in just before it, even then it's been a lot more than an hour."

"Fine, I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you."

The teacup was empty and cold, and the café empty when the chatroom door opened. A man came out, probably around the same age as the barista. They seemed close and affectionate. A spouse or a brother? She wondered.

Anna got up and headed to the chatroom.

"Hey, we're closing–"

"Fuck you," she said, done with pleasantries, and locked the door behind her. Chatrooms were like restrooms, they had no windows and were required to have locks. For privacy.

Finally.

* * *

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Eduardo let out a relieved sigh as detective Souza walked into the office.

"Please, tell me you have good news! I have the Grand Master up my ass, and their patience is really wearing thin."

The woman smiled. "I do have some kind of news, whether they're good – well that depends…"

"Shoot. I'm on a clock here."

The detective nodded and opened the folder she was carrying. "So, we followed up on that mystery scratch-off…"

"The one from the Gail graffiti place?"

"Uh-huh. Turns out, the ticket truly shouldn't exist. It wasn't a computer error or a hacker. The scratch-off had appeared from thin air."

"That's… certainly curious. But not much of a lead, yet."

Souza flashed a smile and opened another page. "Well, yes, this is where it gets interesting."

"Who's that woman?"

"We believe she's a Corrupted One, associated with Laura Ferreira."

"And she is?"

"A woman who cashed in the scratch-off – and won the fucking national lottery the same week."

Eduardo gasped. "Ok, you got my attention."

"The money was placed in a trust fund and our accountants are still digging, but we have reason to believe multiple people were involved. And a boy."

"And a boy."

"He's staying with one of them. We have eyes on Laura, but haven't seen him yet."

"Great, amazing work, again, detective. Now get me an address so I can get our men on the ground."

"Oh, I will. You can expect it in a matter of days."

"Magnificient!"

Eduardo's day had not begun well. His cat had peed on his couch, like they often do, but this tuxedo bastard had started making a habit out of it. Then, the Grand Master had sent another invitation. He had barely had time to come see Souza, but now he was glad he did. Progress.

Finally.

* * *

Azucena was greeted with a smell of fresh tortilla as she the apartment. Fernanda had turned out to be quite a chef.

"Smells amazing," she said as she walked into the kitchen. Things were still a mess and they hadn't had time to sort out even a fraction of the furniture store deliveries.

"You should get your own apartment," Fernanda said. She was leaning on the kitchen isle, drinking a fresh orange juice. Luca was on the couch reading another comic.

"I already have an apartment," Azucena replied, feigning offence.

"You know what I mean."

Azucena sighed. "I like it here." She was honest. It wasn't just that this apartment was miles better than her rundown flat – it was also the company. It felt good to have company, but she was also afraid of how it all would end, again.

Fernanda smiled. "I like having you here."

Azucena shrugged. "It's settled then. I will stay for breakfast."

Fernanda laughed. "Fine, suit yourself!" She grew serious. "Anna sent a message."

"You've had time to go to a chatroom?"

"Turns out they have one on the first floor. Courtesy of the building!"

"Lucky!"

"There seems to be a lot that going around."

The two fell silent. It was true, and, of course, Luca's abilities were to thank for a lot of it. But there had also been a number of lucky coincidences they had not asked for. Azucena had not been ready to discuss it, in the fear of jinxing it. Of course, she knew jinxing something without very specific rituals wasn't an actual thing that existed, but some superstitions were hard to shake off. It seemed clear Fernanda felt the same.

"What did Anna want?"

"She thinks we should have a party to celebrate."

Azucena grimaced. "Uh, risky. I think the less we are seen together, the better."

The other woman looked disappointed. That was not a welcome sight. "I know," she said. "It's just… I do feel we should do one last gettogether, now that everything is, you know, real. And I mean, what are we even afraid of? We didn't do anything wrong."

She was right, Azucena knew, but lately there had been a growing sensation of unease. Everything was going a bit too well, and she knew all too well about the balance of the universe. Some called it karma. It was real. Very real.

"Please? Everyone else agreed already."

"You've been talking behind my back?"

Fernanda looked down. "Maybe?"

Azucena threw her hands. "Alright, alright. But we have to find a secure –"

"I may have already promised my apartment…"

"That's crazy!" Azucena yelled. Luca looked up from his comic. She lowered her voice. "What if someone finds out?"

"Who finds out, Azucena? Who is after us?"

She swallowed. Fernanda was, technically, right. There was absolutely no one after them. Someone had to know about about the boy and his abilities – someone had performed the Blood Ritual to a young child – but there was nothing suggesting they could tie down this exact lottery win to the boy. She had gotten so used to the paranoia, she forgot that not everyone was after her.

Azucena smiled weakly. "No one. I know that no one is after us."

Fernanda's eyes lit up.

"So?"

"We can have the party."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Oh, come on. I am not your mother." Azucena regretted the words the moment their past by her lips. Time froze as they both stared at each other.

"It's ok," Fernanda said. "I know you didn't mean it."

"I should have kept my stupid mouth shut."

"No, no, your mouth is not stupid. It's great. And I'm sure mom and I can sort things out eventually."

"My mouth is great?" Azucena grinned.

Fernanda smiled. "Yes, it's a lovely mouth. Let me show you."

And they kissed.

Finally.