"Where do you think you're going?" Jenny stepped out of her apartment, bag slung over her shoulder, to find her father waiting in the hall with a manic look in his eyes.

"None of your business," she snapped. "Now move aside."

"I won't let you leave," he roared back, blocking the path to the stairs. "You can't leave." As his voice broke, Jenny unwillingly met his gaze.

It wasn't all a lie, she realized then. In the depths of her anger, she'd almost convinced herself that the only thing he cared about was grooming a proper heir. Still, as she looked into her father's eyes, brimming with unexpected moisture, as she saw the sudden lines creasing his face, the slight shaking of his hand, she realized she was being unfair. That didn't excuse his actions, though.

Her steps faltered. "Why?" she asked, ineloquently.

"I did it to protect you, to protect both of you-"

"Don't lie." Jenny scowled as Barbartu butted in. "Although I suppose that's a difficult command to follow. All you do is lie, isn't that right, S̆ar?"

"Shut your mouth," he growled. "She doesn't need you filling her head with your poison."

"Poison?" the goddess smirked. "Is that what you call the truth?"

He took a step forward, fists clenched at his side, and Jenny stepped in between them. "Just shut up, both of you," she yelled. She turned to face Barbartu first. "Can you please stop trying to get a reaction out of him, goddess? And you," she whirled on her father. "Just tell me the truth for once. You're one of the most powerful lords in our city. You could've protected him if you wanted to."

"No, I couldn't have." Her father stepped forward hastily, reaching for her hand, but she backed away, too angry to let him touch her. "They would have killed him for you, you know that."

"Then you could have taken us away from here," she snapped. "You could have trained in magic back on Earth just as well as here."

"Not as well," he countered. "They don't have the resources, the magical density-"

"They have enough," she spoke over him. "But, obviously, I asked for too much. You aren't going to tell me the truth, so just move aside."

"Jenny-" As she tried to step around him, her father moved to grab her, but Barbartu reached him first. The goddess's mask of humanity peeled away as she slammed him into the wall, her taloned fingers digging into his chest.

"Leave her be," Barbartu commanded.

Jenny looked away quickly, not wanting to see the agony distorting his face and half-jogged toward the stairs.

"I didn't want you to grow up to be like that bitch!" he exploded.

Finally, the truth. Jenny paused at the top of the stairs and turned slowly.

"That 'bitch'? You mean our mother?"

"Mother," her father scoffed. "Do you really not remember what she was like? Always coming in and out of your life, loving one minute, angry the next. She abandoned you at the neighbors' for an entire year, for Nerigla's sake."

Jenny winced at the reminder; the recovery of certain sealed memories when she'd been brought to Birat-Aḫis̆ had been an unpleasant one, but unlike her father, she was not so certain that there hadn't been reasons for her actions. Her mother was an unhappy person; she'd lost two loves, and struggled to adapt to the loss of the wealth and world she'd grown up with, but she wasn't cruel. "If you really wanted to protect us, you should have brought him too."

"Why?" he spat. "He was just like her. He had her looks, her smile, even her goddamned magic. There was nothing of me in that boy. You were better off without him."

The fury that blossomed within her made it difficult to speak. "That. wasn't. your. decision," she ground out.

"Maybe not," he admitted. "But if you'd stuck with him, he would have dragged you down. Your magic has blossomed without him, and if this goddess is to be believed," his words choked off as Barbartu's claws tightened.

"I'd be careful, mortal, before implying I'm a liar."

"-then he's come into his own as well," he grit out.

"No thanks to you," Jenny replied coldly and, turning her back on him, took the first step.

"Wait." Her vision flickered as a burst of light flooded the hall, and when she looked back, she saw her father had somehow slipped out of Barbartu's grip and stood next to her.

He raised an open palm as she shrank away. "Just listen," he begged. "I can't stop you from leaving, not with her," he cast a nasty glance at the goddess, "enabling you. At least let me send you off properly - supplies, spells, a goodbye?" his voice broke a little. "Please?"

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As much as she wanted to curse him out, Jenny couldn't quite find her voice as the enormity of what she was doing crashed down on her. Sure, she was absolutely furious at him but, aside from the whole 'making her believe her brother was dead' thing, he'd been a good dad. Her life had taken a turn for the better from the moment he'd taken her away. She didn't want to lose him, and yet she couldn't live with herself if she abandoned her brother. I want both of them.

She bit her lip, cursing her indecision as she saw the hope ignite in her father's eyes, but she finally nodded her head. "Fine. I will allow you time to arrange provisions."

"And a proper goodbye feast? You know-"

"Yes, I know." Though she rolled her eyes, Jenny understood the importance of the request. As her father's only heir, she knew his position amongst the council would suffer if she disappeared without an explanation. It wouldn't matter, she supposed, if she planned to never return, but Jenny knew now that wasn't an option. She would either find a way to live in both worlds or, if that wasn't a possibility, she could always resort to a little kidnapping of her own. I'm sure Jasper would love it here, once he got used to it. She glanced over at the goddess. "Are you willing to wait one week?"

Barbartu looked disappointed at the question, but shrugged. "What's a week to an immortal?"

"It's a shame I didn't know your father was looking for an apprenticeship for you. If he had only asked us, we would have been more than happy to take you." Jenny smiled politely as the windbag in front of her finished talking. Even if she really were embarking on an apprenticeship, House Araq would never have been considered, for though their treasury was vast, their talent in magic was thin at best, but there was no value in pointing that out to the man.

"I'm sure my father would have been delighted to receive your offer, Lord Araq, but the choice wasn't entirely his."

The man's brows scrunched together. "You mean you would have turned us down? I thought you were good friends with Gabrîl."

She was, in fact, quite close to his son, and there'd even been a time when she'd hoped their friendship would develop into something more, so her smile was genuine as she shook her head. "You misunderstand, Lord Araq. It is not you whom I would turn down. Much as I love this city, not all of my family is here. I begged Father to find an apprenticeship that would allow me to spend some time with them."

"Ah," the lord's frown eased, "It's been so long since your father brought you back, I'd almost forgotten you weren't born here. Is the apprenticeship with your mother's family, then?" he asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity as he prodded for information on the mysterious mother S̆arru never talked about.

"No, he'd never allow that," she lied easily - for Jenny was past the point of caring what her father allowed - "but it will give me the chance to get to know them."

"Well, you'll be dearly missed, Jenny. I know Gabrîl will be most disappointed he wasn't here to see you off."

"It's a shame he couldn't be here," she agreed, "but one must strike when the opportunity presents itself."

"Indeed." With a final goodbye, Lord Araq wandered off to the table, leaving her a moment to breathe.

When she'd agreed to delay her departure, she had fully expected to spend the week fending off her father's desperate attempts to get her to stay. She'd steeled her heart for the inevitable conflict, his begging, raging, crying, but the expected storm had never come. Much to her surprise, he'd shown up at her door the next morning and told her he understood that she had to do what she had to do. Then he pulled out a list detailing the supplies he was preparing for her, as well as plans for a going-away party.

"I've decided the best way to explain your absence will be to say you're apprenticing with another House. I've got a Fey who owes me favor, and he's already agreed to cover for you. As far as the city is concerned, you'll be traveling with him for a while. Everyone knows how the Fey are, so no one will be surprised if your apprenticeship ends sooner - or later - than expected," he'd explained bluntly. She'd agreed to the ruse, and thus she found herself staring at a room bustling with nearly every notable in the city.

Just a few more hours. She closed her eyes, willing the night to end, when an unfamiliar voice greeted her.

"You must be Jenny." The voice oozed charm, and as she flit her eyes open, she saw the man very much matched the voice. With long black hair, bright green eyes, and a perfect smile on his bronzed cheeks, the man in front of her was a walking embodiment of the Fey.

Damn it, dad. Don't tell me you actually arranged an apprenticeship for me to keep from going. She tried to keep her composure, but the man must have noticed something in her eyes as his smile dimmed.

"Let me guess, S̆ar didn't tell you I was coming."

She glanced around before responding, making sure no one was close enough to overhear, and lowered her voice. "I'm afraid, my lord, my father may have misled you. I am not looking for an apprenticeship, but to find my brother."

"No, your father told me of your plans, but who says you can't have both?"

"Pardon?" Her brows knit in confusion.

"Oh, how this would be easier if you just learned to communicate, S̆ar," the man muttered beneath his breath before responding. "Look, your father has accepted that he cannot stop you from searching for your brother, but he is afraid to trust you with that goddess."

"Barbartu hasn't tried him."

"No, and she probably won't - but she's playing some game with you, isn't she?" the man countered shrewdly.

"She wants me to accept her offer rather than wait for my brother's patron goddess," Jenny admitted.

"And that's why your father called in his favor with me. Let me travel with you - I can keep an eye on the goddess and, if you'd like, I can even tutor you."

Jenny hesitated. The appeal of being mentored by a Fey was almost overwhelming and since her father had used a favor for his services, she knew the price was already paid. Yet, she wasn't entirely convinced yet that this wasn't some plot by her father to prevent her from reaching Jasper. "You won't interfere in my search for Jasper?"

"On the contrary, I'm willing to help you reach him. I will only step in and stop your plans if I believe the goddess is tricking you into doing something harmful," he promised. "But other than that, I'm really rather curious to see his world. It isn't one I've visited before."

"I'll want that in writing. Clear, simple phrases, nothing you can wiggle your way out of," she finally agreed. "But if you'll do that, I guess you can come."

"Splendid." The man grinned easily and held out his hand. "By the way, I don't think I introduced myself. I'm Alberon."

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