The Erotic Mind-Control Story Archive

Aurora sighed as she fell back onto her cousin’s bed. It was Sunday night. She’d spent the weekend almost entirely with her aunt. She’d learned no great truths or felt any closer to her mother. She’d learned facts aplenty, but they were all unsatisfying. There were no home movies to watch. Photo albums were depressingly vacant of crucial details—like her mother’s voice. Knowing more than she ever did in the past, she felt the loss of her mother even more.

Hands behind her head, Aurora stared blankly at the ceiling. It was hard not to mull over the things she didn’t know. She’d seen video of her mother. She’d heard her voice. Susan had voted against recording the birth citing her own agony, but she had video from the next day.

She’d almost broken the tape in a fit of rage when she was in grade school. It was taking a lot to suppress the memory of Sylvia being the one to calm her down.

“Mommy . . . Olivia . . . You never told anyone the full story of how you got your power. There are so many little blanks. I wish you could be here to answer them . . . or that Hope could be here to distract me. Can’t believe she’s working all weekend, but . . . why would she avoid me?” Aurora tried not to answer her own question as she closed her eyes tight.

Spending time with Julie was great, except that it made her realize what she was missing. It was hard not to wonder what her life would be like if she still had Olivia. It was hard not to be upset with her for taking the blast that killed Sarah.

There’d still been two of her, then.

“You loved Sarah that much . . . and me. I know you did it for me, too. Just like how Mom gave up The Lady . . . for me . . . and what have I done to earn those sacrifices?” Aurora slowly melted her metal out over her hands. She held them in front of her, watching the metal as it melted out from within. “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if there was a little less Aurora and a little more Electrum. I owe them both so much. I owe Sylvia’s mother . . .”

Aurora forced her hands to melt back to flesh, and sighed as she let them fall to her sides. She knew it was unreasonable to ask herself to be Electrum any more than she already was, to put her life as Aurora on the back burner, but it was an appealing thought.

As she fell asleep, she wondered how Sarah was able to give up Patina after she got her powers back.

Rebeca was working. She was working all weekend to make up for lost time. Every last tweak and optimization she could find was already performed five times over. She was running out of legitimate reasons to be working, but she still couldn’t find a way to be able to make the dinner with Aurora.

I need to smash that fucking helmet. I can see what it’s doing to her. It’s not safe. Her mind latched onto it in a way it . . . never did that . . . never was supposed to. Did I make it too good, too strong, after Amy left? Or does she maybe . . .

A window otherwise full of code now also contained her thoughts. Deftly, and desperately, she scrambled to delete them before an auto save might keep a copy on the company server. Fuck that was close . . . Proximiti did say that lights, colors, had a powerful affect on her. Could that be it? Did I tap into something, or was I why Proximiti had such an easy time at fucking her brain out? Not that I think I would have fared much better, but . . . I should tell her, but . . .

It was 3:00am. There was no reason she couldn’t be at home. Her house was wired in to the company’s network through a very secure connection. She’d done everything short of dragging networking cable across the city. The encryption included some of the same improvements she’d given her HQ’s network.

Of course they were entwined a little tightly, but she tried not to think of yet another way she wasn’t using all of her brain. Embarrassment hardly began to describe the way she felt. “I need to do it . . . I need to tell her, to . . . Make it up to her . . .”

Rebeca stiffened as smoke blew across her monitor. “But you won’t. Will you?” Tunnel adjusted her sunglasses before staring at the burning end of her cigarette. “Sorry. I let myself in.”

“You need to stop doing that.” Rebeca sighed as her hands rose up to hide her face. “You need to stop giving my security guards selective amnesia. One of them will notice. Eventually. Anyway, how long have you been there?”

Tunnel shrugged as she took another purposeful long drag of her cigarette before leaning over Rebeca to blow a second stream of gray over her screen. “Long enough to know you’re still playing the same game with Aurora that you did with the last two. This time it works, and you have second thoughts.” Tunnel smirked, holding her cigarette to Rebeca’s lips. “The blonde wig never suited you. You’re a bad girl. Just admit it. Then tell her. Or make it so she knows and doesn’t care.”

“Sometimes when you talk like that, I remember why we broke up.” Rebeca’s dark eyebrows narrowed as she stared at the end of the filter before taking a long drag and blowing it over her screen just like her friend had. “But that was also why we started fucking, wasn’t it?”

Tunnel nodded, pulling the cigarette back. “Your school-girl crush on mind control. Ever going to tell lover girl about any of that? I’d recommend against it. You’re making this way too complicated. Is she really worth more than just a sport fuck? Her mom is kinda dangerous, too. She ever figures out what you did to her little girl, and you’ll be seeing silver for a week. Might be stuck with her if you aren’t willing to get a new face. Would be a shame too. I like the way your face fucks.”

“Tune it down, just a little? This is serious . . .” Rebeca narrowed her eyes at the code on her screen. It was elegant in its complexity, just a series of rules, but flexible rules. Too flexible for ten years ago, and Rebeca worried it was too flexible still, but it held up to test after test.

Aurora’s use of the helmet, and her reactions, had inspired her new breakthrough. Minimal, incremental, but it was a huge upgrade to the interface she’d been building. It wasn’t enough to compare it to a hardwired interface, but it was a leap forward.

It was simple. It just allowed for quicker use of certain virtual applications. It allowed for quicker reading of lengthy documents and higher retention. But at the core it held algorithms that she doubted could have been fetched from any other mind. Now the girl was falling in love with her, and it was mutual. She hadn’t planned on that. I just wanted some inappropriate touching and to feel safe that she wasn’t still a plant by The Syndicate . . . She’s just so disarming, so genuine, so . . . she’s adorable.

Her fingers picked up where they left off. They were coding the most basic of virtual applications: a help window. She could have written it in her sleep. She’d once woken with one half-written in front of her and had to fight to convince herself she’d written at least most of it before her eyes closed. She kept having to delete obvious typos.

“You’re having a hard time because you’re not honest with yourself. You know what I said the other day was true. You don’t trust anybody. Nothing wrong with that, except that you don’t trust yourself.” Tunnel turned the coder’s empty cup into an ashtray before moving her hands to massage her friend’s shoulders. “Get it over with. Fuck her brains out.”

Rebeca groaned as she melted back in her chair. Her hands fell away from the keyboard as her head fell back, resting against Tunnel. “Nnnn . . . You really do have amazing hands. I really . . . I think I’m starting to really care about her.”

“Another mistake. She’s not smart enough for you. Then again . . . she’s hot, a little short, but a pretty nice rack. You could still do better. You could grab something that would be in love with you by now even without your pretty little toy. You know you could. Is it her mother? Is that what gets you going?” Tunnel’s lips were so close to Rebeca’s ear as she spoke, almost brushing. “If that’s all it takes, I imagine you’d just need some silver body paint. I think I know a place . . .”

“Stop it . . .” Rebeca’s voice hardly protested. Her body hardly protested as Tunnel’s hands slid down from her shoulders and started rubbing along the curves of her chest. “I mean it. I know she’s a little naive, but she’s fun, cute . . . bright-eyed . . . I think I want more than a fuck buddy out of her.”

Tunnel rolled her eyes behind her glasses before her hands stopped kneading. They stayed still on Rebeca’s shoulders for a long time, just warm weight. It took a minute or two for her right hand to smack the back of Rebeca’s head.

“Ow! What the fuck was that for?” Rebeca narrowed her eyes after fluttering them open. “I like her. She’s more than just a pair of metal tits. She’s a lot more. You seemed to really like her, before tonight. Were you just enjoying watching her squirm? That’s so like you. I don’t know how you manage to deal with having the same women on our team for so long. Psiona and Flower aren’t going anywhere . . . and I know you knew about Psiona, you secret-keeping bitch. At least you don’t argue when I don’t trust you.”

“I wouldn’t if I was you, heroine.” Tunnel laughed as she lit a new cigarette. “You were right about that at least. Having something to do with my nights keeps me out of trouble. Plus it’s such a mind fuck to think of myself as making the world a better place. I’d rather just watch it burn, and use it to chain-smoke.”

Rebeca opened a new window on her screen, a black one, and used it as a mirror to watch Tunnel behind her. “I know. I dunno why, but on you it’s endearing. Still . . . I can’t do it. I just can’t bring myself to do it. I need to tell her.”

Tunnel sighed and rolled her eyes as she slid her cigarette between Rebeca’s lips while she rubbed a smudge off her glasses using her shirt. “All right. Go nuts. Tell her all you want. Tell her that you condition your girlfriends using mind control software you designed, and that you’re a super heroine on the side to make up for it, to find a positive application. But if you do that, you’ll have to tell her you fucked me in your office when you told her you couldn’t spend time with her because you were working.”

“How the fuck long have you . . .” Before deciding she didn’t want to know, Rebeca took a drag off her friend’s cigarette before holding it out invitingly. “Besides, I’m not going to fuck you. I really need to work. I need to—”

With hardly a pause, Tunnel let her coat pool around her feet. Her small black dress lightly glittered as her hands reached up, crossing over her chest as she slid the straps from her shoulders using opposite hands. Her breasts jiggled as her arms pushed them together. Her dress met her coat on the floor. Her panties were tight and black. Rebeca remembered the pair fondly.

She was half sure she’d bought them for Tunnel herself. It was hard to think clearly. Tunnel crawled up into her lap, straddling her, and Rebeca mewled. She felt her hands knead as soon as Tunnel pressed Rebeca’s palms against her bare breasts.

Pale nipples hardened into diamond points. Rebeca’s fingertips grasped, tugging, twisting moans out of the pale woman whose lips trembled as they slid into a grin. Rebeca shuddered as she twisted them more while staring up at Tunnel’s sunglasses.

She was thankful Tunnel was wearing them, even if she already felt she’d lost control. She knew she’d love every moment. She always did.

“I didn’t know you owned clothes like that. They look very . . . nice on you.” Julie smiled as Aurora emerged from Mia’s room wearing the same outfit she had to the interview with Proximiti. “Black looks good on you.”

“It’s a little slutty.” Aurora tugged down at the skirt wistfully and sighed. Trying not to blush, Julia nodded. “It was a gift. Why would a gift be anything short of slutty? I like it though, and it’s the fanciest outfit I own. I want to look good. It’s not a date or anything, but it’ll be the first time I’ve hung out with either Flora or Heather without Rebeca and Ashley around. I want to look good. Plus Heather is a thousand times prettier than me. Least I can do is show a little leg.”

Julia laughed as she reclined on the couch. The television before her flipped through the channels as she lazily clicked the remote. Aurora made a mental note to follow any of her mother’s advice and catch up with the news after she got home.

She still felt wrong that Rebeca was paying for the dinner, but Psiona was so insistent. So was Rebeca. She almost felt guilty, but Aurora couldn’t imagine what it was that she should be feeling guilty about. They both knew Proximiti hadn’t been Rebeca’s fault, but it was the only event she could imagine. Aurora had gotten far past worrying that her mother had anything to do with their relationship.

Smiling, her aunt stood up and looked Aurora over and gave a thumbs up. “If I was your mother, I’d tell you to wear that with an actual skirt instead of a belt, or some pants . . . but I get to be the cool aunt. No way anybody is looking better than you tonight.”

“You’re silly . . .” Aurora’s cheeks darkened to a deep rose. “Very silly. Anyway, I dunno when I’ll be back. If anything happens . . . well . . . you’ll see it on the news. Best case scenario. Oh and uhm . . . could you maybe . . . do me a little favor?”

Julia tilted her head faintly and smiled a little more. “Anything I can. You’ve been through a lot lately. A lot. Maybe a little too much for a woman your age.”

“Heh . . .” Aurora knew it was true, and she knew she was already in over her head, but there didn’t seem to be a good way to respond besides agreeing, which seemed like admitting defeat. “I can take care of myself. Bullets can’t do jack, and I can fry minds. I just . . . if you could call my mom for me, tell her I’m okay, ask her if she’s heard from Sylvia? Tell her I miss her?”

Worry fell over Julia’s face. Aurora still hadn’t told her why she’d left Midas. Every time she felt comfortable enough to tell her, she worried the hugs would stop and that she’d be back on Aureus heading home to Midas.

Or, she’d be on Aureus heading to Rebeca’s. That was more likely. It was a lot closer.

Julia looked about ready to ask, just like she had countless times before, but then just sighed. “Okay. You might want to think about calling her, too. I know you’ve called her since you got here, but you’re hundreds of miles away. Hell, even Mia calls me more often. Or emails, but I know you’re a little bit of a technophobe.”

“—I am not a technophobe! I just . . . I’m not very good at them, and when I was a kid it would get me angry, and I fried one. So I’m a little tech dumb. That’s all.” She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms with a huff. “Besides, I don’t think Mom even has one. Sarah, anyway. And that was who I meant. I mean Valerie is my mom too, but . . . no, not now, not tonight. Tonight is about fun. Not pulling a Sarah tonight!”

Julia laughed and shook her head with a faint quirk of a grin. “I’ll call her. Just think about staying in closer contact? Last time I spoke to her she was really worried about you. She wouldn’t tell me why, but I think that was to respect your privacy. Whenever you feel like opening up to me about that, feel free, but for now . . . well I’ll call her in a bit. You just scoot off to your big dinner.”

Aurora forced herself to smile and give her aunt a thumbs up before she slid outside. Even though they were going out as themselves, Psiona, the only one of them that owned a car, decided it was better they meet away from home just in case anyone recognized them.

The walk wasn’t far, but Aurora still didn’t quite have the heels down. She’d left with an hour to reach a spot twenty minutes away, but it just meant she showed up ten minutes early, and Flora was already there waiting.

It was hard for Aurora not to wonder about Flora. She was always a plant. Anyone that wanted to track her down just had to ask about the green-skinned cutie with flowers in her hair. Aurora wondered if that ever got to her, but tried not to show it as she waved to her friend. Even if she wanted to be more Electrum, that night was not the night for it. They were Flora, Heather and Aurora.

There was no room for capes.

Flora was dressed very simply in a tie-dye dress that was flowing and loose except for between the lower curve of her breasts to just below her hips. Her feet were covered in adorable brown leather boots with a cute hint of fringe hanging off of them. Something about the flowers in her hair seemed more vibrant than usual, but Aurora couldn’t quite describe in her mind the way the petals were almost glowing.

She felt a little underdressed, but quickly acknowledged she didn’t have a lot to choose from. It was her interview outfit or jeans and a t-shirt, and she decided jeans would be more of a second-dinner sort of thing. She hoped there would be a second.

Flora was leaning back against a tree in the small park as she waited for Aurora. When she caught sight of the auburn-haired woman she waved. “Hey there, Aurora! Good to see you. I hope you’re still feeling fine after what happened. You seemed unharmed, but seemed and were, well . . . I admit, I was worrying about you. I really should have stopped her sooner.”

“Hey, makes up for when we met, right? I still don’t remember, but I’m still sorry.” Aurora forced a smile as she waved back. Not remembering, a hole in her memory, was more worrying to her than she wanted to admit. She had no clue about the things she might have done before she attacked Flora.

It wasn’t too big of a worry since The Spiral was locked away, but it was a vague specter of a worry that kept half-nagging. Something about what she wasn’t remembering was important, she was almost sure, but that didn’t help her remember.

“Really, I guess if one of us shouldn’t be blaming ourselves, neither of us should. We couldn’t really help it.” Flora’s voice was so calm and warm that Aurora found herself smiling the more she listened. It wasn’t hypnotically warm, or even sexually warm, it was warm like sunshine. It was warm like a hug. Idly she wondered what kind of a mother Flora would make. Realizing her odd train of thought Aurora shook her head and smiled a little more. “Something bothering you, Aurora? You have the strangest look on your face.”

“No. Well, not really. My mom called it the ‘LaSilvas Mental Inquisition’. It means I’m just thinking about nothing way too much. Sorry.” Aurora rubbed at her cheek as if she could scrub off the blush. “You’re right though. She’d probably agree, too, now that I think about it. I think she’d like you.”

Flora smiled and glowed a little brighter. Aurora had seen a woman that actually glowed and glittered—she was such a woman—but Flora glistened like a wet leaf or a flower rising from a patch of frost in the bright morning sun.

“She should be here soon. She’s usually a little late when we hang out. Don’t worry.” Aurora nodded along as she crossed her arms and looked around impatiently. “You need to learn how to relax. You’re very highstrung. It’s strange how different you are when you’re Aurora. You’re a lot calmer when you’re metal.”

Maybe she’s right. Maybe what I need isn’t to stop being Aurora, but change how I feel about being Aurora. Maybe I just have to be a little more Electrum without sacrificing her alter ego. That does sound a lot healthier, too. Aurora smiled as she thought to herself, this time not bothering to shake off the awkward look after. “Huh. Thanks. I don’t think I ever noticed that before. Silly what titles and names can do to a girl. I wonder if more . . . normal people deal with similar issues. I guess I’ve never known a lot of very normal people.”

“You aren’t likely to meet very many. Some would argue the concept itself is a bit of a myth.” Psiona’s familiar voice chimed in thoughtfully, instantly brightening Aurora’s smile. “Nice to see you, too. Sorry I’m late. Work kept me a little late. I’d go into detail, but honestly, as soon as I’m out that door, if those people still existed or even vaguely mattered to me, I think I’d go absolutely insane.”

Aurora turned and waved at Heather with a bright smile. It was hard not to be a little jealous of the woman. After all she might be a mousy girl underneath she was a redheaded bombshell at an unconscious thought. She wore clothes that defied physics and logic.

It was almost enough to tempt Aurora to take her grandmother up on her offer of magic lessons.

Heather hugged Flora with a bright smile, waving back to Aurora after. It was hard for Aurora to believe that Heather was really an entirely different woman just under a thin layer of illusion. It was just as hard for Heather to believe at a glance that Aurora was the same woman that took one of her telekinetic punches. She’d seen them break bones, and she hadn’t been holding back against the metal maiden.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m a financial sinkhole, sponge, leech, whatever, right now so I don’t really get the right to even start to complain that you’re a little late. You’re giving us a ride. That’s enough.” Aurora smiled just a little more as she looked up to the sky. “Too bad Rebeca isn’t covering gas.”

“Oh, she is. She’s also covering lobster. Ever had good lobster, and I mean really good lobster? Arthropods. They’re the ultimate insectoid evolution of foodstuffs. You have not lived until you have some. I know this great little place downtown. Costs an arm and a leg, and probably over a month of my salary to eat out with two.” Heather grinned. “Of course that’s chump change to someone like Rebeca, so it doesn’t really mater. Really. Bitch owes me if she thinks I’m at all in the mood to cover her ass in a fight right now.”

Flora winced a little, but not nearly as much as Aurora did. The ripples of animosity were anything but minimal. It was impossible to deny the issue had been going on for long before Tunnel’s unintentional reveal. Aurora was tempted to ask, but resisted the urge. She had enough questions to ask about Rebeca that she didn’t want clouded.

Heather shrugged with an apologetic smile. It didn’t help her sound especially gentle that she was wearing a blue dress that while nowhere near as revealing or wispy as Psiona’s natural attire, had the same ethereal weave. Though, it could be considered the slightest bit more appropriate for outdoor use. She looked elegant, sexy, and powerful. Aurora again was very thankful the woman was on her side. She wasn’t sure how quick she’d react to just the right sickeningly sweet smile from the beautiful mentalist.

For a split second Aurora considered slutting up her own attire a little, but realized if she felt uncomfortable in clothing that was revealing when she was flesh-toned, her uniform was probably slutty enough.

“Sounds good. And if I’m feeling like a cannibal, I can grab some salad on the side!” Flora grinned as her lips pressed to Heather’s cheek. “Sorry. Only as cannibal as you eating a chicken, but I’d been working on that one all day. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all . . .” Heather smiled a little warmer as she took a step back and motioned for Aurora to follow. “Flora gets shotgun because otherwise she gets seasick, but the backseat is more comfortable anyway. Come little girl, get in my car and I’ll give you lots of candy.” Her voice was a part flirtatious, a part teasing, and Aurora wasn’t sure which of the million rationalizations made her blush.

Not trusting her voice, she decided instead to just nod, and couldn’t help but notice Flora and Heather holding hands on the way to the car. There was something undeniably adorable about the thought of the gorgeous, dignified, illusion-clad psionic being in love with the naturally beautiful, calm and relaxed, hippie-imitating plant lady.

It takes all kinds . . . Aurora didn’t mind sitting in the backseat one bit.

The restaurant Psiona had chosen, the Doré Dim, was the most expensive-looking restaurant Aurora had ever seen. Aurora did her best not to contemplate just how much they really were charging to Rebeca’s card. The price of water at a place like that had to be enormous. She knew the menus wouldn’t even list prices. Instantly she wished that Rebeca had found a way to show up.

“I’m way too underdressed for this place, Heather. You, are too underdressed for this place. I feel like I need a tie or a tiara. Maybe both. Think I could pull it off?” Aurora quipped nervously as she opened the door for Heather and Flora. “After you two. I imagine I’m a little bit of a third wheel.”

“What? No! We want to get to know you! You’re Aurora from Midas, but there’s a lot more to know about you. And Rebeca is paying, so what’s not to love?” Flora’s voice and smile felt warmer than the sun and more soothing than a cool breeze. Aurora still felt a bit like an intruder, but at least she felt like a welcome one. “Least I can do. I mean you don’t mind, do you Heather? We like you, Aurora. Honestly, you’ve been nice to have around. You’re friendly, perky, and youthful! And amazingly sound-headed when you let yourself be. Don’t know why we wouldn’t want you along.”

Aurora’s cheeks burned hotly as she stared down at her shoes. Flora is just a sweetie. Just relax. Don’t be embarrassed.

Heather made a giggling sound, and Aurora felt what was unmistakably a kiss to her cheek. No one was close enough to have touched her, so she looked at Heather as she covered her cheek with her hand. Their eyes met, and Heather winked.

Fancy enough of a restaurant, with reservations made enough in advance, as soon as Heather told the receptionist her name hey were led to their seats. It was a small table, maybe with enough room for four, but only three places were set. It made Aurora wish that she had someone to bring along, but she kept the thought to herself.

The water arrived quickly, and Aurora took a long drink hoping to cool off her blushing cheeks. “So . . . Uhm . . . This might not be dinner conversation . . . but could you tell me a little bit more about Rebeca? I’ve been spending some time with her, but I feel like there’s a lot I don’t know, and apparently all of you have uhm . . . been in a relationship with her at some point?” Her blush resurged, tempting Aurora to hide behind her menu.

“Yeah. Ashley and Rebeca were together in high school. When I joined up Flora had already had a little fling with her. We were uhm . . . girlfriends for awhile, I guess.” Heather shrugged a little as she hid behind her own menu. “I don’t know if you could say we were close. She’s not big on intimacy.”

“She’s just a little distant, that’s all. It’s not like she’s a bad person or anything. She’s just not good at opening up. When I figured that out, we broke up. She’s not very trusting. She loves doing what we do, and she trusts us in that capacity, but as friends? I don’t know sometimes. She treats you a lot different than she ever treated us, or Amy. They were really close for awhile too . . .” Flora’s voice slowly turned more and more wistful before she laughed and took a big sip of her water. “They were the fifth members of our group that left the state after they broke up with Rebeca. They sort of drifted away, stopped returning calls . . .”

I can’t imagine why anyone would ever break up with her. Being with her makes me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt with anyone else in my life. They can’t see how amazing she is? How sexy, how romantic, how . . . maybe she just never showed that side to them. Maybe I’m special. I want to be special to her. Aurora sighed dreamily as she folded her menu and closed her eyes.

Flora giggled, reaching over to softly squeeze the young heroine’s shoulder. “You’re adorably love-sick. Just be careful, okay? She’s a nice enough woman, just make sure she’s open with you as you are with her, okay? Unless I’m wrong about you, you’re pretty up front. Honest. Also . . . don’t run away?”

“You got me for awhile! I have no intention of going anywhere. I like all of you, I’m happy here, and hey my mother moved across the country and made a new life for herself. Maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do, too.” Aurora winced, sighing as she realized her mother didn’t exactly fare all that well from her choice. “I might go back to visit, but you two can come with me when I do. I bet Sarah would love to meet you. She always joked if I tried really hard I’d get the group she always wanted.”

“Sounds good! I bet she’s really proud of y- the hell . . .?” Heather stopped herself mid-sentence as the receptionist screamed. A quick glance identified the reason: a woman dressed in black robes trimmed with silver runes, carrying a long wooden staff, had just knocked the receptionist onto her ass with a hard shove. “That doesn’t look good.”

The mysterious woman grinned to herself, beyond satisfied, as she approached the center of the room. Using her staff for leverage she hopped onto an empty table and slowly glanced around the restaurant. Everyone’s eyes were on her. Immediately Aurora wondered if she should steal away to the bathroom, but she didn’t have time to move before the woman began to speak. “Thank you all for coming tonight! I see you all have expensive tastes. So do I, and apprenticeship doesn’t pay very well. So, I thank you all for coming—because you’ll be fueling my needs for the immediate future. Very thoughtful of you, everyone!”

Under the table, Aurora’s hands clenched into metal fists as she resisted the urge to charge. Silently she considered officially throwing off any hints of a secret identity. It seemed to get in her way more than not.

On her table-turned-stage, the woman moved her hand that tightly clutched her staff out before her, and the other above her head. Incomprehensible words streamed from her lips, incomprehensible arcane words. Above her raised hand, the ceiling was instantly alight with swirling, twisting lights and colors.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the ceiling, all but for Aurora’s and the table-top woman’s. “Don’t look up!” Heather and Flora had already followed suit with the other patrons, eyes glued to the shifting ceiling. The same light shone in their eyes, and Aurora sighed as she stood and forced their necks toward the table. Their bodies fought at first, not conscious of their actions, but quickly complied with the pale arms pressing down turned to solid metal.

“Well, well! Looks like I’m not the only magical wonder here, after all!” The woman lowered her hand, blonde hair that moments ago had been billowing finally settled as her hands clasped tightly around her staff. “A spell like that will keep these day-to-day automotons pacified. For you, and now your friends, I suspect I’ll need something a little more.”

Psiona narrowed her eyes at her glass of water. She could still see the colors reflected in the water, but the pull, the desire, the need that flowed from them was gone. After a quick glance around, seeing that none of the patrons were unaffected, she morphed her dress into her wispy leotard, the mask forming over her eyes. “Magic. Never could get the hang of it. Now, I’ll take that toy of yours!”

Psiona’s gloved hand reached out dramatically and a noticeable blue aura pulsed around the staff. She laughed, letting the tug pull her off of the table, jumping in the air as she muttered another few faint words, hands moving oddly.

Three bolts of energy slammed into Psiona’s hand, making the psionic whimper in pain and grasp protectively at her wounded hand. Laughing, the blonde villain landed gracefully on her feet and spun her staff around for good measure before taking a threatening pose with the end of her staff facing Psiona. The grin on her face made Psiona growl and clutch her hand tighter.

“Sorry, I’m so very rude. I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I? Before you is the first apprentice of the Wizard Yezithra in over a thousand years. The youngest archmage to ever come from the bay or beyond!” She twirled her staff around herself as she spoke, clearly showing off her prowess. “I have a normal name, but you can call me Counter Spell.”

Aurora knew the term sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it. Flora giggled just a little as she moved to stand beside the now fully metal Aurora. “Cute name. But there’s no way you’re getting out of here with what you came for.”

Counter Spell shrugged as she leaped agilely back onto her table. She seemed completely unfazed by the nods, raising her staff with both hands. It was wood, simply wood, but etched along its length were runes that resembled the runes on her robes.

Flora covered her flowers with her hands, turning to Psiona with an innocent smile. Releasing her hand, Psiona nodded and dropped her injured hand. Cutely, Flower Chylde blew out over the palms of her hands as Psiona narrowed her eyes. The pollen collected in the air and fired at the wizardess as if from a gun.

Impossibly quickly Counter Spell thrust out her staff like a spear, and flame burst from the end like a flamethrower, consuming the pollen as it approached her. Once it was all gone she happily slammed the opposite end of her staff down at her feet. “And that, is why they call me Counter Spell, flower bitch and . . . I’ll give you a nickname later. I’m just full of useful little spells that will make all of your attempts to stop me pointless. And I have a few tricks like this, too!”

With an impish grin Counter Spell kicked out the bottom of her staff and held it out towards her opponents. Muttering under her breath, she expelled a powerful stream of multicolored smoke from her staff. Psiona’s muscles clenched as she held out her hands and gritted her teeth. The flow hit a wall of pure force before a strong shove sent it flying back towards the staff.

The smoke faded from the air as Counter Spell muttered a few words and waved her staff angrily. A pout traveled across the wizardess’s face as her eyes narrowed. She held up her staff again, seeming to consider it skeptically for a long moment. Her gaze moved amongst the heroines, glancing each of them over, and then along the length of her staff.

Rolling her eyes, Aurora snapped her fingers and stood in front of Psiona and Flora. “Well, Counter Spell, my name is Electrum. Apprentice, huh? I’ve been using my magic since I was ten. I think you’re outclassed.”

“I just need to stop playing, that’s all. I was expecting a trio of troubled twits, but instead you’re . . . admittedly . . . somewhat formidable.” Counter Spell brought the end of her staff slowly to her lips, sighing as she kissed it in the most tender, reverent way one can kiss an inanimate object. “I’ve no intention of losing. I think I’ll add you to my treasury. A woman made of magical electrum . . .”

“Is not a woman you’ll be getting your hands on!” Electrum charged forward with a loud cry, jumping into the air with a boost from her sparked feet. Counter Spell whispered under her breath, lips twisted into a satisfied grin, as the full length of her weapon glowed an arcane purple. Just before Electrum’s fist would have connected with Counter Spell’s face, her staff slammed across the metal maiden’s face, sending her flying into a nearby table with a crash.

None of the patrons even moved. All of their eyes were still focused on the ceiling. Eyes were wide. Mouths were parted. Drool teased at the edge of some lips, while other pairs trembled or rubbed together. So many minds were enraptured by the swirling, twisting colored light and showed no sign of breaking free, even as Electrum had to break the table to stand.

The lightshow on the ceiling had only intensified with time, growing stronger, twisting faster, with colors so bright and vibrant they could only dwell in imagination without the aid of magic.

Electrum narrowed her eyes as she brushed food off of herself. She frowned even more when she realized she was still wearing her interview outfit. Resisting the urge to scream she instead unbuttoned her top, slid off her skirt, and pulled off her heels. She allowed herself half a moment’s pride before she retook her place with her friends.

“Come one, come all, I’m afraid you’re no match for me. You’re not weak, not by a longshot. I just think you’re at a disadvantage. Now, to solidify it.” Counter Spell shimmered, her whole body flashing with a bright silver light, and then stayed perfectly still and silent. Somehow she took on an unreal quality, her breathing visible, but somehow distorted and false. When she spoke her voice had an odd, echoing quality as her body took on a lasting violet glow. “Please, try that trick again, Electrum. Or, a cloud of pollen. You two did a fairly good job of it. Maybe a second try would work.”

Psiona narrowed her eyes, holding out her hand as if reaching for something. Her eyes shot wide, and her mouth shot open in alarm, and then froze in place as her body glittered with violet light. Even her breathing was imperceptible. Her body seemed entirely solid.

Counter Spell’s form began to glitter with violet as she twirled her staff, and then vanished. A flash of violet light was all she left behind. Glancing around, Aurora could see no trace of her. Flora began to grasp and shake Psiona.

Flower’s grasp shifted the psionic’s body, which felt soft as it ever did. Though she was stiff as stone, she still moved like she should as Flora grasped Psiona’s hand and moved it down to her side. Green fingers slid along Psiona’s neck, feeling for a pulse. No matter where her fingers shifted, nothing even resembling a pulse was there to find, but her skin was still warm.

The ceiling’s magic was still visible from the corner of Electrum’s eyes, but she resisted the thought of glancing up to be sure. If the spell is still working, she can’t be far. I don’t think she’s strong enough to keep that up forever.

Flower Chylde stepped back from Psiona and stared around her just as Aurora did. With a bright violet flash, a circular wall of fire surrounded Flower. Flora screamed, trying to shrink away from the flames but finding no refuge.

“Right you are!” Standing atop another nearby table, a violet mist fell away from Counter Spell. “A little invisibility, a little illusion . . . They call that one flame prison, flower girl! I know moves like that are traditionally most useful against scarecrows, but I imagine a crop of you would do wonders against invading birds, no?”

Flora dropped to her knees, arms wrapped tightly around herself as sweat drenched her already glistening green skin with terror. The flames kept their distance, but flicked and squirmed in place. The heat would have been intense enough to cover her in sweat without any help, but she’d never dealt well with fire.

Electrum growled and narrowed her eyes as she kicked off of the ground to fly over the column of fire that surrounded her friend. “Flower! There’s not enough room down there for me to pick you up, I need your hand to grab ont—”

A scream tore out of Electrum’s throat as a bolt of lightning coursed through her metal body. The force of the blast sent her falling from the air and into another occupied table. “Sorry sweetie, but I don’t think so. Did you really think I wouldn’t stop you? I don’t take turns. You’re my victim. You’re mine now, treasure girl. Psiona can’t move an inch, trapped in her own mind. Flower Chylde is trapped in a nearly literal flaming hell. Now what do I do to you, Electrum? It would be so easy to just dominate you, but soon as the spell wears off, why, then I’m starting back over again!”

Electrum growled as she pulled herself out of the broken pieces of table and bent silverware. The women at the table were still rapt with eyes only for the swirling lights above them. Even when she threw the ruined tablecloth over one of their faces, she rose her hand in the most mind-blown way and pulled the cloth away.

The look on her face was pure rapture. Her eyes were wide, pupils shimmering with colors that made Aurora shudder. She closed her eyes tight before surrendering to the thought of trying to remember why.

Her body ached where the lightning bolt had struck her, but she found with some degree of surprise that her metal wasn’t even blackened. Mentally she added magical lightning to the list of things she could shrug off. Quickly she modified the list to be magical lightening from Counter Spell, and from that one spell.

“You think a little much of yourself. You’ve flung me around, but honestly . . . I’m not all that bad off. You’ve frozen one of my friends like a statue. The other, terrified for her life.” Electrum paused, raising her hands together to crack her knuckles dramatically. “You’ve only pissed me off.”

“Really? Oh. Let’s fix that, then.” Counter Spell giggled for just a moment before spinning her staff around again, voice chanting lowly.

Electrum didn’t wait for the spell, instead running at the spell-caster with a determined scream. Just as she neared her, the very tip of her staff brushed Electrum, and she crumpled to her knees. She felt like someone pulled out half of her batteries, or she’d suddenly been running for three days straight. She was exhausted, weakened, and her metal felt too heavy.

Slowly she tried to rise to her feet, when the end of the woman’s staff pushed into her shoulder and shoved her firmly onto her back. Staff against Electrum’s chest she began to chant, mewling out the words just under her breath. As she finished, a pulse of purple energy flowed in rings along the staff and shuddered across Electrum’s supine body. By the moment it felt harder to even lift her hands, until Electrum reluctantly relaxed against the floor.

“There. Now your body is exhausted, and weak as a kitten. I mean a kitten couldn’t take this . . .” Counter Spell grinned as she smashed her staff across Electrum’s face. The sound of her metal face shattering the tile echoed through the room. “But you can’t exactly fight back. I’d only need magic to carry you home—which I have—but that feels a little premature.”

Gritting her teeth, or narrowing her eyes, took too much effort. She had enough strength and force of will to keep her eyes tightly shut if she couldn’t shield them from the ceiling’s magic, but she feared it was only a matter of time. She’d never felt so weak and powerless in her entire life. Her body’s weight as flesh would be too much for her to lift, but as metal was beyond impossible. She tried to focus on the weight of her eyelids to distract herself physically and to calm herself down. She needed a plan. She needed something.

Laughing, the magic-user set her staff down beside her victim before straddling her metal hips. “You really are something. I’d joke you were well built if I hadn’t caught a glimpse of your body a little more . . . peachy. You could still probably be enhanced with a little skillful rune-carving. Maybe a well-set gemstone . . .”

“I’m not . . . yours . . . to enhance!” Aurora struggled at the weight of her own metal lips. She never would have imagined talking being so exhausting. The woman on top of her felt so heavy, but at least her body was soft and warm. Her robes were thin—opaque but thin—and it didn’t feel like she wore much under them. It was hard not to just enjoy the woman’s body against her own. “Get off of me!”

“Your willpower is nothing short of amazing. I don’t know if there’s another woman in the world that could resist like you are. You should be proud of yourself.” Counter Spell’s voice was warm yet mocking. If it came from Sylvia, it would have been lovely. Coming from the wizardess, it was erotically humiliating.

Soft lips traced along metal that shined with the ceiling’s reflection. Fingers teased along the metallic flesh just below her top, teasing it up just enough to feel the bare curves of her breasts. Electrum whimpered in pleasure and futility as she desperately tried to push the woman off of herself. She’d never felt so helpless. Every time she’d supposedly been treated so helplessly was gone from her mind just as quickly, and it left her feeling more invincible. In that moment, the woman’s fingers reaching under her top to feel her metal nipples, she realized she was anything but.

The villain paused, her hands freezing in place. “You know, I’m not usually so grabby. I guess I let this go to my head. I’ve just never done something like this before, you understand. I think I was unprepared for the . . . opportunities. I came for money, not for rape. Though . . . I have to thank you for expanding my reasons to be thankful I killed my conscience when I was thirteen.”

Violet-painted lips ground against Electrum’s, and she whimpered pitifully as she tried not to kiss back. It was easier to follow her body’s impulses than lie flat. Her lips were so soft.

“Nothing to say to that. I’m almost disappointed. Oh well! I guess now . . . it’s time to just dominate you for now, then get out of here before the flower’s flame prison poofs, and the mentalist can move again.” Eyes hooded, Counter Spell pressed her body flush with Electrum’s. Her hands held down the heroine’s wrists as though she actually needed to pin her down, lips hovering just against hers. “One last kiss . . .”

Use that electricity of yours. Now. Don’t know if you can even hear me but if you can do it!

Confused, mentally exhausted as much as physically, Electrum gritted her teeth. It was hard. Her current was something physical and she felt as exhausted as if she’d been sparking all day. The spell that had brought her to her knees with fatigue had affected that part of her, too.

Putting every ounce of will she had into the struggle, Electrum made her body spark. At first it was just her lips, made easier by the magic the wizardess was trying to seal into her, but soon her own magic was unleashed everywhere their bodies touched. The confused villain at first desperately tried to pull away only to find her own body betraying her. The sizzle of Electrum’s current made Counter’s body clench and she ground herself into her helpless victim’s magical assault.

She could feel as the current sizzled and flowed through her mind, coursing through parts of her that understood only pleasure and selfish desire. Her thighs clenched around the metal woman as she felt pure hot pleasure coursing through them. Her pussy sang as the silver twined itself with her clit, and the pleasure overwhelmed her.

The silver magic flowed through the parts of her concentration that held her magic together. Her thoughts blurred as she struggled to keep some hold on herself. Her nipples tightened, hardening with overstimulation. If it wasn’t for the runes beginning to loudly hum on her staff, she would have lost all sense of who and where she was. The sound triggered her mental defenses, and she screamed in desperation as she fell beside Electrum. Her arms wrapped around her staff as she held it against herself like a protective body pillow.

“That was close as hell.” Heather stood over Electrum, looking haggard and as exhausted as the metal maiden felt. “I’m not much of a telepath . . . never thought I was good enough to reach out like that . . . so I took a chance. Looks like that was all we needed, a little chance.”

“nnnn . . . Nnno . . . Think . . . Focus . . . nnneed to get out of here . . .” Counter Spell whimpered loudly, trying to struggle past the silver aftershocks that sizzled through her mind. It was so hard to resist climbing back on top of Electrum, to kiss her, to taste her, to feel her, and lose the last of her control. “Might not have won . . . but you won’t get to keep me. Don’t care where I end up . . . Come on, don’t fail me now . . .”

Magical light surrounded the woman, and then the light faded, taking her with it.

Electrum closed her eyes, whimpering. “I’m . . . that took a lot of . . .” She struggled to hold onto consciousness. “Don’t let me forget this . . . Don’t wanna forget . . .”

“Remember anything?” Heather’s voice penetrated Aurora’s consciousness before anything else. Next came the sight of her, and the realization that she was propped against a wall. “I hope so. Damn you’re heavy, you know that? That’s definitely not just a thick candy shell.”

“Not an M&M . . .” Aurora whimpered as she fluttered her eyes open. They didn’t feel so heavy anymore. She didn’t feel nearly as worn out as before, though she still felt winded. “I remember some bitch with a staff . . .”

Flora’s green arms wrapped around the groggy Aurora in a tight hug. She looked into Aurora’s eyes with a thankful expression that hid a greater anxiousness. It was obvious the time in the fire had unnerved her. Her body was still shining and her eyes darted around just a little too quickly. The tips of the flowers in her hair were coiled inwards as if to seal back into buds.

Aurora realized that Heather’s mask was withdrawn, and she was once again wearing the gorgeous form-fitting blue dress. Flora’s dress was nearly tight as a second skin with moisture. Realizing she was still metallic, she closed her eyes and her metal receded back into her body.

Heather reached down and stroked Aurora’s hair appreciatively. “Then you remember everything. Sorry, just what you said when you were passing out was a little worrying. You okay? You look like you haven’t slept well in a week, but otherwise okay. I saw that bolt of lightning you took. Not a scratch. Wow.”

“I’ve taken worse. Wasn’t that long ago I took down a Syndicate operation and took shots from pistols and shotguns and probably some other guns too.” Aurora groaned as she moved an arm to hug Flora back. “What happened? I remember someone telling me to spark, and then . . . I did. I felt something inside of her, something that felt like what was sealing all of her magic in place, or maybe all of her little killswitches, and then . . . I passed out.”

“The bitch got away. Luckily, everyone blanked the whole night. No one got a good look at us. Well, besides the police. They weren’t very happy to let us go while you were still unconscious, but when we explained you only took medical treatment from one doctor, and one of the cops on-scene recognized you from that job interview you had . . . We got permission quick. We’ll probably make the news.” Heather didn’t sound like she especially cared one way or another, but it did make Aurora feel a little better. The more she showed up on television, the higher a chance was that her family would hear about it.

Counter Spell getting away bothered Aurora, but only because she knew if they met again things would be different. The woman had underestimated them and used magic that felt different from the magic her grandmother used. It seemed taught. If Counter Spell was smart enough to learn magic like that, Aurora was certain next time she wouldn’t underestimate her.

If that voice hadn’t cut into her mind, she knew she would be in a treasure trove somewhere. She was no match for her magic. She’d need to change that before they had the chance to meet again.

“Wait, when I was on the floor, and she was on top of me, I heard a voice that told me to spark. Well it didn’t say spark, but . . . what was that?” It felt strange to ask, but she knew she recognized that voice from somewhere. Adding auditory hallucinations to the list of things she had to worry about was not on her to-do list.

“Oh That was me.” Heather wiggled her fingers, smiling a little more. “I’m a pretty lousy telepath. Tunnel always used to say I have a horrible-to-understand mental accent. I don’t hear it, but she’s really great at line-of-sight telepathy so she’d know. I’d been trying to get it to work from the time she got on top of you. Sorry it took so long.”

The auburn-haired heroine shook her head and stretched her legs. Her feet were again wearing the heels Rebeca bought her for her interview. They were tattered and covered in food, but she was wearing the rest of the ensemble too. Looking around quickly she saw that she was against a building in a part of town she’d never seen before. It was more confusing than worrying, but she was thankful not to be in public with only her uniform over her pale flesh. Again she came to the conclusion that slutting up any more would be a bad idea.

Slowly Aurora rose to her feet, stretching her arms high over her head. “This is probably going to be a really stupid question, but why are we well . . . here?”

“Nah, not a stupid question. Simple. To wake you up I had to give you a good telekinetic smack or two. I didn’t want to use that much force in my car. You got better the farther we went from that place, so I was pretty sure a good smack would bring you back.” Heather smiled brighter as she hugged close to Aurora. “Thanks. Really. You saved us big time. I don’t think she would have left us alone, and with what she did to Flora . . . I wouldn’t want to be at her mercy for any longer. I’m really glad you joined the team. Sorry I wasn’t much help..”

“Without that little bit of a mental shove we’d all still be in that restaurant, so relax. You were great.” Aurora smiled as she looked around, quickly finding Heather’s car. “I know it’s against all good sense, but could you actually drive me home? ”

“Least I can do, hero girl! Come on, let’s get you someplace warmer. You look a lot colder when you’re not . . . not . . . you know what I mean!” Heather smiled a little brighter as she held out her hand, and the passenger door opened with a soft click. “Flora, I think that Aurora needs front-seat privileges this once. That okay?”

Flora nodded, kissing Aurora’s cheek in a way that was more than friendly, but just on the edge of anything more. It made the teenager’s cheeks light up a very dark red. Flora giggled in response and kissed the other cheek to even her out. Heather smiled even more, and Aurora was confused that she didn’t see any jealousy. It was clear to her that the two were close, but Heather didn’t mind her getting kissed on by Flora. Deciding to figure it out some other time, Aurora returned the kiss to Flora’s cheek and slid into the car.

“Relax, Aurora. I might be standoffish with Rebeca sometimes, and well . . . you’ve seen what I look like outside of my makeup. I don’t want you thinking of me as her, but . . .” Heather let her words hang in the air before her keys slid into the ignition with a click. “I’m not hard to get along with, and I like you. You really do have a lot of great leadership qualities.”

Aurora beamed, grinning wide as she wiggled into the seat. “Thanks . . . I like you too. Both of you. I feel a little young compared to you two, but only one way to fix that, I guess!” Aurora hummed to herself for a moment cutely before reaching for the dash. “Mind if I turn on the radio? Quiet, I still wanna talk, I just love music.”

“Really? I was in a band once. I’ll have to find you our demo tape. I got kicked because I was too plain and I kept snapping e-strings.” Heather winked. “Metal, right. Presets three, five, and eight.”

“Awesome.” Aurora reached out and flicked at the radio. It flared loudly to life, and she froze even more still than Heather’s car as they hit the red light.

The music was dead on. Whoever the guitarist was, Aurora knew she wasn’t missing a note. The drums pounded in her ears and in her soul. She could even pick up the subtle nuances of the bass and what she assumed was keyboards. She didn’t know who they were. She didn’t know the name of the band.

She had slept with the lead singer.

Heather quirked a delicate eyebrow as she looked over to Aurora. “You okay? You look either like you really love this song, or you really hate it. Or, like you just realized your pet cat was dead.”

Aurora stared at the readout. She didn’t know the station, she hadn’t taken the time to learn what was where on FM in the bay, but she made a mental note to correct that. The note was almost immediately overwritten by a much more pressing need. “Do you know the name of this band?”

Flora leaned over Aurora’s seat, face twisted in concern. “You’re asking that like a time traveler desperately asking what day and year it is. What’s the big deal?”

“Just tell me!” Aurora’s eyes filled with tears as she tightly grasped the seat under her. “I know I’m freaking out right now, but I . . . just come on, tell me who the hell it is! I’ll explain it all. I promise. This is just a pretty fucking big deal, and I’m just asking a simple question. If you don’t know, just tell me. It’s not that hard to say you don’t know, is it?”

“They’re called Symphonic Nebula. This is their first single. Rumor mill says they were built by Phoenix Records. No clue if it’s true. Now I’m going to apply the gas because the light is green, and because I answered your question, you’re going to tell me why the hell you’re so concerned.” Heather’s voice wasn’t hurt or upset, more traumatically confused. Aurora had been the one of them to remain collected and cool-headed during everything that had happened recently. She could handle Rebeca. How she could break down so quickly didn’t make any sense.

Sighing, Aurora slouched forward and hid her face behind her hands. “Symphonic Nebula. Huh. It has to be her. Now if I, if I tell you about why it’s such a big deal you need to promise not to tell Rebeca. The lead singer is the real reason I’m not still back in Midas. I’ll tell her, I just want to be the one to do it. It’s a little bit of a delicate situation.”

Both Heather and Flora promptly nodded.

Aurora took a deep breath, teeth closing around her bottom lip as she stared through her fingers and out into the night sky. She hadn’t told her aunt, or the woman that now meant the world to her. She had to tell someone. They liked her. They trusted her. They respected her.

It was hard, but she knew she’d have to tell them all sooner or later.

“The lead singer? The night before I left Midas, I raped her in my old car. I drove with her to an old make out spot we used to go to, and I used my sizzles to make her helpless, and willing.” Aurora sighed, staring down at her hands. “My temper is always getting me into trouble. I get afraid, and I get angry. I never hurt anyone before that—not physically anyway. She was okay, nothing broken, nothing like that, but . . . she didn’t want to press charges. She just left to New York to pursue a singing career. Some talent scout wanted her voice. I was the one that encouraged her to pursue music when she realized how much she loved it, but she was going and wasn’t going to take me with her.”

Aurora resisted blaming Sylvia. She hadn’t acted very fairly, but even mentioning what she’d done to her on their couch felt petty. Mentioning that Sylvia had asked them to get into that car felt petty. Taking all of the blame felt like some form of repentance.

Heather sighed, fingers loosening around the wheel ever so faintly. “That’s pretty big, yeah, but . . . you’re holding back. Sorry. I’m not in your head, not solidly, but when I broke into your mind to force my voice inside, it left a pathway behind. I can feel there’s something more you want to say. I know you’re second-generation. If you were so ready to head across the country, I’m betting you’re not a heroine just to atone, but doing enough good is I guess all you can do. That’s horrible. But you’re holding back.”

“That singer?”

“Yeah?”

“She’s my sister.”

“Oh. Fuck.”

The car turned silent as Heather reached out without movement and turned off the radio. Flora pulled back from Aurora’s chair. The rest of the ride was very, very quiet

Rebeca stared at her screen. The code wasn’t dangerous. That was what she kept telling herself. It was harder to be certain of it the more she stared at it, but it didn’t feel dangerous. The only one who can follow your horribly mismanaged code is you, anyway. Even then, they’d need the resources. The only real way to make any use of it would be through the updater, and the protection on that is twice as mangled and twice as solid. It’s not doable.

“Your metal babe wound up in the news.” Ashley grinned as she blew smoke over Rebeca’s screen. “Their dinner got cut short. Some witch or something attacked the restaurant. Apparently Electrum saved the day. That’s what a very enthusiastic Psiona and Flower Chylde insisted, anyway. Too bad we weren’t there after all.”

“At least this time you called first so I could just tell them to let you in.” Rebeca typed another two lines before freezing and turning in her swiveling chair to look up at Tunnel’s shades. “Wait. What? That’s . . . no way.”

Tunnel nodded, leaning in to press her lips between Rebeca’s eyes. “She was passed out on the news, but apparently it was a victory only thanks to her. A victory, in that no one was killed, nothing stolen . . . but the bitch got away. I think a nice hard gaze would have fixed all of this. Or those gloves of yours, or whatever you’re working on now.”

“It’s not what you’re thinking. I’m just . . . just finishing things up. It’ll be more than ready for launch. Then we’ll take the market by storm. Again. I’ll work on more integration, find ways to make it cheaper, and it’ll help fuel the next project.” Rebeca pulled away, focusing again on her screen. “Aurora is okay. She can take care of herself, and she had Heather and Flora with her. Like you said. I don’t trust anyone. But trust, and faith? Two totally different things.”

Ashley shrugged and pulled off her sunglasses. Slowly her hands held them up to the monitor’s light, and she used the fabric of her top to wipe a smudge off of a lens.

“Whatever. I didn’t come because I was in a talkative mood. I came for you.”

With a quivering sigh, Rebeca reached up and turned off her monitor.

Counter Spell stood shakily, leaning heavily on her staff. Her energy was drained. The woman that should have become the crown jewel of a treasury that she didn’t even have yet had somehow overcome her at the last moment. If the magic from inside of the strange metal woman hadn’t coursed through her own, through the places where she hid the intricate weave of her spells, she wouldn’t have lost.

“Failed . . . Her great apprentice . . . Failed . . .” Shakily she began to walk, leaning heavily on the staff for support. Her long blonde hair fluttered in the wind as she walked slowly down the beach. She didn’t have enough energy to teleport herself back to the demirealm her teacher possessed. She’d only had enough energy to go away.

Luckily enough the beach was empty. The stars glittered high in the sky, illuminating the white sand and making the runes on her robes glow. There was something very special about that woman, Electrum, but she couldn’t place it.

Immediately she resolved to discover the secret of her power and claim it for her own. She would know the power, take it, and use it to take whatever she desired.

The moon shined brighter than any of the visible stars. It was a gorgeous moon, full enough that she was tempted to lay back in the sand and just let it cover her with its light. Knowing she couldn’t face her mentor until she had somehow accomplished a feat that made her failure seem smaller, she let go of her body and let gravity pull her onto her back.

Vibrations wracked through her body, shaking her breasts, her lips, and her limbs. The fingers of her right hand stayed wrapped tightly around the shaft of her staff, but the rest of her was without any resemblance of tightness.

“I will learn your secret . . . and then I will overtake even my mentor.”

“The future is constantly in motion. Fate. Destiny. Ambition. Glory. Is that what you desire?” Soft red heels sank into the sand not far from Counter Spell. “Is power, and notoriety, important enough that you would sacrifice all else in order to attain and further them? Are you willing to sacrifice everything for power and knowledge?”

Squirming into the sand, the blonde mage slowly nodded. “Yes. I’ve sacrificed so much already, and that girl . . . She didn’t even know what she was doing. If she knew she’d be deadly. It was just a part of her.”

“And it can be a part of you, too. Power and wisdom can be a very deep part of you.” A hand reached up, adjusting glasses carefully along an elegant nose. “But for now, you need to rest. You’ve had a very long day. We can work on your ascension beyond mortal memory when you wake up. You don’t need to concern yourself with petty details like how and why. Leave that to us.”

“Leave . . . that to . . . weak . . .” Counter Spell groaned as her eyes fluttered shut, and figures moved from the shadows to slowly pull her up out of the sand. Her eyes felt too heavy to open, and her thoughts felt diluted and languid. There seemed to be no way to make new ones, or bring back the old.

Carefully, women dressed in black strapped her down inside a black van, driving away as soon as soft red heels clicked against the metal floor.