Just then, a tall skinny man, dressed all in black walked into the room. “Countess what are you doing?’ he asked inquisitively.

Countess fell from her moment in time and back onto her bed. “Huh? What?’

“Meeting. Downstairs. Now,” The man said and made his way out of the room and back down the hall to inform the other girls. He reached Charm's room and barged in, without knocking, once more. “Charm I want you downstairs in a few seconds,” He said and then added another comment before leaving. “And put out the damn storm before you come downstairs.”

“Ohhhh k,” Charm shrugged and then waved her arms around to stop the rain. She changed into her sleep attire and went downstairs into the ballroom, where the girls had meetings with their moderator.

The moderator was a man much older than the girls names Magian. He keeps a watch over them, while they are in the Earth Realm and not in their own. In public, he's known as their father, but at home, he's just a warlock that watches over them. He's their guardian and checks back periodically with their world, leaving the girls alone on Earth for short periods of time. The other realm is exactly like Earth, but witches and warlocks are the majority, instead of the minority.

Charm's whole body shivered as she stepped barefoot onto the cold, marble floor. “What's going on?’

“I don't know,” Tazia answered in all honesty as she came in behind her sister.

Countess was the last to enter, with her sandals clicking lightly behind her. “Where did Magian go?”

“I'm here ladies, no fear,” His words almost seemed false. “I just wanted to tell you that I'll be departing to the other realm soon. But, with countess so close to reaching Divinity, I decided to leave you under the care of another moderator.”

“Who?’ All 3 asked at once.

“She'll be here in about another day or so. Don't fret,” He said before making himself visible. “Good morrow until I see thee again,” And with that he disappeared once more.

“Damnit. We get another hag to tag long behind our every move.”

“Tazia?!”

“It's true Countess and you know it.”

Charm yawned and made an effort to stay interested in the conversation, but couldn't. “You guys,” She interrupted her sisters bantering. “I'm gonna go to bed now,” She said but it came as only a whisper.

“Charm, it's not even midnight yet. What's wrong?” Tazia asked and felt her sister's forehead. “Hun, you're freezing.”

“Am I?” Charm said and looked at her skin and noticed it looked a bit bluer than usual. “I don't know what's happening to me,” She stated and couldn't feel her lips. “I can't feel my lips.”

“They're ice blue. C’mon, we gotta get you to bed,”  Countess said and put her hands on Charm's arms. Within seconds, they were back in Charm's room and had her lying on her bed, wrapped up tightly. “Go get another blanket Tazia. She's still cold.”

Tazia left the room and re-entered with another set of blankets to put over Charm. “Don't let her fall asleep. She'll pass out.”

‘That's not what I'm afraid of,” Countess watched as her baby sister's eyes turned white opal and her body started to shake. The clouds above Charm's room began to tumble and a heavy mist set across the room which turned into light snow. “She has no control over this.”

“I know, the poor baby doll,” Tazia sighed and tucked Charm in further. “This is worse than a witch going through puberty.”

“For once I have to agree with you. I just wish there was some sort of explanation for all of this.”

“So do I sister,” Tazia breath caught in her throat as she watched her sister's eyes fade back into their normal shade of purple.

“Zia-zia,” Charm muttered as she came back from yet another one of her episodes. She hadn't called her sister that since she was at least 500 years old.

“I'm right here, what do you need?”

“Where's Countess?” She whisper as softly as a weeping willow talks.

“I'm right here Charlamane. What's wrong?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to know that you were here.”

“We're not going anywhere, either of us,” Tazia laid down next to Charm and wrapped her up in a hug. “Are you gonna be OK?”

“Soon I hope,” She let a smile play across her lips as Countess crawled next to her on the other side and wrapped her arms around her too.

Tazia and Countess got up at the same time, thinking of the same thing. They stood at the end of Charm's bed and faced each other, mirroring the other's movements, they chanted together.

Power of 2
We command you
Calm the child's fears
And dry all her tears
Let sleep become her
And drown out the light
Prolong the pain
Until a fresh night

As their words flowed out of their mouths, Charm was slowly levitated off her bed and into the air. She drifted into a deep slumber and was slowly lowered back down. After tucking in her covers, Tazia and Countess exited quietly and said good night before retiring to their own quarters.

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