Leona woke up bright and early to greet the dawe the night’s interruptions, she felt refreshed and actually pretty good. The sun was streaming in cheerfully through the window, painting the room in soft golds and warm yellows. She’d always shu a bit on hot days, but it felt pretty niow. She yawned and stretched, her arms reag high above her head, feeling the delicious ache of loosened muscles as sleep melted away. Her neck popped audibly as she leaned into the stretch, earning a small, satisfied groan.

  Her eyes fell to the gss globe, finding the feathers that had been within turo ash like she remembered. The jagged remnants looked fragile in the soft m light, a remihat what she’d experie night certainly hadn’t been a dream. She stared at it a moment longer, lips pressing together in thought, before letting the memory drift. She reached out as though to touch it, her fingers hesitating a fra of an inch away from the bed remains, before pulling back with a soft sigh.

  She shrugged, shook off the lingering unease, a up eically, darting to the bathroom for her m ablutions. The bathroom mirrreeted her with her own tousled refle, her hair stig out in every dire like a bird’s . She snorted and reached for a b.

  “M, bedhead,” she muttered to herself, ughing softly as she scrubbed her face vigorously. The cool water was a shock against her skin, chasing away the st vestiges of sleep. She brushed quickly, sav the crisp minty fvor oongue, aally tig off a list of pns for the day. As the lingering fog of sleep finally cleared, the entig aroma creeping up from downstairs pulled her focus entirely.

  An amazing smell wafted through the house, rid savory, making Leona’s stomach growl loudly in anticipation. She practically drooled at the thought of it. BA!

  Leona pranced happily into the kit after bounding dowairs, the soles of her feet thudding lightly on the wooden steps. Her grin was iious as she burst into the room, sunlight dang through the windows. The tantalizing smell ed around her like a warm hug, instantly boosting her already buoyant mood.

  Goonie smiled warmly, her hands expertly flipping strips of ba in the skillet. “There’s irl! I take it this means you got better rest in those warm and dry sheets.” Her voice carried a maternal warmth, the kind that made you feel ed in love, evehe words were tempered with subtle authority.

  Quinn, however, gred balefully at Leona from across the table, her dark eyes sm with irritation. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and she clutched a coffee mug like it was her lifeline. “Hmpf… dang into the kit like some kind of little star after you woke me up with all that bumping and banging around.” Her voice was rough with annoyance, and she jabbed a thumb upward toward the ceiling. “Bathroom’s right over the office, in case you fot.”

  Leona winced, instinctively stepping back. “I’m sorry, sis!” she said, putting her hands together, eyes wide and glistening with exaggerated, almost ically apologetic puppy-dog pleading.

  Quinn huffed but didirely suppress the amused twitch of her lips. “Oh, sure. You’re sorry now, but where was that sorry when you were stomping around like a rhino?”

  “You’re both still in trouble,” Gooerrupted gently but firmly, raising a hand before Quinn could retort. “I know what I said in the heat of the moment st night, but don’t think the ste’s been wiped . This breakfast isn’t a reward.” Her spatu pointed briefly between them, punctuating the statement. She paused, softenione as she added, “You’re both going to need a good start to your day today, so don’t think me unfair. I still love you two, and that will never ge.”

  Quinn’s lips quirked into a mischievous smirk. “You’re telling me you’re cooking ba and it’s not a reward, Mom?” Her tone was all teasing, her eyes glinting with barely restrained ughter.

  “It is not a reward,” Goonie replied, arg a brow. “Do you want to have just eggs and toast?”

  “Nuuuuu!” Quinn protested dramatically, dragging the word out with a grin. “Doesn’t matter how little sleep I got. Worth it to be woken up by the sweet, sweet smell of ba. ’t stay mad with bay pte.”

  Goonie rolled her eyes, ughing softly. “Have a seat, Leona.”

  Nodding quickly, Leona obeyed, sliding into her chair with eager anticipation. Goonie soht two ptes forward, setting them down with practiced grace. Leona’s eyes immediately caught the slight charring on the ba and the overly firm scramble of the eggs, but the st alone made her mouth water. ivorous meals like this were rare, heart-clogging indulgences Goonie generally avoided—but today, oh today, was a gift!

  “I love you, Goonie!” Leona crowed, diving in, sav the salty, smoky crispness of the ba with ravenous enthusiasm. Each bite sent a wave of savory bliss through her senses, and she chewed slowly to prolong the joy, though her hands moved with a speed that betrayed her eagerness. Meat was seldom served at home, and this was a feast to her.

  Quinn mirrored her excitement, chowing down just as eagerly, her enthusiasm spilling over as crumbs scattered across the table. “You’re the best, Mom,” she murmured through a mouthful, though her eyes darted nervously toonie as if gauging whether her bold decration might be met with a reproach about table manners.

  Goonie, uurbed, sat with her usual oats and fruit medley, the serene sight of her calm and collected as always. Her peaceful presenchored the bustling energy in the room, a quiet reassurahat despite the storm of the previous night, things were steady this m. She seemed utterly tent, the steam rising from her mug of tea swirlily in the sunlight.

  Despite her vegetarian habits, Goonie had an undeniable knack for cooki, though her timing was always a little off, hehe burnt edges. Leona gnced up from her pte, watg as Gooook another measured sip of tea, her tranquility filling the space.

  “You always know how to make it just perfect,” Leona said between bites, her voice muffled but ear.

  “Well, someone has to,” Goonie replied with a sly smile, setting her mug down. “But let’s not make it a habit. I don’t want to hear about clogged arteries in a decade, uand?”

  “Yes, ma’am!” Quinn and Leona chorused, raising forks in mock salute before diving bato their ptes, drawing a soft chuckle from Goonie.

  After breakfast, the siblings cleared the table and began washing the dishes, their movements practiced and fluid. Quinn scrubbed while Leona riheir chatter filling the space with pyful jabs and exaggerated gripes about who was doing more work.

  “Don’t just rinse, Leona—actually check if it’s before you hand it to me,” Quinn teased, flig a small spsh of water her way.

  Leona gasped dramatically. “How dare you question my quality assurance process!” she shot back, ughing as she retaliated with a light spsh of her own.

  “Enough, you two,” Gooerjected, her voice mild but effective. She sat nearby, hands ed around her mug, the steam curling zily above it as she watched them with a mixture of amusement and fond exasperation.

  Ohe st dish ut away, Leona started to slip toward the door, but Goonie’s voice stopped her iracks.

  “For the time being, you won’t be punished much. At least, not until the Padua facility decides whether or not they’ll sue us.”

  Leona froze, gng sideways at Quinn, whose rare expression of guilt was almost ical on her usually fident face. Leohe weight of tritiole on her chest, a pressure that grew heavier as Goonie’s words sank in. She nodded slowly, her mouth suddenly dry.

  Gooone softened, but her gaze sharpened as she poioward their chairs. “You two, stick around for a little longer.”

  Leona quickly reseated herself, exging a nervous gh Quinn before shifting her eyes back to Goonie.

  “We’re going to have another little heart-to-heart,” Goonie tinued, her voice steady but weighted with expectation. Her eyes settled on Leona. “We didn’t really say all that much st night.”

  Leona’s stomaotted, her pulse quiing as she braced herself for what was ing. She tried to sit straighter, though it felt like the chair was swallowing her whole.

  “I know you miss Sarah,” Goonie said, her voice ge insistent. “But you have to trust her. Whether or not you knew what was going on st night, you always have a choice. You should use your voice when you o.”

  Leoated, her hands wringing in her p as the knot iomach twisted tighter. “I do trust her,” she murmured, though the words felt hollow, like they were more foonie’s be than her own.

  “I love you, Leona,” Goonie said, leaning forward slightly, her face softening as her eyes locked onto Leona’s. “But…” She paused, sighing deeply as she rested her in her hand. “You ’t just do what you want. You know you were raised better than this. It might seem fun, and sometimes it might evehe right thing to do, but you o think about the sequences.”

  Leona nodded agaihroat tight. “I’ll do better,” she said quietly, her voice barely audible.

  “You’re smart enough to know how,” Goonie replied, her tone encing but firm. “And I’ll be here to remind you when you fet.”

  Leona opened her mouth to speak, but Goonie tinued, her tone more pointed now. “As you get older, you’ll have more responsibilities. That includes taking responsibility for your own as, even when you feel like someone else is c you.” Her gaze flicked briefly toward Quinn, a subtle rebuke embedded in the gnce.

  Quinn snorted softly, leaning ba her chair with an expression of exaggerated innoce, but she didn’t interrupt.

  “It’s easy to envy Quinn,” Goonie said, her voice lightening, ced with teasing. “She’s not a bad girl, but she’s not a very good oher.”

  Quinn mock-pouted, crossing her arms dramatically. “Hey, I’m sitting right here, you know.”

  Leona giggled, and even Goonie cracked a small smile, though she carried on as if Quinn hadn’t spoken. “She’s dht willful.”

  Quinn grinned mischievously, the teasing lilt returning to her toakes oo know one.”

  The humor broke the lingering tension, Leona ughing more freely now. Even Goonie allowed herself a chuckle before shaking her head with affeate exasperation. “I just don’t want you getting into trouble by developing this girl’s attitude.” She paused, her eyes twinkling. “At least not all the time.”

  Quinn’s smirk widened as she leaned forward on her elbows. “Not all the time, huh? That’s almost a pliment. I’ll take it.”

  Goonie reached over to pat Leona’s hand, her tone softening. “There’s no shame in learning to stand firm, but there’s also no harm in staying cautious. Bance, my girl. Bance.”

  Leona thought the versation was ing up and began to rise, but Goonie shook her head, her expression serious again. “Not yet. Although the lecture’s over, I o ask you about st night.”

  Leona froze mid-motioomach tightening as she sank bato her chair.

  “I don’t know what was b you,” Goonie said, her toler now. “Your dream, I suspect. But if you o talk, you know your Auntie Goonie—your mom…” Her voice wavered briefly, her eyes softening. “You called me that, and it meant more to me than I say. I’d never have asked it of you, and you still...”

  Leona’s throat tightehe vulnerability in Goonie’s voice was rare, and it pierced through her usual defenses. She nodded slowly, her lips pressing together as her emotions swirled.

  “My sister was dear to me,” Goonie said, her voice growing wistful. “I could never repce her. A…” She paused, shaking her head slightly as if to brush the se away. “Well, enough of that mushiness.”

  Leona’s eyes shimmered, and for a moment, the room was filled with unspoken uanding.

  But Gooone shifted as she pressed on. “I had a terrible nightmare myself. I told you I didn’t sleep well, and it was because of that dream. In it, you were kidnapped.”

  Leona’s pulse quied, her stomaotting further, but she forced herself to stay calm. “Kidnapped?” she echoed softly, her voice tinged with nervousness.

  “In my dream,” Goonie tinued, her expression darkening, “you were upset with me about something I said and stormed out. These really bad men snatched you up almost immediately.”

  Leona tried to muster a reassuring smile, though it felt thin. “I’m sorry you were scared for me,” she murmured.

  Goonie sighed, her lips pressing into a tight line before she let out a weak ugh. “Maybe it’s just the Alzheimer’s setting in,” she said lightly, her toraying a trace of fear. “I swear I’m getting older faster every day.”

  Leona leaned forward, her voice firm with siy. “I know that you’re not a rept for Mama, but even so you’re just as special… in a different way. And you’re my mama too.”

  Goonie’s eyes filled with tears at Leona’s words, but she blihem away quickly, clearihroat. “Hah… I’m gd you feel this way.”

  She reached out to brush a strand of Leona’s hair behind her ear, her hand lingering a moment before she leaned back with a small smile. “Okay, you’re both free to go about your day, you two. But don’t waoo far, and you’d better answer your phones if I call.”

  Quinn shot up with her usual breezy energy, grabbing Leona’s hand and pulling her along. “We got it, Mom,” she said with a grin, steering Leona toward the door.

  Leoated, squeezing Goonie’s hand briefly before letting go. “Love you, Mom,” she said softly, her voice full of warmth.

  Goonie’s smile was gentle, her eyes following them as they left. “Love you too,” she murmured.

  Leona had worn her pajamas to breakfast, the soft fabric warm against her skin, but she left the kit with a smile tugging at her lips. Calling Goonie "Mama" still embarrassed her a bit, but it also felt right, like it filled a spa her heart that she hadn’t known was empty. It meant so much, and though it left her cheeks pink, it didn’t feel wrong. She pressed a hand lightly to her chest, as if to steady the warm flutter there, before making her stairs.

  Ihroom, Leona studied herself in the mirror, her refle familiar but still worth scrutinizing. She leaned closer, her breath fogging the gss slightly as she exhaled. She tilted her head, catg the light differently, almost expeg to see something... off. Searg for any ges, any signs that the dream—or what she thought was a dream—might have left a mark. Her fingers ghosted over her cheek, then down her o her colrbone, but everythi ordinary. Her face, her body… it was all the same.

  There were no glowing marks, hereal aura, nothing to suggest she was anything more than a regur girl. Ahe lingering memory of transformation g her. She pressed her palms ft against the cool sink, closing her eyes. Images from the dream resurfaced with startling crity. The radiant form she had taken—so powerful, so unlike her mundane self. She remembered the statuesque figure from her dream and blushed deeply. Could it really have been just a dream? A fantasy? Was she sleepwalking?

  Her hand drifted to the hem of her shirt, tugging it up slightly to check the skih. She half-expected to find something hidden there: a sigil, a scar, something. But all she found was her pale, unmarked stomach. She sighed, feeling a pang of disappoi mixed with relief.

  She bit her lip, sidering the possibility that her subscious had jured it all from a deep yearning to be more like her heroes, not to mention her deep desire to be a real girl. She wished desperately that it ossible to ge her DNA, let alone correg all the little imperfes she had to live with. Her dysphoria aside, Leona had a desperate desire for something bigger, something beyond the simplicity of her current life. Her thoughts raced as she repyed the dream in fragments: the ower had surged through her, unbidden and exhirating. But if it wasn’t a dream… did she really have powers? And if so, what kind?

  Leona shivered, rubbing her arms against the chill in the air—or maybe against the thoughts cirg in her head. She thought of Bgel’s power over singurities and darkness, the void she wielded with terrifying ease. The look in her eyes as she’d wielded destru without remorse. Reporters sometimes caught some good footage of things she did, but many cked the ce. Would she fall the same way, corrupted by her abilities? She shook her head fiercely, catg her refle as her jaw set in quiet defiano. She wouldn’t let herself fall.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a kno the door. “Hey, girl,” Quinn’s familiar voice called. “I’m heading out. You wanna e along?”

  Leona startled slightly but quickly pushed herself upright, straightening her shirt. She opehe door to find Quinn leaning casually against the frame, her ever-present smirk firmly in pce.

  Leona put on a bright smile to greet her sister. “Yeah, that sounds good. I o get moving—but not in my pajamas.” She ughed, trying to shake off the heaviness of her thoughts, though the st remnants lingered like smoke.

  Quinn snickered, reag out to tousle her hair. “Nah, they’re adorable, but that’s your choice.”

  Leona batted her sister’s hand away with a mock gre, her grin widening. “Don’t push it.” She turned, heading toward her room, the earlier tension easing with each step. “Where to, though?”

  “Nothing crazy,” Quinn promised, though the mischievous glint in her eyes made Leona suspicious. “I ordered a deck, and it just came in. We’ll pick it up and maybe grab some lun the way back.”

  Leona paused mid-step, a skeptical eyebrow raised. “But your car was impounded… in the middle of nowhere.”

  Quinn blihen ughed, her hand rubbing the back of her neck. “You caught me. We’re hauling it home the old-fashioned way and I’m volunteering you.”

  Leona groaned, dragging a hand down her face as she shook her head. “You’re impossible.” But despite her exasperation, she felt the fai hint of a smile tugging at her lips. This was Quinn, after all. Chaos art of the package.

  “What have I gotten myself into?” she muttered under her breath, heading into her room. She grabbed a fresh pair of socks from a drawer, tossing them on the bed as she rifled through her closet. Eventually, she settled on a fortable outfit: a cami with a cartoon version of Mistral embzoned on it—her favorite piece of fan merd a pair of distressed jeans with fashionable holes over the knees. She took a moment to double-check that her gaff was secure, smoothing her hands over the tight fabrid feeling more at ease. fortable and cute.

  She slung a tote bag over her shoulder, pausing to tuck her phoo the inner pocket before heading downstairs.

  Goonie was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, arms crossed, her stance as unyielding as the expression on her face. “Where are you two going?” Her tone wasn’t harsh, but it carried the weight of expectation.

  Quinn came down beside Leona, her usual breezy smile pstered across her face as if she hadn’t a care in the world. “She’s just helping me carry the deck I ordered,” Quinn said ily, her voice pitched a touch too high. “You remember I mentio?”

  Goonie’s brow furrowed slightly, her eyes narrowing in that maternal way that always seemed to pierce through Quinn’s casual bravado. “Promise you’re not doing anything else foolish,” she said, leveling a look at her eldest.

  Quinn’s grin widened, her tone lilting with mischief. “When do I ever do anything foolish?”

  Goonie arched a skeptical brow, her silence speaking volumes.

  Leona bit back a ugh, watg the familiar daweewo. Quinn always tried to push her luck, and Goonie always brought her back down to Earth.

  Goonie sighed, rubbiemples as if to stave off a headache. “No car,” she said firmly. “One of us still has to work today.” She wagged a fi Quinn, punctuating her point. “But I’ll give you bus fare.”

  Quinn groaheatrically, her arms crossing under her chest. “Ugh, buses. I thought so.”

  Leona smirked, leaning against the banister. “So… we’re hoofing it all the way to the mall then?”

  Quinn shot her a look, half-annoyed, half-amused, before turnitention back to Goonie. With an exaggerated sigh, she extended her hand, palm up. “All right… bus fare, please. I don’t want the tyke getting tired from all that walking.”

  Goonie chuckled softly, shaking her head as she reached into the pocket of her apron. She pulled out a few crumpled bills and pressed them into Quinn’s outstretched hand. “There you go. ‘Thanks, Mom,’” she prompted with a teasing smile.

  Quinn accepted the money with a relut grumble, her bravado momentarily dimmed. “Thanks, Mom,” she mumbled, tug the cash into her pocket.

  As Quinn turoward the doonie leaned in close to Leona, her voice a spiratorial whisper. “Thanks for ag like she’d have to walk the whole way. That got her thinking a bit more.”

  Leona grinned, enjoying the subtle victory. She g Goonie, her lips quirking into a pyful smile. “I aim to please,” she whispered back.

  Before she could say more, Quinn groaned loudly from the doorway, her foot tapping against the floor in exaggerated impatience. “Clock’s tig! We gotta get to the bus stop ASAP. We might miss the one!”

  Leona rolled her eyes with a pyful huff, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she jogged to catch up. “Yeah, yeah, ing. Try not to melt while we wait for the bus.”

  Quinn smirked, tossing an arm casually over Leona’s shoulders as they stepped outside. “I’ll survive, but you owe me a snack for this hardship.”

  Leona ughed, nudging her sister’s side. “You’re impossible.”

  Relwing