Helena’s elation was interrupted by the coachman’s nervous cough. “Will you need anything else Miss?” the man asked Alexis.

“Ah, that should be all,” the woman said with a dismissive wave and a smile.

“You’ll want to arrange a time for him to pick you up,” Helena interjected. “That is unless you want to walk back to your lodgings. Coaches don’t wait around here after dark.”

Alexis blinked then laughed. “Ah, well that should not be an issue. I don’t have lodgings in the city yet.” The fair skinned woman blushed slightly. “Perhaps you could suggest somewhere?”

“I don’t exactly know the quality hotels around here,” Helena replied dryly.

“That is… fine. You see I’m looking for something a little cheaper in the long term.” Helena raised an eyebrow and Alexis flipped her luggage in front of her. “My father is quite rich, but I left my house rather quickly. When I can return home I will have the money, but until then I am not quite as wealthy as one of my position should be.”

Helena sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I could probably talk Mr. Samuels into getting a spare bed in my apartment for a short term visitor. It would make studying the curse easier at least.”

Alexis smiled and nodded. “An excellent suggestion. I thank you for your gracious hospitality.”

“Let’s check with the actual owner first,” Helena replied. She turned around and gestured to Shannon and Moses. “Is your father in?”

Moses shook his head. “He’s out working with the bank. But mama’s home.”

“We’ll tell her you’re coming,” Shannon said before the two scampered off into the complex. Helena chuckled as she followed.

Sure enough as soon as Helena had helped Alexis through the door, Prudence Samuels was standing in the hallway. Prudence was short and still slender, though the years had started to dust her hair with grey. And unlike her husband, her smile never quite reached her eyes. “The kids say you’re getting a temporary roommate?”

“I have a client who will be staying here for a bit,” Helena explained then stood aside.

Alexis stepped forward and curtsied. “Yes. I would be indebted to you if I could stay here for a short amount of time.”

Prudence looked the woman up and down. “Well, so long as Helena’s fine with it I don’t see a problem. But we ain’t exactly the type of place designed for a fairy tale princess.”

“Ah,” Alexis looked embarrassed. “I’m hardly a princess. My father is a Pfalzgraf, or count. And I am not the type of woman to be upset about peas under my mattress. My realm is hardly as fantastical as that.”

“Well then miss, we’ll be happy to have you. Our apartments don’t discriminate against anyone, so long as they don’t cause a ruckus,” Prudence nodded curtly. “I’ll tell my husband about it when he gets back and we’ll move a spare pallet into the room. Should be about another hour or so.”

Alexis curtsied again. “You have my deepest thanks.”

Helena nodded. “It’ll be a great help.” She turned towards the stairs. “Let’s get your luggage stowed first. Have you eaten?”

“Ah, not since I broke fast,” Alexis replied.

“Then we’ll get dinner and you can explain this curse,” Helena said.

Helena showed the woman where to stow her luggage then began packing away her own supplies. As Helena sorted the various foodstuffs, she began assessing her new benefactor and roommate.

Alexis was obviously nobility, but she wasn’t the spoiled useless princesses of the deep fantasy realms. And while she was hardly an amazon, from the way she moved about her heavy suitcase she was obviously was no stranger to work. Or perhaps training. The titles Alexis used were from the Holy Roman Empire, a set of petty kingdoms that were filled with equally petty warfare.

As for the curse Helena saw nothing. That was very odd. Normally curses were happy to show themselves to her. The fact that it wasn’t immediately visible meant this was likely to be an interesting assignment.

Helena nodded in approval as Alexis replaced her riding boots with more solid traveling shoes. “Good,” Helena said. “It’s not too far of a walk, but you’ll want some protection from whatever’s been left on the streets.”

“I see,” Alexis’ nose wrinkled. “I had hoped the cities of more ‘modern’ realms would be cleaner.”

“I wish,” Helena muttered. “Anyway, let’s go. We should be able to beat the evening rush if we head out now.”

Helena took the lead again, heading down the stairway and out into the streets of the Immigrant Realm. “Is all the city so crowded?” Alexis asked as they began walking down the twisting throughways. “It seems strange that the boundless frontiers of the New World would be so filled with people.”

“The boundless frontiers are further in,” Helena replied. “This here… this is where the poor and those who can’t abandon the traditions of their old realms linger.” She paused and shrugged. “As well as those of us who can’t abide living in the countryside. Boundless frontiers sound nice, until you’re stuck in a town with two hundred people for a year.”

“I see,” Alexis gave her an appraising look. “You have lived your life in large cities then?”

Helena did her best to stand as tall as she could. “My family is from seven gated Thebes, oldest of the Hellenic cities. The only witch with a longer unbroken history is Circe herself.”

“Ah, that is wonderful!” Alexis smiled and clasped her hands together. Only a moment’s hesitation showed the move was less than genuine.

“Your etiquette teachers were very good,” Helena said as she returned to walking towards the restaurant. “I hope they were well compensated.”

“I learned by example,” Alexis replied with a sheepish grin.

Finally they arrived at the proper street. Helena walked down a short flight of stairs next to one of the apartments and opened a door marked only with laurel and olive leaves. She was greeted by the ringing of a bell and the smell of roasting meat. A smile formed on her face as a man wearing an apron bustled out of the back. “Helena!” the man said. “It is good to see you again. It’s been too long. Come sit, sit. A table for one, yes?”

“It has been too long, Petros. And today I have another guest,” Helena said stepping inside to allow Alexis to enter.

Petros clapped his hands. “Welcome, welcome! Any friend of Helena is a friend of ours. We here at Petros’ Cafe serve the only the finest in Greek cuisine,” he said with a wink.

Alexis gave her curtsey. “I am Alexis von Strausfen. I look forward to seeing what your wondrous establishment has to offer.”

“Oh, a noble?” Petros bowed. “Then we are doubly honored tonight. Come this way. Let me get you a table.”

Petros led them to a table near enough to the kitchen to feel the warmth, but not enough for the heat to become uncomfortable. He slid both chairs out and Helena and Alexis both sat down. “Your usual wine, Helena?” he asked.

“Yes,” Helena replied. “With the usual accoutrements.” Petros chuckled as he always did at her request, but hurried to the back to get it.

As they waited Alexis turned to her. “Is my nobility so obvious?” she asked, then blushed. “Ah excuse me. That sounds so pompous when I say it aloud.”

Helena raised an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t it be obvious in your realm?” She held up a hand and began counting off points. “First it’s obvious you’re from a realm that has ties to the outside world’s Germany. Your English is good, but not perfect, and you use German nouns occasionally. Only the nobility are allowed to use ‘von’ in their names, so you’re a noble, and a wealthy one at that. Based on those facts you’re either from the Black Forest or one of the deep fantasy realms, and no one interesting is a countess in the deep fantasy realms. That means you’re a noble from the Black Forest. Specifically that part of the realm that corresponds to the Holy Roman Empire.”

Alexis was staring with wide eyes as Helena finished her explanation. She did her best not to look smug as the noblewoman blinked in appreciation. “That’s so impressive! To know about so many realms and such minor details of their lives.” Alexis blushed again. “I barely know all the cities within my own realm. The Immigrant Realm was the only other realm I was certain existed. That and the ‘real’ world of course.”

“To be fair, remembering the realms is easy when you meet people from there on a regular basis,” Helena replied. “And here in the Immigrant Realm, even the poorest street urchin will meet people from across the universes.”

“I see.” Alexis frowned in thought.

They fell silent as Petros returned with an amphora and a dish filled with shaved ice. “Pramnian from Lesbos, as always.” He filled the glass three fourths full with the thick wine. As he finished with her glass Helena scooped up a good chunk of shaved ice and dropped it into her wine.

As she expected Alexis’ jaw dropped. It seemed the countess’ etiquette teacher hadn’t been perfect. Petros leaned over and whispered to the woman. “Helena is a bit old fashioned. Perhaps two thousand years or so. We Greeks used to think uncut wine was barbaric.”

Helena sniffed. “Some of us still do.” She sipped the wine and nodded appreciatively. While Petros might laugh at her, he was one of the few people outside of the Hellenic realms who served the famous wines of Lesbos. Even better he was one of the few people who did so and didn’t charge a king’s ransom for it.

“An interesting tradition,” Alexis replied before sipping her own wine. “Though perhaps with wines this strong I can understand its origin.”

Petros stepped back and pulled out a notepad, though Helena knew it was mostly just a formality. “Do you have a specific request, or will the house special suffice? We’ve prepared Giouvetsi today.”

“That should be fine,” Helena said. Alexis nodded politely. Petros bowed then headed back to the kitchen.

“So,” Helena said. “Now to business. Tell me about this curse. And what have you tried to remove it already?”

Alexis’ expression turned serious. “Well, at first I did not consider it a curse. After all my father has a magician, Nedvarious, on retainer to protect us from such things.” Helena sniffed at the obviously false name, but let Alexis continue. “It appeared as ill luck. A glass of water spilled on the stairs, a candle falling over with strong winds. Dangerous things if unattended, but accidents do happen.”

“Then it became more dramatic. Hanging knives falling from their pegs, doors flying open.” Alexis chewed on her lip. “The point when I knew it to be unnatural was when a solid railing gave way under a serving woman’s grip, causing her to fall upon me. We both escaped with simple bruises, but there was no way that was an accident.”

Helena’s eyes narrowed. “So the incident with the coach?”

Alexis looked surprised, then lowered her head in shame. “It was probably the fault of my curse yes. That is why I fled my home to seek a cure. I did not want to put my house in danger.”

“You didn’t even ask your court wizard?” Helena asked.

Alexis laughed nervously. “I didn’t consider it. My fear for my family overrode my reason. Something I regret.”

Helena sighed in understanding. “Sometimes we do things that seem reasonable at the time and regret them later.”

Petros stepped out with three plates, saving Helena from further reflection. Alexis cocked her head at the platters. “Lamb and rice with cheese?”

“It is not rice, it is kritharaki. An egg pasta. There is tomato sauce and shallots as well. And of course bread cooked with olive oil,” Petros said proudly as he set down the dishes. He turned his grin to Helena. “Just like the home realms, eh?”

“Nothing like my home realm,” Helena replied with a grin, “since my realm has an abundance of over muscled fools with spears and a painful lack of quality tomatoes.”

“Well, I’m sure you would use them if you had them.” He stepped back. “I shall let you two ladies return to your business and your meal. If you need anything, please tell me.”

Helena took a bite of the lamb as Petros recused himself to the kitchen again, and found it to be excellent. While she and the cook often exchanged barbs about the difference between their two realms, Petros was one of the few people who knew the old ways of seasoning food, and had blended them perfectly with the new ingredients the Americas had offered the world.

“He is an excellent chef,” Alexis said after finishing her own bite. “I am surprised his restaurant is so small.”

“This is fairly large for the city,” Helena said. “And of course if he added too many more people he’d have to teach them all how to cook the proper way.”

Alexis nodded slowly. “That would be a difficulty,” she said before returning to the meal.

They ate for a bit in silence, making up for their missed lunches, before slowing down and returning to business. Helena made the first move. “So, who did you see about removing this curse, and what did they say?”

“Well, first I went to the next county over and had a consultation with their witch. I avoided the witch near my father’s because, well, she is the most likely suspect when a powerful curse is involved, no?” Helena nodded. “However that witch found nothing. She claimed I wasn’t cursed at all.”

Alexis sighed. “That was repeated two more times, until I found a witch who finally believed me.” The woman grimaced. “At least she believed me when she found her pet snake had escaped and snuck into my riding boots while I was talking with her. She was the one who sent me to speak with the fae. The Gleaming Lady.”

“And what did the fairy say?” Helena asked.

“She said the curse was strange magic, and would require a true master of magic to handle,” Alexis said. “And they said the only trustworthy person they knew who fit that description was you.” The noblewoman smiled. “Thus I arrived here. I’m sure any woman who the fae speak highly of is one of the greatest witches in the world.”

Helena realized she was beaming at the praise and forced her expression into something more neutral. “Well, I am very skilled with curses. But I have to admit, my fame with the fair folk is more due to an accident of fate then my power. I can still do it, but removing a complex curse may take time. It’s much harder than creating one.”

A crash from the kitchen caused both women to flinch. When only a few curses from Petros followed Alexis returned her attention back to Helena. “How is that? I would think destroying would be easier than creating.”

“Exactly,” Helena replied. “A curse is destruction. It clings to its target, sometimes even after it has fulfilled the goals of its creator. Think of it like a wound. If it is shallow a bandage and time shall suffice. If it is deeper more complex care is required.”

Alexis’ face grew somber. “I see. So you are saying this will take some time to fix?”

“Maybe,” Helena replied. “Or perhaps it seems more complex than it actually is. I’ll begin my investigation after we finish here.”

“A reasoned argument,” Alexis said before sipping her wine again.

Helena took a drink as well before continuing. “One more question. Do you have any idea why someone would curse you specifically?”

Alexis shook her head. “I… I can’t think of any reason.” She smiled ruefully. “I mean, it’s not that my family is universally loved. My father has fought several border skirmishes if nothing else. But my father is still in good health, and my brother is heir.”

“Any past or current suitors?” Helena asked.

The noblewoman blushed. “Ah, no. At least not recently.” Her expression fell. “I was betrothed when I was young, but he died in a horse riding accident.”

“My condolences,” Helena said. She sighed. “Well the rest can wait.”

Helena carefully walked through the darkening streets towards 5th Street Park. The streets were getting cooler and picking up traffic, but the parks were clearing out. That would make it perfect for her spellcraft.

“Mr. Petros seemed quite pleased with your payment,” Alexis remarked as she followed behind. “Are silver coins so rare here?”

“He likes them for the novelty,” Helena replied. “It’s a symbol of Greece at its height to him. As weird as thinking of all the cities as ‘Greece’ is.”

“Ah, I think I understand the feeling. Every time someone talks about ‘Germany’…” Alexis waved her hands in a circle. “It is strange but you cannot really complain.” Helena nodded.

A few minutes later they emerged next to the small park. A few kids were still playing under the streetlight, but that wouldn’t be an issue. Helena walked to a small tree grove near the duck pond and opened her arms. “This should suffice for the first investigation.”

“Why here?” Alexis looked puzzled. “Why not your rooms?”

“Curses linger as I said,” Helena replied. “And daily life creates many curses. How many times have you cursed at a stuck door, or a loud floorboard?” Helena asked.

Alexis blushed slightly at the question. “But surely those have no meaning to them? I mean, I have no magic.”

Helena shook her head. “Magic is more complex than that.” She stretched. “And curses are a very old magic. The art of turning anger into action. Sure any curses you created are too weak to harm a fly, much less a human, but the curse on you is subtle. It might hide as one of those minor curses.”

“In any case, plants, especially living plants, purify areas. Thus why parks are usually free of curses. Unless something terrible happened,” Helena finished her stretches and turned towards Alexis. “So, if you could just hold still and breathe normally, we can begin.”

“Right.” Alexis stood up straight, like she was posing for a portrait, and slowly eased into a normal breathing cycle. Helena altered her own breaths to match the woman’s, letting them fall into sync.

Helena focused on her breathing. The cycling of air. She did not allow her consciousness to sink within herself, but rather focused on bringing the world into her consciousness. She began to smell the magic around her. The tangy scent of her wards, the sharp smell of a blessing placed long ago, the fragrant perfume of a thousand proposals, with a sour undertone of a few refusals.

She opened her eyes and saw the magic. Her own webs of power, carefully constructed to keep her from harm. Lingering scraps of magic on Alexis, probably from living near a wizard. A small glow around a new park bench from a consecration. And far in the distance, the web of power of the realm itself. A strange patchwork lattice of dreams, fears, and nearly forgotten memories.

Helena let the power within her flow out. The core of her spirit she rarely accessed. It was no more than a trickle of energy, but it oozed into the world with malice and judgement. Calling on other grudges to answer it.

A few small curses wafted up, but nothing arose from Alexis.

Irritation flowed through Helena. How insulting. Curses should bow to her whim. She channeled that annoyance into her hands and clapped once.

The clap reverberated through her, then exploded in a wash of wind and raw magical power. Helena struggled to keep her eyes open as the winds rushed over her. Alexis yelped and staggered back, throwing up her arm to shield her face as the power struck her. The rampaging zephyr slashed through the scents and colors, driving away the lingering magic, petty curses, and minor blessings like leaves in a storm.

Silence fell in the wake of Helena’s banishment for a single moment. Only her wards remained, glowing slightly brighter after having fended off the minor attack. That and the power of the realm itself.

As the yells of the children and annoyed adults broke the silence, Helena frowned. The curse should have fought off Helena’s dispelling attempt. And that should have left it out in the open for Helena to see. Instead there was nothing.

Helena was wondering if the fae were playing a practical joke on them both, when a faint smell wafted past. She froze at the scent, sniffing the air to try to pin it down, but it was gone as soon as it came. Still she was certain that for a single second she had smelled the sickening odor of rotting meat.

The smell of a death curse.

“What was that?” Alexis asked. “Did you banish the curse?”

Helena shook her head ruefully. “No. That curse of yours is well hidden. Let’s head back to my apartment for now.” She decided to keep the severity of matters to herself.

Alexis looked around in confusion at that. “Wait, could you perhaps explain-”

“No time,” Helena said. “I don’t really want to be explaining magic in depth to an annoyed crowd.”

Helena turned around and froze as she found herself staring at the one person she least wanted to meet. A tall heavyset man wearing the weatherbeaten blue outfit of the realm’s guards. Inspector Kilduff looked down at her with folded arms and a sneer. “What’s all this then? Causing a public disturbance? Didn’t I tell you to stay out of trouble girl?”

“I was performing a simple magical divination,” Helena replied curtly. “No louder than the drummers who perform near my house every summer around this time of night.”

“Drummers don’t have witchcraft with them. At least not the sorry lot that plague this city,” the policeman replied. “And no drummer turned a man into a crab on my watch.”

“He was trying to stab me at the time,” Helena pointed out. “And that’s over and done with. Can we go now?”

Kilduff’s gaze shifted up to where Alexis was trying to take stock of the situation. “I think I’ll double check matters myself, if you don’t mind.” Helena did mind, but she could tell the Inspector didn’t actually care about that.

The Inspector’s expression was less pointed as he walked past Helena to speak with Alexis, but he still wasn’t yielding any authority. “Forgive me miss for bothering you more, but I’d like your account of events here.”

“Ah, well,” Alexis shook her head to steady herself, then stood up straight again. “I am Lady Alexis von Strausfen, recently arrived in the city. I have purchased Helena’s services in ridding me of a very vexing curse, and she cast some spells on my bequest.” She curtsied. “I deeply apologize if this caused any undue disruption of your fair city. I shall do my best to avoid such commotion in the future.”

The inspector frowned deeply, bringing his lantern up to head height and looking into Alexis’ eyes. Most likely he was searching for the signs of hypnotism or other mental enchantments, Helena figured. After a long minute of searching he grunted in annoyance and lowered the lamp. “Well then, I can’t hold you for something like that. But keep the noise down.” He looked briefly down on Helena and sneered again. “And if you be asking me, you’d be better off seeing a priest about curses instead of a bride of Satan.”

“I’m not married,” Helena replied. Alexis had to choke back a snort while the inspector glared at her. Sniping at the man wasn’t wise, but it was fun.

“Keep that in mind lass,” Inspector Kilduff said before stalking off into the night.

Helena sighed. “My thanks. Now let’s get back before more of that happens.”

“Very well, but I would like some answers,” Alexis replied as she fell in behind Helena. “After all I am paying for this.”

“I’ll explain when we get there,” Helena promised.

At least, as much as she could.

Helena set a pot of mint tea to boiling when they reached her apartment, while Alexis sat down on the bed that the Samuels had been so nice to bring in. The noblewoman had been silent all along the way back, and Helena guessed that she was going to take the revelation poorly.

After she finished putting the tea on she turned her desk chair to face Alexis. “What I did was perform a simple spell to remove concealing magic. That should have cleared everything the curse was hiding behind.” Helena sighed. “Unfortunately your curse is very good at staying hidden.”

“So you found nothing,” Alexis asked with some distress.

“No,” Helena said calmly. “I found something. I know there’s a curse there. A strong one as well. But it’s incredibly stubborn about hiding. Normally curses flock to me. This one refuses to come out at all.”

Alexis slowly wrung her hands. “I see. If you’ll forgive me, I have another question.” The noblewoman looked straight at her. “Why is your magic so much different from the mages in my home realm?”

Helena grimaced. She’d been expecting this. “My magic looks different for a variety of reasons. But the biggest one is, I’m more powerful than the witches you worked with.”

“Oh?” Alexis raised an eyebrow. “Forgive me if I did not notice.”

Helena sighed, then snapped her fingers. Every light in the room snuffed out instantly as a glowing blue circle appeared beneath her feet. Alexis stared in awe as nine small lights floated up from the circle and arranged themselves around Helena in the planetary orbits. Helena let the lights cycle around her a few times, before snapping her fingers again. The lights sprung back on and the circle vanished. “I trust I have proved myself?”

Alexis looked at the floor. “My apologies for doubting you.”

“Well, I can’t blame you too much.” Helena leaned back in her chair. “I was raised in the Hellenic realms, where the Olympians reign. Magic is different there. For example, what would happen if someone built wings of gull feathers and wax and tried to fly with them in your realm?”

Alexis blinked. “Well, unless they were blessed or had magic feathers, I imagine they would end up on the ground either looking silly, dead or both.”

Helena nodded. “In my realm, building wings like that actually lets people fly. Magic is just that easy. Now admittedly I don’t have as much ambient magic to work with here, but as a witch that’s hardly a problem. But because of my training my divinations just don’t have the same grandeur other people’s spells do.”

“That isn’t to say I can’t use other styles. I’m not a backwater country bumpkin,” Helena summoned a smaller mystic circle above her hand. “But in general my day to day spells are based around more simple rituals.” She shrugged and dismissed the circle. “I imagine if I started sacrificing goats that might be more magical to your eyes, but people frown on that here. And goats are expensive.”

Alexis’ concern seemed to have vanished into curiosity as she leaned forward. “But how then does that make you more powerful? Wouldn’t doing magic in realms where magic is more plentiful make things harder for you to adjust?”

Helena spread her hands. “Magic is a complex thing. It’s one half ritual, one half sleight of hand, one half personal power, and one half telling the part of the universe that is complaining about you having three halves already to shut up and get in line or else.” She shrugged. “Thus the fact that I know I can use magic makes it easier for me to use magic.”

Alexis blinked repeatedly at the declaration. “But that doesn’t make any sense…”

“And that’s why I’m the witch,” Helena replied.

After a long pause Helena sighed. “My tutor once said magic is insanity, and witches are insane. But that’s something of a misnomer. Insanity is believing that the impossible is possible. Magic is knowing the impossible is impossible, and then doing it anyway.” Helena fixed her gaze on Alexis and was pleased to see the woman shiver. “Magicians are beyond insane.”

The seconds slipped through Chronus’ fingers as Helena stared at Alexis. The blonde woman shifted and twitched under her unyielding gaze.

Finally Helena leaned back. “And now that I’ve finished showing off my strange mystical powers I hopefully have proven I’m strong enough to help you out.”

Alexis nodded. “Yes. That should do nicely.” The woman smiled slightly. “Though if you want my advice, it might be better advertisement if you pretended to require the flashy techniques of other magicians. Explaining your power after you’ve got a client is less effective.”

“I’m a witch, not a thespian,” Helena muttered turning away from the woman. “And I wouldn’t be interested in becoming one even if they let women become thespians.”

“Indeed.” Alexis chuckled, then unfolded her arms and stood. “What then is our plan for the rest of tonight?”

Helena pulled out a book from the shelves. “We rest until tomorrow, when I can go somewhere a little better for conducting rituals and try a more powerful spell. Without having to worry about making the neighbors angry.” She looked at the noblewoman. “I don’t suppose you had space for reading material. What languages do you know?”

“Ah?” Alexis blinked. “German, Latin, English, French and Russian.”

“Bah, Latin,” Helena muttered. “Stupid monks, putting all the works into that farce of a language.” She pulled out two books. “Would you prefer the Odyssey or the story of Jason and the Argonauts?”

“The latter,” Alexis replied. “I’d prefer to read the story’s end, even if it does end poorly.”

Helena nodded. “Fair enough.” She pulled out a tome then handed it to the noblewoman. “Ignore my snide comments in the margins when it gets to Medusa and Medea.”

“Of course,” Alexis replied with a smile that meant she would do no such thing. Ah well, Helena wouldn’t explain matters.

“The water closet is next to my bedroom. Feel free to use the shower as well,” Helena said as she pulled out a book of poetry. “We’ll leave for breakfast after sunup.”