“Come in Mr. Osgood please take a seat. “ Victoria’s mother said as she ushered him into the formal living room. “Can you explain how my daughter has gotten into so much trouble with the police? One officer told me that she was accused of murder.” Osgood looked at Victoria and shrugged. Then back to her mother.

“Mrs. Leighton, I don’t know what the police told you.” He sighed. “They have cleared your daughter of any wrongdoing. In fact, she may have helped apprehend the murderer.” “Baby girl.” Her mother said. Reaching out to her daughter, she gathered her into a hug and pulled her down into a seat on the couch. “Your father always said how smart you were and you proved it.” She said beaming. “But what are they going to do about all the pictures on the news?” “Pictures on the news?” Victoria squeaked. She glanced at Osgood and saw the anger on his face. “The police Sergeant was overzealous. I’m certain there will be an apology forthcoming.” The large man said menacingly. “Well, the sooner the better I don’t want my daughter's grades impacted. The school has already called and let me know she is on at home suspension until the matter is resolved.” “What?” Both Victoria and Osgood said in surprise. “Yes, it was shocking to me. Victoria has never had a problem at school.” Then she temporized, “Well, a real problem at school.” “A real problem?” Osgood asked. “Oh yes, in third grade she went around claiming that she was seeing fairies in the backyard.” She said with a smile directed at her daughter. “We all thought it was like an imaginary friend.” The big man nodded in agreement. “Likely.” He said in response. “Was there anything else unusual about her childhood Mrs. Leighton?” He asked. “Call me Barbara please.” The woman said automatically as she thought. “Ah, Barbara, was there anything unusual about your pregnancy?” Osgood caught the fearful glance the woman directed at her daughter then observed her as she tried to lie to him. “Absolutely not. A perfectly normal pregnancy.” He knew he was onto something here and there was a thread. “But not a usual conception?” He asked. “No,” she said sharply, then nervously looked down at her watch. “Victoria go put the noodles on, please while I talk with Mr. Osgood.” “You may call me Erasmus,” Osgood stated politely. “Go on, I will not harm Mr. Osgood,” Barbara said as she scowled at the older man. After Victoria left, she Hissed at him. “You have no right.” “Ma’am,” He said in surprise. “She is our daughter, I gave birth to her. Just like her brother. They are ours.” She said in a quiet, angry voice that was all the scarier for its intensity. “I don’t know what you think I’m accusing you of.” The man said his brow wrinkled. “Perhaps I should start from the beginning.” That was the last Victoria heard before she went into the kitchen to start the noodles as she had been ordered to. “Hey, Torey.” She heard her brother say as he came strolling into the kitchen from the bedrooms. “Vincent,” She said hugging him and weeping. “Hey, hey what happened?” He said in a shocked voice as his usually unflappable sister had a mini-meltdown. “MY whole life is coming apart on me.” She said weeping. “Since the thing with my birthday…” “Uh, what thin…” He asked, but his sister overrode his question as she continued to talk. “To the fight with Karen and finding out she was a killer ensec.” “Ensec…” He asked in confusion. “All this while finding out I have magic.” “Wait, weren’t you going to the gaming club on your birthday?” He asked. “She sniffed. Yes, but nothing happened there. It was when I got home.” “You’re telling me you have magic?” Her brother asked in disbelief. Victoria nodded. Then got down a pot and started filling it with water. “I can cast magic. Energy darts, locate monsters, healing, and a few others.” She replied. “Bull,” Vincent said. “I can prove it to you.” She replied and opened up the back door onto the rear yard. She chose a target, then willed her energy darts to engage. Vincent saw streaks of energy shoot from her hand and strike a low hanging tree limb. The bark exploded outward, and the limb dropped to the ground. Turning, she looked at her brother and saw his mouth open wide. “Uh, Victoria? How did you do that?” “Magic.” She replied. “So don’t piss me off. I’ve had a terrible week.” Her brother blinked at her, then craned his neck around her at the still smoking limb. “Right, uh, I’ll be in my room.” She nodded, then picked up the pot that was three-quarters full of water and set it on the stove to boil. “Victoria.” She heard her mother call from the living room. She found her there with a sheen of glow about her. “Mom?” She asked when she came in. “Is what Erasmus says true?” She said glaring at the big man than her daughter. “What did he say?” “Atlantis, magic, monsters and a great library?” The older woman fretted as she pulled on the left side of her hair. Victoria sighed, stepped up and took her mother's hands. “Mom, that's what the library told me. It's just… so fantastical. But how, why me?” She pleaded. Barbara looked over to Erasmus Osgood. Then down into her lap. “You can not tell your brother.” She admonished. “Your father and I had always meant to take this to our grave.” Victoria nodded. “I swear mom.” “Your father and I always wanted children. But he had mumps when he was a teenager.” She said shamefacedly. “I was also infertile my ovaries didn’t produce eggs correctly.” She said Victoria saw the tears in her mother's eyes. She hugged her. “What did you do?” Erasmus asked. “We adopted,” Barbara said with pride. “But the video?” Victoria asked. “Interesting,” Osgood said the big man. “Oh, baby girl, it wasn’t like that that video is you being born from me. Your father and I were never more happy than when you were born.” She said with a smile as she opened her eyes and cupped her daughters cheek. “We adopted embryos that had been abandoned.” “Interesting,” The big man said thoughtfully. “Do you recall the company's name or the parents' names?” Barbara shook her head with a negative, tears falling from her blue eyes. “It was a double-blind adoption the family wouldn’t know us and we wouldn’t know the family.” The older man grunted. “So Just Victoria then?” He asked. “No, She and Vincent are full brother and sister. Twins from the same batch of embryos the doctors said.” Victoria looked at Osgood and he at her, both sharing a thoughtful glance. “We may need the rest of the paperwork to track this lead down…” He said. “Why?” Barbara asked. “What good is it the family knowing they didn’t want them we did.” She said as she desperately clutched at her daughter. “It does the family no good.” Osgood agreed, and then he cupped his chin in thought. “But what ill does it do your daughter to know her full ancestry? In our world often enemies and allies are drawn by the blood ties. She needs to know what she may face as does your son.” He put his head in one hand. “I wonder what irresponsible lout has done this.” “Regardless Victoria needs to learn how to handle her powers and abilities.” “What about my brother?” Victoria asked. Let us consume one kettle of fish at a time.” The old man quipped. Then he looked at the teenager. “You may wish to go check on those noodles.” Then laughed. I think I smell something burning. Looking horrified, the young woman ran from the room. Only as she left, realizing her mother hadn’t disagreed with Mr. Osgood. As she stepped into the kitchen, she saw the ghost of Jim Bowie hovering over the stove. “Those are some pretty fair looking Vittles Miss. “He said with a smile. “Ready for your first lesson?” The ghost asked with a smile. Her first thought was could a ghost eat? Then she wondered how her life had come to this.