"You need to eat something, Baby," Zita coaxed, lifting Soph's spoon from her bowl of cereal and proffering it like she was feeding a child. Soph turned her head away with a grimace.

"Stop, Mum, I'm not hungry!"

Zita let the spoon fall back in the cereal with a splash and crossed her arms over her chest, regarding her daughter frankly.

"What's going on, Baby? Yesterday you were full of beans and today you're pale as a ghost. If you don't feel well, we should call your doctor. You could be septic."

"Mum," Soph groaned. "I'm just tired and sore. Yes, maybe I overdid it yesterday. But I'm fine. I don't need to see a doctor."

And it was the truth. After her romp with Eli then her night on the bathroom floor in the cold, her body was really feeling it. Even double dosing her pain medication didn't quite relieve the throbbing of her shoulder.

Eli stood at the end of the kitchen counter, eating his own cereal with an almost unseemly famish. He looked fresher today and more himself, with only a slight febrile sheen to his skin. He watched the exchange between Zita and Soph, but said nothing.

"Perhaps a fresh juice will be more palatable, Miss Sophia," Cole offered, pushing a glass of fresh squeezed juice across the granite counter towards her. Soph didn't really feel like juice either, but with Zita watching her so pointedly, she had no choice but to raise the glass for a sip. A breeze whooshed by her, and suddenly Chase was standing next to her chair, close enough that his chest touched her shoulder.

"Fuck, Chase!" She gasped, fumbling the glass of juice. It sloshed across the counter and Cole frowned. "Don't do that!"

"Soph, turn on the TV," he told her urgently, seemingly unaware that he'd just scared the life out of her.

"The TV? What for?"

"Someone got footage of the penthouse."

The kitchen fell silent and Soph's heart faltered. Then there was a clamour as they all raced to the living room. Soph, with her injury, was last to get there and the other four were crowded around the TV. Zita had the remote and was turning up the volume.

"-Exclusive footage from the penthouse the night Sinister collapsed, killing over six hundred people. Now, one side of the battle that brought down the tower is unknown, but it's been confirmed that the side with their backs to the camera include bride-to-be Luisella Del Monte, her cousin Sophia Giannopoulos and vampire movie star Chase Rickon. Warning. This footage is unedited and very graphic."

The battle hit the screen with a cacophony of screaming and shouting. For a moment there was only dust and movement, then the camera focussed on the fight in time to see Chase lunge for a predator witch with unnatural speed, grab her and snap her neck. The light witches chanting was just audible as they summoned a ward. Usually invisible, the magic was only traceable where it rippled through the dust in the air. Chase was thrown back with the predator witches.

The room shook, and the person holding the camera swore. The footage blurred as they moved, then they focussed from closer to the exit. Sierra stepped into the room and even seeing her on the screen made Soph's stomach lurch. Red eyes glowing, Sierra waved her hand and the ripple in the dust vanished. The footage blurred again, and then the light witches were running. The person holding the camera ran with them, spinning at the door to show Soph facing Sierra alone. Both witches attacked and this time the magic crackled through the air, throwing sparks of purple and black electricity.

"Cole," Eli said slowly.

"I see it," Cole replied.

On the screen, Soph cried out and her hair whipped about her, though she distinctly remembered the oxygen being sucked from the room by the magic. Cracks appeared on the floor and walls.

"Soph!" Luie screamed, very close to the camera. Then the footage blurred as the last of them fled the penthouse.

The screen returned to the reporter who looked dumbfounded.

"Wow, wasn't that something. We'll be crossing to the experts who will dissect the battle and explain exactly what happened."

The room was silent and Soph gripped the back of the lounge, sure she was going to be sick. The other four turned to stare at her, though she avoided meeting any of their eyes.

"Fuck, Baby!" Zita gasped, and she sounded close to tears. Eli took a step toward her, then froze, paling.

"The Light Witch is here," he whispered. Cole strode to the window and looked across the lawns.

"There's a car stopped at the end of the drive," he informed them.

"That's Soph's cousin and Nona," Zita groaned. "They said they'd be round today, and I completely forgot."

Nona was here. Soph's stomach dropped, and yet an intense anger was building in her chest. She met Eli's eye. He'd just said the Light Witch was here. That meant Nona was a Founder too. Her connection to Sierra was suddenly crystal clear. She whirled, striding out of the living room, through the kitchen and out to the entrance hall.

"Soph!" Eli called, then suddenly he was at her side, grasping her arm. "You can't go down there."

"Watch me," she hissed, yanking her arm free. She jerked the front door open and strode across the lawn to the gate. Eli had no choice but to follow her. Luie's car was at the bottom of the drive, stopped just inside the gate.

"Soph!" she called when she spotted her cousin approaching. "We can't get further than this. Nona said there's a barrier blocking the way?"

Soph paid Luie no heed, instead fixing her attention on the old woman who got out of the passenger side of the car.

"Sophia," Nona said, her tone pleading. Anger ripped through Soph so red hot that she might as well have had predator blood in her system. Without breaking her stride, she slammed her hands out. Raw energy ripped from her palms and exploded against the barrier, sending shockwaves upwards.

"Fuck, Soph!" Eli grabbed her bodily, forcing her hands back to her sides. On the other side of the barrier, Luie cried out, throwing herself back behind the car. Nona didn't flinch.

"What debt?" Soph screamed at her grandmother, wrestling futilely to get free of Eli. "What fucking debt were they calling in?"

"Sophia," Nona said again, as if Soph hadn't just tried to blast her to smithereens. "You must come with me. You cannot trust this man."

"Not until you give me a fucking answer!" Soph got an arm free and slammed her fist down on Eli's forearm where it still circled her. He grunted, but didn't let her go. "You sold me out to Sierra! Tell me what the fucking debt is!"

"Sophia," Nona warned. Soph screamed, unleashing the fury she could no longer contain inside.

"Soph, stop!" Eli applied supernatural pressure and pulled her to the ground. Her knees hit the grass and she fell to all fours, breathing hard. Her shoulder throbbed under the weight it held and dizziness threatened to send her into unconsciousness. Finally there was silence.

"Sophia. I will explain what happened when you come with me. You cannot trust this man. You don't know who he is."

"Oh, I know who he is," Soph gasped, looking up at Nona who stood, hands clasped before her, on the other side of the barrier, "and I know who you are. I won't go anywhere with you until you tell me exactly what debt Sierra was calling in."

Nona surveyed her with a sharp eye and a magical aura rippled from her, making her seem twenty years younger.

"Sierra the Black Witch and I, Teresa the Light Witch made a pact two lifetimes ago. She would hide my essence from the gaian witch for a lifetime and I would do the same for her in a future lifetime. She called in the favour twenty-five years ago and I hid her essence in you."

Soph didn't know what to say. She had no idea what the fuck an essence was, or what Nona had done to her. Eli, however, seemed to understand perfectly.

"You what?" he exploded, finally releasing Soph and lurching to his feet. Soph rocked back to her knees, but didn't rise. "You condemned your own blood to die just to hide that bitch from me?"

Soph's heartbeat faltered, and an icy wave of dread washed over her, extinguishing her hot anger.

"Own blood to die? What does that mean?" Zita. Soph hadn't even realised she and Cole had followed them down.

"Sophia, Zita," Nona pleaded. "Let's leave here and talk elsewhere."

"No," Eli thundered. "You tell them right here what you did, or I will."

Nona gave him a scathing look, but Eli wasn't bluffing. He turned to face Zita and Soph. "Teresa has hidden the Black Witch Founder's magic in Soph. Apparently, the Black Witch, Sierra, wants it back now."

"How does she do that?" Zita whispered as though she already knew. Soph stared straight ahead, anticipating Eli's response, but feeling its hollow echoing as he said, "she takes it back by putting a kinship blade in Soph's heart."

Her lack of breakfast was probably the only thing that kept Soph from vomiting. Her hands scrunched in the grass, anchoring her, and she groaned.

"I'm sorry, Sophia." Nona said, "I was angry at your mother and I took it out on you. I should have put the essence in someone else. Perdonami."

"Wait," Zita took several steps to stand in front of Soph. "Let me get this straight. Because you didn't approve of my life choices, because you didn't like Chris or think I should have a baby with him, you cursed my daughter and now the witch who owns those powers wants them back?"

"I'm sorry, Zita," Nona's hands came together before her heart as she begged forgiveness. Zita's hand snapped up, palm out, to halt her words.

"Don't you dare try to justify this, Ma. This was the last straw. You are dead to me."

"Zita!" Nona cried but Zita turned tail and stalked away.

"Perhaps we should let Teresa in to discuss this further?" Cole suggested.

"If she comes in," Soph's voice was hoarse, but her gaze where it rested on her grandmother was hard. "I'll be leaving. She gave permission to Sierra to call in the debt and kill me. I can't trust her."

Soph's tone may have offered no room for negotiation, but her insides still churned fearfully. She almost expected Eli to let Nona in. She was the Light Witch afterall and he needed her powers. Instead, he held out his hand and helped Soph to her feet.

In a fluid movement he drew her into his arms - warm, safe - and turned her back towards the house.

"Not today, Cole," Eli said heavily. They started back up the lawn, but when they passed Cole, he put out a hand to stop them.

"Eli," he warned. "Both Light and Black powers are within grasp."

A lump formed in Soph's throat as she realised he was talking about her. Eli shifted ever so slightly, putting himself between her and Cole.

"One more word," Eli hissed, "and I will force you back into Nevermore so hard you'll be digging yourself out of that godforsaken rock for centuries."

Cole didn't respond, and Eli led Soph away. She didn't look back to see what Luie and Nona were doing.

The kitchen was silent, their breakfast still spread across the bench. The TV in the living room was still on, though thankfully the news had moved on from the battle in the penthouse.

Through the glass doors, Soph could see Zita pacing along the decking beside the pool, a cigarette between her fingers. Chase was there too, perched on the end of one of the deck chairs.

Soph dropped onto the lounge and Eli sank down beside her, resting his face in his hands. She stared at the TV - a missing persons report for a local socialite - and let a numbing shock settle over her.

She could admit relief at finally having answers, but the hurt at her grandmother's betrayal and the fear of not knowing what would come next far outweighed it. If Sierra was willing to risk toppling a high rise building and bring the witch community into the public eye to get her magic back, then she wouldn't stop. In fact, she was probably close by, waiting to get Soph on her own without Eli.

The TV flashed up one last photo of the missing girl, Ella Harrington, then it switched back to the Sinister collapse, once more showing the footage of the witch battle. Eli shifted, peering at the TV through his fingers.

He watched the entire clip without speaking, then sat back, dropping his hands to his lap.

"Did you know this entire time that she came to Sinister for you and not me?"

Soph nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was scared," she whispered, fingers knotting tightly together in her lap. The footage they were showing again on the TV was shocking, but it was hardly the scariest part of the night. The footage didn't show their flight down the stairwell to escape Sierra, didn't relay the horrific whistling noise from beneath their feet.

As the footage reached Soph's solo fight against Sierra, Eli abruptly stood, moving to the TV and drawing an arc over the battle with his finger.

"This is the Founder magic," he explained as the black electricity crackled through the air. "Only founder magic leaves visible traces. If the essence is in you, then that's you creating that disturbance. But Sierra is resisting with strength she shouldn't have. Something is bolstering her."

"She had red eyes," Soph said as Eli picked up the TV remote and slowed the footage down. "She'd probably taken predator blood."

Eli shook his head. "Vampire blood doesn't make a black witch stronger, it just transfers the vampire powers for a while."

"It makes a light witch stronger though." Soph twisted her head to find Zita leaning against the glass door her cigarette still dangling from her fingers. Chase was standing nearby. Cole was there too, hands clasped behind his back as he watched from the kitchen.

"She's not holding a crystal though."

"She's wearing carrier jewellery," Zita pointed and Eli paused the footage. It was blurry, but Soph could see the silver glinting on Sierra's hands, spread across her fingers like knuckle dusters.

"So she was born as a light witch," Eli let out a huff of laughter and rubbed his brow. "That must grate."

"How could she be born a light witch if she's supposed to be the Black Witch Founder?" Soph wrapped her arms across her stomach. She experienced a familiar wistfulness of not belonging to a coven to learn these sort of things, followed by a stark realisation that no coven would know these secrets.

"Because she's not. You are. Her soul retained the past lifetime memories, but without the Black Witch essence, it was completely random as to which body she was born into."

"Look, I'm trying to pick this Founder thing up as quickly as possible," Zita drew on her cigarette, turning her head to blow the smoke back outside, "But what's the purpose of this? Why would she give away her essence?"

"All Founders know each other," Eli explained. "there's a kinship bond that carries us through the lifetimes. Separating the essence from the kinship soul breaks the bond and allows that Founder to go undetected for whatever reason they need."

"But only for a lifetime," Cole interjected and Eli shot him a hard look. "Either the Founder needs her essence back before she dies to reunite it to the kinship soul or she will have a final death and the holder of the essence becomes the Founder and is bound to infinite lifetimes carrying it."

"Cole," Eli warned, though his tone was sad. He glanced at Soph and she realised he probably wanted to break this news to her gently. Still, it hit her like a stake to the chest. There was no good outcome from this. Either Sierra would kill her or she'd take on the Founder's curse.

***

A light knock sounded on the bedroom door. Soph didn't acknowledge it, instead kept her gaze fixed on the sky through the window. She did pull the grey duvet a little higher, tucking it under her chin. A moment later Zita sat down on the bed by her feet.

"Eli has properly explained this Founder business to me and what he is in this game," she said quietly, smoothing the blanket over Soph's feet. "It's quite an epic tale."

"You're telling me," Soph murmured.

"I feel like this is my fault," Zita admitted after a long silence. "If I'd just toed the line, married the man she wanted me to, then she wouldn't have done this."

"Mum, it's not your fault." Soph reached down the bed, taking her mother's hand in hers. "If it wasn't me then she would have done it to someone else. Luie or one of the other cousins."

Zita squeezed her hand and sighed. Together they stared out the window. Birds flew past, twittering, and a breeze rustled the trees along the fence line. It was a beautiful day, completely at odds with the somber mood within the mansion.

"Baby," Zita began slowly and Soph had the feeling she was about to get more bad news dumped on her. "I know it's difficult to make decisions now, but I feel like we need to talk about Eli. He's hunting those powers like Sierra is. He's in shock now, but once his head clears he's going to have to make some hard decisions too."

"I don't want to talk about it," Soph said more harshly than she intended.

"I know, Baby, but we have to. I can get you out of here. I think Chase would help. I'll take you to your father; he has witches in his maternal line that can ward you. You don't have to decide today, but you need to be prepared in case Eli turns on you."

Soph stared up at the ceiling, willing tears not to fall. Her final safety net - Eli Damiani - was now possibly one of her greatest threats. If Eli turned on her, there would be nothing she could do to protect herself. It was game over.

***

Eli didn't come to bed until late that night. Soph heard him creep in, listened to him shower and change, then felt him crawl into bed. He didn't touch her, rather he lay still on the other side of the bed. Soph lamented how the security she'd felt with him had now vanished. Only the night before she'd hidden in the bathroom, waiting for him to return home to protect her, and now she wondered if he'd be the one to drive a knife through her heart.

Eventually she rolled over to face him. He was on his back, staring at the ceiling. When she moved, he tilted his head to the side. Their eyes met and she searched his, looking for the trust that had always bound them.

"Can you promise me something?" she whispered. "If there ever comes a day when you have to take the powers from me, can you give me a heads up? Give me the opportunity to run for my life?"

He swallowed back a lump, nodding. His hand found hers beneath the blankets and he twined his fingers through hers.

"I promise."