*Hecate*

"You sure you can do this?" Heather asked.

"Yep. I'm fine. Let's go."

Troy, New York used to be a nice, quaint little city. Now, it was a bustling city filled with skyscrapers and the latest technology. We passed a holosign on the way in, which isn't used any where except the big cities.

I turned back to the other three. "All of you still have disguises on. I did, however, change them. If you see that French guy again, avoid him. He shouldn't recognize you but still, he's dangerous." I looked towards Heather. "Okay, so I'm a little less okay than I said. You might need to help me a little. I'll make us invisible, but I still need you to lead me. Feel free to talk too. I'll block the sound."

I held my hand out towards her. She took it, surprisingly gently for 'not liking me'.

I breathed in and then out and the magic surrounded us. Our bodies were quickly made invisible.

"Can't you do this so I can see you too? Like how we couldn't see our disguises."

"I could, but isn't this more fun." She tried to pull out of my grip. "It's straining. I don't wanna tire myself out."

She stopped struggling. "Remind me why we're invisible?" She tugged me forward and we started walking. "Couldn't we just disguise ourselves?"

"Your parents are probably under high security. If anyone enters the rooms both us and them will be under high suspicion. When we get in, I'll change the video footage so it looks normal. It'll be...tiring."

She pulled me through a right turn. "Aren't you the queen of magic? Can't you do whatever?"

"My body, even if it's healing, is still under a lot of strain. This stupid city has silencers hidden in its architecture. It's a lot more work."

Left turn. We stopped and waited for the crosswalk to change. "I thought silencers only worked if you touched them."

"Depends on how you make them. The ones you, sorry, they used to chain magicians are contact based and strong. The ones built in the city are weak. They don't hurt they drain over time. Normally I could build up more magic than it can take but I'm kinda multitasking here so don't sass me young lady."

Another left turn. "Hatchet was usually tired."

"He's lazy. Jacin got his magic started in New York. He didn't have any here. Not enough for any silencers to effect him."

Right turn. I bumped into her when she stopped.

"This is where my dad works."

I looked up at the massive skyscraper.

"Medi-Tech? He's a doctor?"

"More like the doctor," she said, leading me in behind a disheveled business woman. "He's the third generation president of the company. My brother's in line for fourth."

We followed someone into the elevator. When the doors closed and the man wasn't looking, she clicked the top button.

She kept talking. "We're not meeting my brother though. He's an asshole."

"Good to know." I shook my free pointer finger at her even though she couldn't see me. "But watch your language, missy."

The elevator slowed until it clicked at the man's level. He stepped out and the doors closed again. We were headed to the top.

I could feel Heather's hand shaking and sweating as we slowed to a stop. I gave her a reassuring squeeze as the door opened.

The top floor was entirely surrounded by Windows that have an overview of the night city. One one side, there was a couch, two cushioned chairs, and a coffee table in the middle. To finish off the modern era look, there were two plastic trees on either side of the couch.

On the other side of the room, there was a desk covered with paper, files, and two computers. An older man sat in the chair, his gray hair slicked back. He wore thick framed black glasses. Thick bags under his eyes gave him the impression of being older than he really was. He was scribbling on a paper in front of his computer, too distracted to hear the elevator ding at our arrival.

I glanced to the walls to find two cameras looking at us. With a blink, my magic swirled into them, setting them on a loop of the last hour.

"Can you let him see me now?"

I let her hand go. Her body materialized. Her leather jacket and jeans became visible as well as her perfect dark brown hair that as tucked into the perfect ponytail.

I stayed close besides her, matching her steps perfectly.

"Dad?" Her shaky voice asked.

The older man jumped, looking up at Heather, never missing a beat over my invisible form. He stood up, pushing his hands on the desk to help.

"Heather?" His voice reminded me so much of Heather's. Stern and confident, though a bit confused at the moment. I didn't have to try hard to stop myself from laughing. No one could see or hear me, after all. So laugh I did.

I watched his hands closely, but they never made any moves towards the underside of his desk.

He moved around the desk, taking steps towards Heather and I. I held my magic at the ready, in case he made any sudden movements.

Still, I could feel it burning my back where I'd been attacked.

"What happened to you? Where've you been?"

"I'm okay," she said, carefully not revealing anything.

As if remembering that he wanted to hate his daughter, his expression grew stern.

"What happened to you?"

"I can't tell yo-"

"Heather. What happened to you?"

"I tried to save Commander Zeeli's little brother."

"Tried. I heard about that failed attempt. Well, that's what happens when you side with magic. I'm just glad you've finally come back to me."

She shook her head. "That's not why I'm here."

The man's eyes narrowed.

"You can show yourself now," Heather told me.

Before letting go of the invisibility, I changed myself slightly so that I wasn't me.

"Who's this...witch?" He sneered.

"My friend."

I resisted the urge to jump and cheer around the room at the word friend. So much for not liking me. I still couldn't hold back the little smirk.

"The magician?" He nearly laughed. "You're wrong."

"What?"

"She-she must be controlling you."

"No, Dad listen to me. I'm not-"

"No. It's impossible. There's no way my perfect little girl is siding with those...heathens." The man's gold gaze went to me. "Get out of my daughters head you little bitch!"

"Don't talk to her that way. She's not in my head. I made this decision on my own!"

"No, you're too far gone. For now."

His hand started reaching under his desk.

I snapped my fingers and his hand was jerked up. His body was pushed away from the desk and the little button that I knew was under it.

"Let go of me you little wench!"

"Don't call her that!" Heather yelled. "Listen to me because this is the last time in going to talk to you. Dad, I love you, but I didn't come here to listen to you call my friend a wench and a bitch. I made this decision on my own and there's nothing you can do to stop me." She turned to me, her eyes unusually soft and glossy. "Let's go."

I nodded, letting to of the man's body.

"Fine," he mumbled. "I tried to be sensible with you, but you chose them. If you want to live with the magicians, then you'll be treated like one." There was a pause. "Magicians in my office. Get them."

Heather turned to me with wide eyes.

I took her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. Now I pulled her towards the window. With a snap of my fingers, the glass pane was laying flat on the ground.

"After you," I said, giving her a low bow, "my dear friend."

She rolled her eyes but stepped onto the glass anyways. I followed after her.

I looked back at the infuriated doctor and stuck my tongue out at him. The elevator door gave a ding.

My foot tapped against the glass and we started to hover.

"Sit, sit," I insisted, pushing her shoulders down. "Don't lean over the edge. I'm giving the bottom of the glass a reflective surface and, this might be obvious but don't jump around a lot."

I made a swirl with my hands and a just of wind came at us. The pane of glass flew out the empty window.

When I heard the first gunshot, I instinctively lifted my hand, drawing up a barrier of pure magic to protect us.

When we were well out of range, I turned back to Heather.

It was...what I expected but at the same time not. She was sitting crisscross, her head buried in her hands and her elbows resting on her knees.

I scooted my butt over to her.

"What's with you soldiers and not being able to cry?" I asked, wrapping my good right arm around her and pulling her into me until I was laying down and she was on top.

"Crying is showing weakness," she sniffed. "Weakness is an opportunity for the enemy to get in and attack."

I snorted. "Harsh. Did they shoot you so you could run through it next time too?"

She let out a little weak laugh. "If you reach a high enough ranking they would."

I barked out a laugh. "I'd never make it there."

"The instructors at the Academy wouldn't know what to do with you. They're not used to people talking back to them or correcting them. You'd be their walking nightmare."

"Well good, those asshats deserve it."

"I thought you didn't curse."

"They deserve it...those asshats. Besides I only cure when it's worth it so better make it count. Asshats."

She laughed. "I'm sorry about your arm and back. It's kinda my fault. And I'm sorry that I wouldn't admit that I was your friend."

"Eh, I don't mind. I've been told that I'm incapable of feeling hate."

"Yeah, I know. I just wanted to tell you. Makes me feel better."

I nodded, bringing my hand up and brushing it through her hair.

"I can show you the world," I sang.

"Really?"

"Shining, shimmering, splendid."

"Whatever."