three years later

Crimson darkness. Pain. Mohan struggled to hold something in her hand, something hard, wooden perhaps. It was slipping from her grip, but she could hold it no tighter. So weak.

Hold on.

Mohan awoke with her head aching and her mind in turmoil. She didn't know where she was at first, but then it all came rushing back. She had been driving home from the store when another car hit hers. It had happened so fast. The ambulance, the people surrounding her, the sirens . . . and then the decision she'd had to make.

It had been only the day before that she discovered she was pregnant. And when she had come to at the touch of an officer's hand, she knew that the life in her womb was fading. Numbing herself to her physical pain, she'd held on to him, willing her body to concentrate its healing to all that would keep her child alive. But it wasn't enough. She was too old. She knew she could not carry him. Her only hope was that one of her sisters would take him, for this was not something one could force on another. One would have to willingly do it.

Such a strain it had been to keep up with the paramedics, to not allow them to discover her pregnancy, the impending miscarriage she fought to prevent. Their machines could not be deceived, but their minds could. It was an easy thing to trick a hurried mind, eyes flashing over read-outs, but she'd had to trick two at once. Not so simple in her condition at the time, and even more difficult once she'd reached the hospital. She had only broken with her working when it was determined that she was in no danger and was left alone to rest. She had then refocused her efforts, called to her sisters, and fell into a healing sleep.

Now she was awake. She turned her head to the figure at the window and her eyes widened in gladdened surprise to see the red hair, brightened by the rays of the setting sun.

"Leigh."

Leisha spun around. "Mohan!" Her hand came halfway to her mouth as she remembered herself. "Hanna, you're awake!" Tears formed in her eyes as she took the seat beside her elder and grasped her hand.

"Anna's on her way here now," began Leisha.

"Leigh," Mohan interrupted.

"Patience isn't at home, probably at the library."

"Leigh."

"And Elyse — oh, her butler is maddening! — she isn't expected home for another hour but he said he would—"

"Leisha!" Mohan said as loud as she dared.

Leisha went abashedly silent and looked expectantly at Mohan.

"I must ask something of you, child," Mohan began.

"A transference!" Peia said in whispered amazement.

The four had gathered inside Ellarice's limo as soon as she had arrived with Peia, having found her at the library. The privacy wall was already up.

"We'll need all of us," Syanna stated.

Ellarice was looking at them as if disbelieving. "Personally, I can't believe Mohan would ask such a thing of you. It's too dangerous. And you and your husband are doing well to support the one you have. If I were you, I'd—"

"Well, you're not me! And I've already agreed," said Leisha.

"You don't have to do it! We have our five, and she said it would be enough," argued Ellarice.

"She said this one will go to the Realm with the others. She said he's meant to."

"Well, if he's meant to, then he should survive with her!"

Syanna broke in. "But this isn't our world. She cannot draw from the power of the Realm. We must aid her. Do you forsake your sacred vows, Ellarice? We do this for the Realm!"

Ellarice crossed her arms and looked out the darkly tinted window.

"He'll be so young still . . . when it's time," muttered Peia, hugging an armload of library books.

A second later, Ellarice looked at her with a curious expression. "But not too young."

"We're running out of time!" Leisha said.

"Then we must hurry," Ellarice said as she opened her door.

The rest quickly followed.

"I'm sorry. Visiting hours are over," said the lady at the desk.

The four turned around to face her.

"But we have to see her now," Leisha said pleadingly.

"I'm sorry. You'll have to come back tomorrow, I can't—"

"We will be allowed all the time we require," said Ellarice as she walked up to the desk.

The lady's face went blank. "Yes . . . of course. Go right ahead."

"And see that no one disturbs us," the witch added.

The lady nodded. "No one," she echoed.

Ellarice turned to Leisha with a smile and a gesture. "Lead on."