Benet and Nadir make their way with Eugene to their apartment above Green Men Flowers. Benet flips on the lights within the apartment. The apartment is neat and well put order, minus the endless plants and plenty of books on spells, charms, dragon folklore, and other subjects like how to enchant your car and other modern devices. The plants and the books on every free shelf are loving arranged with care. The bean bag chairs are well kept with deep navy coverings and throw pillows with tiny images of dragon-cats. An enchanted fireplace keeps the room comfortable in the cold autumn night. Fairy lights hand from the ceiling. The walls are filled with prized ribbons from dragon racing and dragon-cat breeding. Other wall decorations are pictures of family and friends. A painting, albeit terrible, of a forget-me-not hangs by the fireplace with Nadir's name signed. One of the first gifts Nadir made for Benet while they were dating.

Benet enters and notices the television is left idle. He flicks it off. It is an older television from the early 2000s rest on the stand. Different game consuls are neatly in place with controllers tucked away. The collect of game cartridges are orderly with their labels. All of them belong to Benet as gifts from his godfathers, Wolfie and Joseph. Eugene snuggles into her basket with her toy mouse. Her purring fills the room. Benet smirks and tosses his shoes to the side and heads over their bedroom. Nadir slips off his shoes by the door, carries his wand in hand, and enjoys the wooly area rug on the ground. It is a sky blue pattern which his granny woven for him as a house warming gift. Nadir walks over to the old record play from his granny and the records she gave him. He tucks his headphones and MP3 away for the night.

Nadir holds his wand motions to the kitchen. A cup floats out of the cabinet and gets water from the tap. The tap turns off with no fuss. Slowly the cup comes over to Nadir. The wizard says good-night to Eugene and flicks his wand at the lights. They flicker off as Nadir holds his cup in hand and goes to their bedroom. The bedroom is filled with earthly tones of brown and green. Benet had enchanted the ceiling to have stars twinkle and the moon go through the natural phrases. He had done it for Nadir as he realized Nadir missed living in the countryside where he could see stars. Nadir took great pleasure in seeing the stars. Their bed had tree branches surrounding with vines growing on it. The collections of plants and magical items spread to the shelves and cabinets. Modern lamps glow with soft light. Benet already changed and gotten into bed. 

He turns and teasingly yawns, "Did you really need magic for all for that?"

"Says the man who will magic up breakfast, rather than cook it," Nadir snickers as he sees the time on their old clock. It is well past and acceptable hour for bed. Halloween thru Day of the Dead may be a holiday for some witches and wizards, but Nadir still needed to run the shop and submit the reports to Celeste. Benet is lucky with his racer job, he just needs to go feed the dragons and groom them tomorrow. No races until the next full moon. Nadir adds, "What will you do until we go see your godfathers and your besties tomorrow?"

"I will probably hangout with the most awesome wizard I know in his amazing flower shop," Benet smiles as he starts to dozy off.

"Hehe," Nadir settles his wand on the nightstand. He ponders Madam Stacy's stern express about the toy gun. He quietly asks, "Are you sure we will be safe with Susan released now? What if something starts again? It is has been so calm over the last twenty years."

"Nadir, be at peace. Zhe is not going to hurt us, if zhe was zhe would have done it already. Zhe is on the straight and steady. I trust zher," Benet pulls up the blankets.

"I am sure you are right. Don't forget to charge your phone," Nadir pulls out his cell and charges it. Benet digs out his and passes it along. The cell phone has cracks on the screen and there is tape. Another new phone would be due in a few more weeks. The tenth phone in the last year. Only Benet would be such a modern wizard with problems with newer technology. Nadir is surprised he could manage to use anything after 2000. Nadir shakes his head and charges it too.

Benet kisses Nadir's cheek, "Good-night, darling."

"Sweet dreams," He answers and clicks off the lights.

In the morning, all is calm. The mists have parted and the bright sunshine pours through the flower shop windows. Benet watches over the shop as Nadir takes a web cam chant in back. The laptop Benet decided on wearing a simple green shirt with jeans to watch over the shop. Nadir had selected his normal uniform of a green shirt and jeans as well. His name tag pinned to his shirt as he goes over the shop's account. Soon they would been at Wolfie's Tavern. Benet crushes the numbers with his pen.

In the back, Nadir sits before the computer screen with Celeste on the other line. She is a professor of Herbology and Cures from the North American College for Witches. Nadir and Celeste had contact through Musett, after all they were half sisters. Celeste is a rather young witch of nineteen. Her dark complexion does well with her powder blue and yellow robes. Her professor cap was at an angle with her feathers on the side. Celeste pours through her notes with her tangling blue earrings moving. She looks up at Nadir, "I am sorry my old friend... I have no new results in my work. I have been continuing on from what research you left behind, but I feel that the Mind Poison Hex cannot be carried out further at this time. I know that a associate of mine is promising new leads."

"It is okay Celeste. Have you had a chance to read over my latest cover breeding study? I have been using mandrake root, lavender, and cat tail. It might cause the current solution to progress further once turned into a potion," Nadir reads through his notes.

"I will have to try it once it is brewed. It may take up to three weeks to see results. Not to mention the testing phase," Celeste points out.

Nadir's alarm beeps. He picks up his phone, "Sorry, Celeste, I have to go now. Benet and I have a big appointment to keep."

"Oh? What is the appointment?"

"We are going to announce our engagement to our extended family and friends today," Nadir says with a yawn. He blinks as he realizes the news slips from him.

Celeste shouts with joy, "When did you get engaged? What it last night? Tell me everything!"

"Umm ... Um..." Nadir flushes, "It was rather simple. Benet purpose to me back in the summer. It was at the last day of July. We went walking in the park to get ice cream from our favorite vendor. As we turned on the path, Benet went down on one knee to tie his shoe. Then he just asked me to marry him. I said yes."

"That's adorable Nadir! When are you going to have the wedding?"

"We are thinking sometime in the spring. All the other details are being sorted out."

"AHH, SO ADORABLE!"

"Okay, Celeste, I have go to. We are suppose to brunch over at Wolfie's with Musett, Curtis, and the godfathers."

"Okay, okay! I promise to not tell my sister!" Celeste waves, "We will take more later. Bye!"

Benet puts down his pen as Nadir calls for him in the back. They would make their way to Wolfie's Tavern shortly.

...

In the dim light of the fireplace, Dominique counts the fire crystals in the hearth. She recounts the mission to silence the disloyal followers went nicely. She and Efe had chosen to act in the place of the Dark Lord. Dominique loved Susan and respected most of zher words. She has some words she wishes to tell zher lordship, but patience is key. Efe with a quick move of his wand is back in his leather armor. Dominique notices the two as they came to the living room. She snaps her fingers and returns to her blood splattered outfit. She straightens up her hair as she studies Susan. Susan wears a gray dress with white rabbits sown on it, which was a fine piece of craft Susan made at the Senior Center. Zhe place a dark purple headband on. Zher pale pink boots tapped on the carpets. Zher expression is dark and somber as zhe scoops up zher bomber jacket and cane. Efe and Dominique come to see the slight limp in zher step.

Efe and Dominique summon a portal over the Baines Household. The mansion is located far from the fair city of Lapis. Zher pale pink boots hardly make a sound as they arrive to the driveway. Dominique and Efe come behind zher while wearing black cloaks. Efe takes Susan's hand and bows, "Welcome back to your home, my lord. The others are standing by in the mansion for your orders."

Susan peers up at the large plantation house. It is deep in the wood. The whitewash paint had been kept well by the others. The trees and the gardens had been watched after. Fairy rings were scattered across the front yard. The many windows had a few candles glowing in them. Zhe looks to see the tire swing still left unharmed by the large oak tree. Susan eyes the portal back to zher room back to the halfway house. The portal closes on the cozy apartment. Now in the damp of the night with the eerily house, Susan turns forward. Susan follows behind Efe and Dominique inside the damn house. Ah, the main room. Susan recalls how zhe was into gothic styling. Zhe thought it was fearsome. Now, it is only sad in the dusty mansion. Zhe sighs. The main room echoes with the call of Efe, "Make haste, my fellow heathens! Zher lordship has returned! Lord of Mischief and Dread come to the Baines Household!"

The other followers appear with sudden flicker of the candles. Eight loyal followers all in their black robes come to the main room. They bow. Susan says, "Stop being dark and brooding. Do we look like a Gothic store for children? Please turn up the candle light and do something about the decoration. It is like a haunted house at a children's theme park."

"My lord? This is how you left it," Efe drops his jaw.

Dominique pulls out her wand and complies. The candles flare up and decorations change to something more bland and normal. Susan nods and zhe nudges Efe, "Take me to the book. I want to see proof. Once I have seen it, I want you to take me back to my apartment. If I am gone too long my therapist and probation officer will be worried."

"But you are the Dark Lord, you answer to no one!" Efe says.

"Great! I am glad you remember... Would you all please take off the black cloaks? Steve, Fairfield, Bones, Shadow Dancer, Joyce, Frankie, Arty, and Ruth. You are wonderfully in the Halloween Spirit, but this is odd just ... Whatever... Do as you please," Susan goes to the stairs and waits for Efe.

The followers whisper to each other. Efe and Dominique come up the stairs to Susan. Efe leads the way to the library. As they pass through the halls, Susan sees Flincher's room. The door with her wreathe of dried out poises. Susan lingers at the handle as Efe and Dominique carry on the hallway. Susan places zher hand on the handle. Susan thought, Flincher. . . Do I do you right now?

Susan did not bother giving details of about zher adopted child, Flincher. Not to many follower. Not to any living soul. Dominique had a vague idea about the relationship. But no other soul understood the scale of how important the young witch had been to Susan's heart. She was a brilliant young witch. Flincher knew that evil was pointless. It was Flincher that made Susan realize, too. Susan was not trying to be wicked anymore. She had declared that Susan had stopped truly being evil several hundred years ago. Flincher had pointed out that Susan's rage of the death of her people was old and nearly forgotten about Susan. Susan had become bland in evil. Flincher is the one who pointed out how Susan should become a chef or a lawyer. Susan had agreed.

Flincher left Dark Lord to start fresh elsewhere. Flincher gave up magic and even broke apart her wand. She went to live among the mudanies. Flincher decided she would open a restaurant. But death had other plans for Flincher. During Flincher's training to become chef, she taste tested a chicken wing and she accidentally chocked it. Susan hadn't been there. Zhe had been busy with zher final showdown with Benet. A whole deadly maze and traps all set up. It was one of Susan's minions who told zher the bad news. It broke Susan.

"My lord?" Dominique lingers behind zher.

"I- I am fine," Susan snaps around. Zhe remorsefully plans zher hand on her shoulder. Susan says, "I am sorry Dominique."

"Yes, my lord, it is fine," Dominique bows.

Susan quietly goes forward behind Efe. Dominique follows next to Susan. The trio goes on down the hallway. The halls are dimly lit from each lantern hanging to the ceiling. Each lantern shimmers with dim light with more Gothic décor. Susan huffs to zherself at the dark and dreary area. Zhe stares down at zher pale pink boots click down the wooden hallway. Efe stops just before the deep rosy doors. The ominous carvings of the door have images of dragons and demons all about it. Susan huffs under zher breathes and misses the understated sunny nature of zher apartment. Efe swings open the door. He hurries along the library to pull out a book. Efe whips around and produces the book to Susan. He declares, "Here we are, my lord. The answer to you conflict."

Susan read the title in the dim light. It says, Sundried Hope.

...

Benet and Nadir stand before the portal cycle. Eugene purrs between their legs as the couple beams at each other. They escaped from their uniforms just before their important brunch. (The uniforms something Benet had suggested, but they only wore them were they were both in the shop. It made a funny introduction of: "Hey welcome to the Green Men Flowers!" Nadir would say. "There are the flowers and we are the green men!" Benet would point to themselves. It has real flare at least according to both of them. But the joke wasn't has funny when they were not in the shop together.) Benet selects to keep his violet locks pulled into a ponytail. His nicest jacket had hidden burnt marks under patches from Ma Plum. They were patches of small dragons, especially lung dragons. Oddly enough to the arrangement of clothing are brilliant duck yellow cow boots. Benet favored them so. His red bandanna is neatly place upon his gray shirt. His dress pants had a store tag on them. Nadir giggles as he removes it from Benet. He says, "You really are something, Benet. You still look like you came from a thrift shop. A quick change spell out have done you far better."

"Blah! I know you won't want me another other way! Oh daring, you look fabulous in your outfit. I bet you Joseph will love it!" Benet kisses Nadir's forehead and readjusts his glasses.

Nadir swirls around on his heel of coffee colored suede shoes. His leather biker jacket compliments with band shirt of the Shrieking Heads, a death mental band in the Magic Community. Nadir jeans tattered here and tear. He keeps his wand at the ready in his sleeve. Nadir's long hair is tamed into a presentable braid. Nadir smiles, "Now you are just flattering me Benet. I-I still feel nervous telling everyone."

"Come on, darling, we have been planning this reveal for weeks. We will be great!" Benet takes his wand from his pocket.

"I just don't like public affairs," Nadir fiddles with his zipper.

"We are not going to be announcing it to the press. We are just telling out families. Nadir, you know I respect your respect for privacy. I have told not a soul besides who we agreed upon the great news. It is the greatest news of my life, but I am happy to have a small wedding with little fuss. I just care about spending the rest of my life with you," Benet takes hold of Nadir's hand.

Nadir bites his lip. He swore he would not complain one bit about the Dark Lord aspect. It had been Benet's only request for the planning. All Benet had wanted was to be finished with the past and make amends. Nadir peers at Benet's big beautiful eyes behind his glasses. He smiles, "Yes, Benet, I know. I am very happy, too, to be marrying the man of my dreams."

Benet nuzzles against Nadir hugs him. With a swoosh of his wrist and tap, Benet summons the portal to Wolfie's Tavern. The two pet Eugene softly on the head and make their way out. The portal pops them in the manager's room of the tavern. It is a rich manager's office with fine wears on display of magical and mystical sorts. Records of different musical albums are on the walls with photos of their musicians. The blinds of the window are open to a nice view of a water front. The desk in the room is gold leaf with rich crimson chairs sitting neatly next to them. Although the truth be told, it is more of a jazz bar. But Nadir and Benet preferred tavern as it made it seem more old school. (Nadir and Benet had a love for the mudanie games about wizards and dragons.) It is really known as Howling Good Times. The glow from the portal fades away. The portal circle here has several more names under many more locations. As the circle shimmers with a light glow, the circle nearly disappears from sight. Waiting joviality are Aunty Page and Godfather Joseph.