The hotel was decent, with a large room for me and one my apostles had to share.

"Don't let that owl get close to me," I heard Akira warn Lexie.

"Of course. We can't lose another familiar under your watch," Lexie retorted sharply.

"I didn't bring it to begin with."

"Do you even care what happened to it?" Tiff asked, aghast. There was no answer from Akira. "What if it's being tortured somewhere?"

"What would they get from torturing a dog?"

"I don't know. To torment you?"

"Do I look tormented?"

"You know what you look like? A heartless bastard," Lexie replied. "Tiff and I will search on our own."

"I'm sure Vivec and the others have him," Tiff was saying to Lexie when they emerged from their room.

Bellatrix and I looked up from where we sat in the long lounge chair. "You look very presentable," I said to them with a smile. They were wearing their new apostle uniform: black coat with the white Saint logo embroidered on the left chest. It stopped just below their knees, their legs covered in a pair of black breeches and black boots that stretched up to their calves. "Aren't you sweating, though?" I asked.

"I'm drenched from head to toe—literally," Tiff groaned, tugging at her sleeves. Her head was covered in black head wrap.

"Anyway, you all look smart." My eyes landed on Akira when he joined them. "But not quite smart enough to find a dog."

He rolled his eyes and checked the time instead. "I'd like to remind everyone that we'll be out for official business, not a scavenger hunt." He eyed Tiff and Lexie with a warning glint in his eyes. "Let's not lose everything we're trained to do on this first mission, please."

Tiff stuck out her chin. "If you think we're going to confront them about the dog, you're wrong."

"There's another place and time for that," Lexie added with a meaningful curl in one corner of her mouth.

"Don't be ridiculous—"

I silenced Akira with a hand. "You'll die young if you continue to be so..." I frowned as I searched for the word. "Stringent."

"I wouldn't be if you took half the responsibility." He started walking as he talked, then stopped to throw Tiff and Lexie a look. "Or act like these two."

Tiff, Lexie, and I shared a look of confusion. "We're very much different. I see no similarities at all."

"Children," he groaned, pulling the door open. With his arm, he gestured to the open doorway. "Can we go now?"

The governor welcomed us to the new Exodus city hall. The Saint Society stained every corner. White walls, white marble floors, and bland furniture (if there were any).

Philo Salwey, however, was nothing like the delegates I met before. He wore the same thing as every other respectable member of the society, but white simply did not suit him well. He was the kind of man who would look better in just a shirt and pants, one I had seen many folks wore on a regular day. Gruff, with a beard I'm sure someone had tried to tame with little success just moments before he was forced to wear the horrible white costume, he smiled and welcomed us to his city. "It is an honor," he said to Corey before bowing to Mertha Krall, whom I was sure everyone knew and treated like a bloody saint. To me, he just stared with hesitation, although it was clear he recognized me, or at least heard about me.

"This is Astral Aster Byrne," Corey introduced proudly. "Miss Byrne, Governor Philo Salwey."

He was old enough to be my father, his hair gray around the temple and eyes wrinkling in the corners. I nodded while he bowed stiffly. "My pleasure," he murmured.

"Likewise," I murmured back, eyes never leaving him.

I think one of my uncles taught me the 'look of intimidation'. Not the priest, but someone else. He said that if I wanted to immortalize myself in people, I had to make them sense fear through my gaze. I should let them feel what I could do without effort. It had become a habit, I think. It was easy, and I liked the power it gave me.

The governor looked away and restlessly turned, eager to escape my domineering presence. I smiled with satisfaction and walked with Mertha as Salwey led Corey to another room. What we stepped into was something I didn't expect. Yes, of course, I anticipated some drinks, perhaps tea and biscuits, but I didn't expect a feast.

"I know you just had lunch, but I hope there's room for more," said the governor as he waved his arms around. We were not alone. There were others waiting for us in the room, all officials of the city, and all eager to get close to Corey, the Council member, and Mertha Krall, the famous Astral.

They wanted to meet me, too, but only to ogle and awkwardly look away when I caught them. I searched for my apostles among the crowd. They stood on one side in a line, backs terribly straight, heads unmoving. Across from them were Mertha's apostles doing the same thing.

"Aster?" Corey's voice called out to me.

I smiled, relieved that someone wanted my company, even if it was Corey. The governor and other important-looking people who looked at me with a certain ambiguity surrounded him. Honestly, I didn't expect this kind of reaction from anyone. I expected something grand as the one I received when I first woke up: awe and disbelief.

Perhaps Exodus was indeed a little different. It was a new city, after all. Still a little naïve, unable to recognize greatness as it breathed in front of them.

Corey rested his hand on my back, a little lower than I would have preferred, and said, "I was just telling everyone about your amazing gift."

"And here I thought everyone knows about me."

"Of course, we have heard about you," said one woman, eyeing me like I was some ancient artifact she had heard so much about, yet still uncertain of its nature. "But the concept of what you achieved is a little new."

"Of course it is," Corey said with a laugh. "No witch has lived for two-hundred years before Aster."

"Save for those who are vampires," I said before I could stop myself. When they stiffened, I laughed. "Pardon. Was that a bad jest?"

They awkwardly laughed. "No, not at all," Salwey said, smile not reaching his eyes. "Many of my officials can't wait to witness your gift in the flesh."

I turned to Corey with a frozen smile. He ignored the silent accusation and said to Salwey, "You'll enjoy it as much as I did. It is out of this world. Simply magical, I should say. See, her dreams have doors that will astound you. You'll find out tomorrow when Aster shows you."

"Oh, I can't wait," someone eagerly said.

"Is it safe though?" another asked.

I stepped away from his hand, mouth in a tight line. I hated this stupid party. It was nothing like the ones I used to enjoy. There was no music or dancing. No fancy gowns to judge, no friends to laugh with, enemies to hate on... Nothing of the kind. Although there was something that never changed: my gift was still the prime subject. Something to fear. Something to crave for.

A drug they couldn't stop talking about.

An addiction they wanted to share with others.

Time passed with me standing still, and pretending to hear conversations I was sick of hearing. Corey dragged me around groups, which led to more promises of a dream ceremony with me. It stretched for hours until everyone had their fair share of drinks.

Until it turned interesting.

Until the fake cordiality slowly melted away with the spirits in their drinks and the truth slowly laced the words. Until the words were no longer spoken, the voices climbing to shouts of anger and frustrations.

I saw my apostles come alive as well, walking closer to me when Philo Salwey started yapping, moving his hands as he spoke, eyes glassy and angry at Corey.

I couldn't tell how it started, really, because I was in a slight trance. When I snapped out of it, the argument had already bloomed.

Two women tried to silence Salwey, but he barked at them until they jumped back. My apostles surrounded me, watchful of the situation. Mertha's three boys were also equally vigilant around her. Corey calmly said to Salwey, "Apparently, you have things to say, Governor. Let's hear it now."

"I don't think that's wise, Mr. Council," said one woman. "The governor is drunk. It's best we discuss this behind closed doors, in a much conducive environment."

"No, it's fine. We came here for the welfare of Exodus." Corey dragged a chair in front of Salwey and sat down, crossing his leg over the other. "Let's hear it."

For a short second, Salwey looked confused as everyone else stepped back, clearing the space around him and Corey. But he recovered quickly, lifting his chin. "There are folks who wish to cross the border. I've been asking the Council to allow them passage."

"Not possible," Corey instantly said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "There's nothing beyond the borders but monsters."

I didn't realize his face could get redder, but it did. Salwey looked like he was about to burst. He lifted a finger and pointed it at Corey. "You have taken over our city without giving us a choice. You're drinking the food and wine that could feed my people for weeks! The one thing they ask is to be given a choice like they did before your society took over."

"And how have you been living your lives twenty years ago, Governor? Like beggars waiting for the train to pass your town, desperate for anything you could bargain with. You've exhausted your resources to nothing but fine dust," Corey said, voice rising. "With the Saint Society, you're becoming like other developing cities like Genesis."

"Twenty years..." Salwey said, nodding slowly, swaying as he walked closer to Corey.I saw Mertha take two steps, her eyes watchful. She was ready to protect Corey if things turned bad. I, on the other hand, was searching for all exits. I had was trapped in a burning ballroom before—I didn't think it was wise to repeat it. "Twenty years and yet the folks never felt they had been served well. Those who gain the most benefit in the past two decades are witches who didn't even grow up here. And what about the folks? Those who could not harness magic are still in the same wretched conditions, rotting away in fine dust, as you'd call it."

Corey sighed. "The folks have to be more patient, Governor."

"Well, they're done waiting. Many of them are dying because they can't afford a loaf of bread." He looked around, his eyes landing on me before it jumped to Mertha. "You come here with your Astrals thinking it would ease their burning stomachs. Hope is not what they need, Mr. Council. They need jobs. They need food. If you can't give them that now, then don't steal from them the freedom to cross the border just this once."

"That's not the only reason we came here, Governor—"

"Oh, I know why you're here, Mr. Council," Salwey barked. "I know you're here to find more ferals. Well, good luck with that." He laughed as Corey stood. "Bloody good luck!"

"Governor," one woman said, approaching Salwey. "Enough."

Corey righted his coat. "I hope you'll be in a much better mood tomorrow, Governor. Have a good night." When he turned, his face was unreadable. But as he passed us, he murmured, "We're bloody done for today."

Tiff grabbed me by the arm and led me after Corey. Akira walked ahead of us.

"Well, that was dramatic," I murmured with a scoff.

Tiff and Lexie nodded and murmured, "Right?" Akira cleared his throat and threw us a look. The girls pursed their lips and walked stiffly beside me. I looked over my shoulder and found Mertha and her apostles walking not far away. The Astral had a frown on her face. Apparently, she didn't like the smile on mine.

"New age witches are such a bore," I whined under my breath.

***

With the meeting ending abruptly, we were left with quite a lot of time before midnight. I knew Katz was probably waiting for me on the border, but I wasn't sure I wanted to go. So when my apostles entered my room that afternoon and locked the door, I decided to take the rest of the day off to deal with whatever problem they were about to present to me.

"We have to know where they hid Mars," said Tiff.

I blinked at her in confusion. "What?"

"The dog."

"It doesn't have a name," Akira said, rolling his eyes. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

"At this point, it should," Tiff said. "This mission has to have a name and I refuse to call it the 'Dog Operation'."

"There is no operation!" Akira hissed.

"Why are you even here?" Lexie asked him, crossing her arms.

"To object to your proposal."

"What's the proposal?" I eagerly asked, desperate for a distraction. Tired of thinking and analyzing who was doing what, I needed a break to breathe and clear my mind. A little childish and harmless fun may just be the answer.

"Don't listen to them," Akira groaned.

"We thought of a way to find Mars," Tiff excitedly said with a mischievous smile.

"The name is not Mars," Akira wryly said, his words completely ignored.

"How certain are we that they took Mars?" I asked.

"I would never name my familiar Mars, for Saint's sake."

No longer aware of his presence, Tiff, Lexie, and I huddled together. "As certain as my sister cheating on her boyfriend with her friend," Tiff answered my question.

Lexie's eyes rounded. "Who? Wendy—"

"No, Neff."

As Lexie gasped in disbelief, I nodded, taking a seat. Bellatrix jumped on my lap. "Then let's hear your plan."

"You enter their dreams," said Lexie.

They held their breath as I considered the plan. "You know I can't just summon anyone to sleep. That's against the rules."

Tiff and Lexie's shoulders fell in defeat.

"Unless they're already asleep and I just accidentally walk into their dreams," I added.

Hope flashed in their eyes before they groaned. "They stay up late until almost midnight," Tiff said. "I know because their Astral requires them to watch over her until the last minute."

"Then we have a problem."

"But if they sleep early?" Our heads snapped to Akira. He hesitated for a moment before he lifted one shoulder. "What if they just happen to fall asleep early?"

"Then I'll have enough time to unintentionally walk into their dreams."

He pushed away from the wall. "Supper."

"What?" Tiff and Lexie asked in confusion.

"There will be food and drinks," Akira explained, looking at me. "Apostles eat together."

We blinked a few times before we finally realized what he was trying to say. "Oh," Lexie said, turning on her heels. "Oh, Saints, yes!"

I turned to Tiff, a smile growing on my lips.

"You're looking at the only witch who passed her Potions class with flying colors," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "And the only one who has the ingredients in her trunk."

"You're a genius, Akira," Lexie said.

"What are you talking about?" he droned, walking toward the door. "I just told you about supper."

"They'll just have to go to sleep early tonight, I guess," I told the girls.

"And you look tired," Lexie said.

"Yes," I said, faking a yawn. "I think I'll have to sleep early, too."

Tiff and Lexie giggled excitedly. "I'll have to start brewing," Tiff said, stalking to the door.

"I'll take care of the distraction," said Lexie behind her. "What do you say about an owl and a cat?"

"They're the perfect and cutest distractions," Tiff replied.

"Add a fox," I said, pushing Bellatrix off my lap. My familiar glared at me before she unwillingly followed the girls out of the room.

Alone again, my eyes flew out the window. Outside, the scene was dreary. Nothing like Genesis. Beyond the scaffoldings of soon-to-rise buildings, I could see the borders. Somewhere along that line, Katz was waiting for me.

I stood and closed the curtain and popped another pill into my mouth.