” Mark had spotted Carly, who was looking over to the door curiously. “No, it’s fine,” Carly said. “I have to leave in a bit,we have a meet ...n Springfield tomorrow and there’s a 5am wakeup call.” She seemed annoyed just thinking about it. “Oh, alright then.” Mark looked a bit nervous. “I was wondering if you wanted to come over and watch a movie or something.” He wasn’t quite looking at me, but off into the distance. It was kind of cute. “Sure, why not.” I was nervous too but managed to smile. Double-blind scientific studies have proven a significant reduction in anxiety about the transition. The exact mechanism is unclear. Yet scientists speculate that somatosensory cells in the dermis are directly connected through dendrites to oxytocin producing cells in the hypothalamus. The rate would be $120 per hour. Because of past billing issues with caretakers, you’d have to pay with card now.’ I thought it over. There was no downside to the proposition. I handed my card over and paid with. Who was that cute ginger at the ticket counter, by the way, the one who I commanded to give us the tickets gratis?” I alluded to the nerdy redhead with the glasses, freckles, and dimples.“Oh, that was Brittany Argot. I’m sure that she’d be flattered that you asked about her. Who are you?” Lakshmi asked, even as Keith watched her strip naked in shock.“I am the Reverend Jack Saunders, the head of the Church of the New Era. I am giving you further instructions. First, from now on, when I get wrung. My wards were designed to protect me from Dark magic. Not a tumble in a field."I thought you were her mother," he said suddenly.I choked, "What?" I said.He laughed. "Your relation to Maria," he explained, "I thought you would be her mother, not her sister."I could feel something snap inside of me. If I had control of my body I would have slumped in my chair. "But you knew I was related to her?"Devnikolus grinned, "It was the only conclusion that made sense," he said.I raised an eyebrow, part of.