1 Chapter 1: Just Some Gossip

Kata couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed. She had shaken off the feeling yesterday but that was due to where she had been at the time. Then she had been at Disneyland with her roommate Mara and her now ex boyfriend. It had been the end of a week long vacation that they had taken together. It really had been one last hurrah for Kata with her boyfriend before she had to break up with him, for his own good. That was the problem with dating mortals, relationships with them had a finite length. If it had simply been a matter of Kata being a warlock it wouldn't have been so bad. Warlocks were immortal but being with them wasn't toxic to humans, just uncommon. Not that any warlock she knew would remotely consider the match. Most were so uppity and believing in pure blood and superiority. There was a reason she hadn't spent too much time at the courts in the last 400 years and moved every so often. She wanted nothing to do with that bullshit. Not to mention, Kata was a bit of an anomaly even in Warlock terms, not that the courts were aware of that. Her great grandfather had been a Siren turned human not just a human as the records showed. As a result of that smudge of DNA humans tended to go a bit mad if they were with Kata for too long. She had found that out the hard way in the 18th century. It wasn't pleasant.

But she wasn't in crowded Disneyland anymore and she definitely felt like someone was following her on her way to work. Without breaking stride, she turned and blew a massive gust of hot air behind her. It was winter time, so the air fogged rapidly and she paused watching and waiting. But, no shapes were revealed as they would have been if there had been someone there using a glamor. She sighed thinking maybe she was just tired and made her way to work.

She worked at a small coffee shop and it was a busy day with many of her usual customers coming in. There was something magical about the coffee she would make, they insisted. Little did they know. Around 2 pm one of her absolute favorite customers came hobbling in. A little old lady in appearance, Isala was actually a fairy, one of the few who chose to mingle in the Human world.

Seeing her walk in Kata hollered a hello. "Do you want the usual" she asked cheerfully.

"Yes dearie, please. And a cranberry scone if you have any." Isala responded with a wink

Kata chuckled. Isala knew perfectly well the shop didn't sell cranberry scones, but she also knew what Kata was and that she was capable of magicking a cranberry one for her which of course Kata did.

Walking over to where the old fairy sat Kata set down the Coffee and Scone. "Cinnamon Latte and a cranberry scone which you know we didn't have in store."

"I don't know what you mean dearie," she replied eyes twinkling with laughter, "there's one right in front of me no?"

"I guess" Kata conceded walking back and behind the counter again. Fairies were always so mischievous even when they were as old as Isala and their magic something else. Isala could sense the magic in others and tell when someone was lying. She herself said she never lied but sometimes left out the more important bits. Kata went about the rest of her business figuring she could talk to Isala after her shift. Besides being a Fairie, Isala loved to gossip about all the news of the magical world and somehow she always knew everything. She knew the warlock court gossip before it hit the tabloids. She knew which werewolf clans were making plays for power. If something was up in the magical community she somehow new about it.

The last two hours of work slugged by and honestly were a bore. None of her other regulars came in and she had to listen to not one but two toddler meltdowns. For some reason not getting the chocolates always warranted a disaster. Eventually though she slumped into the chair across from her fair fairy friend.

"So, how are you. I haven't seen you in a week" she said with a sigh

"Yes, you were at Disneyland weren't you. You missed all sorts of drama." Isala relied coyly

Leaning in Kata grinned. "Oh goody, fill me in."

They proceeded to talk for the next two hours while Isala sipped on her drink which never emptied as Kata subtly used a bit of water magic to keep her friends mug full. None of the humans around ever paid enough attention to notice and she wasn't in an area that the small magical community that was in

Twin Cities tended to visit. Most of the gossip was typical. The Twin Cities werewolf pack had a new leader, a she this time and word had it she wouldn't last long as she was having an affair with the old leaders wife. There were also whispers amongst the fair folk of a dramatic change in the higher powers that was coming swifter than the East wind. This peaked Kata's interest but Isala didn't have much information for her regarding what higher powers specifically they meant when she asked although Kata was sure she was purposely leaving out information. But, she figured it was no biggie. Fairies were an odd group.

The last bit of gossip however nearly made Kata choke on the tea she had made herself about 30 minutes earlier. She had tuned out almost as Isala started to prattle about Warlock gossip not caring much for the ridiculousness that was her people's Court but snapped to focus when Isala went on, "And if that bit of intrigue isn't enough the King has announced he has withdrawn his previous decision to name his second son heir"

"What?" Kata spurted out. "Who's he named instead?"

"That's the thing dearie" Isala whispered conspiratorially, "He hasn't"

"How is that possible? He can't just not name an heir. He's set to step down in 5 months" Kata argued

"I know, the palace and the courts are abuzz with the news. Can you imagine? And to think.." Isala went on

"Does anyone have any idea why he changed it or who he might choose instead? His son is definitely capable." Kata interrupted

"Dearie if you would not interrupt and let me finish, I would have gotten to that" Isala chuckled.

"Sorry. Please continue. I'm just a little shocked at the information. You know I don't normally care for Court gossip but this is crazy" she said.

"Why do you care?" Isala inquired with a quizzical look on her face. "You make a point. You never normally care and tune out when I talk Warlock gossip"

"I don't tune out" Kata mumbled

"It's fine." Isala soothed, "I don't mind you tuning out. It's funny actually. You are the most unwarlocky warlock I know mind the excessive amount of ability which is a whole other story we must actually discuss one day I think"

Kata looked down at her cup as this was said and swirled the dregs of her tea. Isala wasn't wrong in her commentary, but she was getting onto a subject Kata would rather avoid. She didn't want it getting around how powerful she was or that she was actually tied to the courts, let alone that her mother was the head of one of the 15 royal families. Save five or so people, no one even knew Kata was her mother's daughter. She had been born in secret and raised in the human world. When she visited her mother she did so in disguise as a visiting cousin. She'd changed her hair from it's natural auburn to a warm chocolate brown and her eyes from an amythest color which matched her mothers to hazel. The eyes she actually kept changed most of the time due to the abnormality of their natural hue in the human world and the fact that even in the warlock world the color wasn't common. But, with colored contacts becoming more and more the trend, she sometimes let them be.

"Kata, did I lose you?"

"Sorry" she said shaking her head, "I zoned out in thought sorry"

"It's all right dear. But I was just saying that rumor has it that the King is going to bring back The Testing. Also, props for zoning out and effectively avoiding my questions dearie"

"Hey I wasn't avoiding them" Kata said in defense.

"Pish posh" the old fairy said waving her hand as if she was batting away a cob web. "It's no matter"

"Fine." Kata sighed rolling her eyes. Getting back to the topic she went on "The Testing? Really? But that hasn't been used in centuries."

"Fair, but the king has also been ruling for a 1000 years and is going on 1800 or something. If theres a reason for such a decision wouldn't he be the one with the accumulated knowhow to make it? What do you know you're probably what 400?"

"403 thank you very much" Kata corrected tossing her hair jokingly

"Oh pardon me, grown wise one."

"Truly though," Kata went on serious now. "The Testing is no joke. Any first born member of the Royal Families with potential can enter to test to see if they can handle the tasks to rule."

"Yes and?" Isala prodded

Kata thought for a moment, "Oh" she murmured and second borns if there is genuine reason the first cannot… Like the with the king's children… It really was a turn of luck and weird events that his second son got the mastery. But regardless. What's the point?"

"Well, you just told me what the testing is" her friend quipped like Kata was being slow.

"The Kings second son has shown ability with all the elements… and has been groomed to rule for centuries. He's the rightful heir" Kata looked at her friend and she just smiled.

"What else aren't you saying" Kata leaned forward digging.

"Nothing" she replied falsely innocent. "I know nothing but whispers in the wind. And I must go now. Its getting late" She stood and wished Kata happy thinking with a wink before walking out