Present...

Cydney stared blankly into the grimy grey walls. There was a muffled conversation going on outside the locked door, but her mind was more preoccupied with the roughness of the orange jumpsuit and the discomfort from the ankle monitor she had to wear. They were for magic detection and suppression, she was told. Everyone here had to wear them.

She sighed. Nothing was going according to plan, yet again. The six months spent with the Witches had gotten her nowhere closer to home. Every rare gemstone, every unicorn horn, every treasure—none of them had been able to open a portal big enough for Cydney. Sure, they had given her tons of new weapons (and some cool new Apple products), but she was still stuck in square one.

There was nothing in this world that could replace actual lives.

And meeting Han again had worsened her fears. Gazini had been sacrificing more lives for the portal, but it had not worked for him either. A couple of regular human lives were not even enough for this magic—an entire cave of powerful mages was required.

Her heart sank. Did she still want to go home, knowing this? Was going home really worth the sacrifices?

But what could she do? She was a captive now, ready to be grilled by the QA. And worst of all, Sybil had been right: Lyn didn't believe her when she told her the truth.

She suppressed a whimper. Idiot. Why did she think Lyn would believe her? The concept of there being another world was ridiculous, even if this was a world of magic.

Was she going to spend the rest of her life in prison? Or... was she going to die? Lyn had mentioned a while back that people who do Blood Magic might face death sentences.

Gulping down the lump in her throat, she closed her eyes. Was this it for her?

Her eyelids remained shut even as she heard the door open.

"You're good to go."

Huh? She jerked up. "What?"

The guard at the door motioned with his head. "Come with me."

Frowning, she followed the man out of the cell. They trudged along the dim corridor and into what seemed to be an interrogation room. Dozens of guards encircled the spacious area; clad in full-body protective suits and armed with several blasters, they looked as though they were preparing for war.

And indeed, a head of grey stood out in the middle of the room—war it was.

"Sy?" Cydney asked incredulously. "What are you doing here?"

The familiar serene eyes flickered towards her. "Oh hey, Sīn-Sīn, I hope you've been well."

"What is the meaning of this?" Cydney glanced around as questions inundated her head.

The witch was flanked by a group of people Cydney recognized as the lawyers from Dawn Avengers and the officials from QA. Every one of her limbs was cuffed with multiple magic-suppressing bracelets as if one arm of Sybil was equivalent to a dozen regular mages.

"Sorry, Sīn-Sīn, forgive me for breaking your trust," Sybil said with a rueful smile. "I had to reveal your memories to save you."

"W- What?"

"We negotiated a truce with the Witches," said one of the QA officials. He had been the person Lyn had worked with during the joint commission a while back. Brendan, or something.

"A truce?" Blood drained from Cydney's face as she turned back to Sybil. "Did you betray the others? Even... Even Freya?"

Cydney's words stung Sybil, but she maintained her calm demeanor. "I'm surrendering myself and all my knowledge, in exchange for your freedom." She chuckled lightly before flashing a pointed glare at Brendan. "Well, not complete freedom, unfortunately. The QA is still an ass of an organization."

Brendan appeared unbothered by that statement. "Yes, we're allowing a special truce to be made. We get the leader of the Witches, as well as all of her knowledge of this... new category of magic, Dark Magic, as you call it. Our Department of Specialty Magic is... particularly interested in learning about it. In exchange, we're dropping all charges against you. Well, somewhat."

Sybil snorted. "How generous."

The stoic man raised his eyebrows. "It is a very generous deal, yes."

"Here is the full run-down of the deal we made with the QA for you." One of the Dawn Avengers lawyers handed Cydney a folder. "Sybil Dalman gets life sentence in the international maximum security prison. She is no longer allowed to use any form of magic for the rest of her life, but she is expected to comply with the QA's investigations into Dark Magic.

"In exchange for this, the QA is no longer pursuing their charges against you for using Blood Magic and violating international questing laws as a Crimson Witch. Unfortunately, you are still charged for multiple counts of assault against police officers in various states across the country, but we've managed to negotiate two years of community service for you. You are also not allowed to use any form of magic unless it is to help the QA with their Dark Magic investigations. Let us know if you have any other questions or concerns."

Cydney flipped through the folder. The pages of documents laid out the list of conditions in great detail. Her brows furrowed as she scanned through the words, before staring back at Sybil. This deal was going to hurt the witch the most; she was the leader, and she had always done everything in her power to protect the other witches. With this, she was turning her back on them.

Cydney frowned as she faced the witch. "Why..."

"I'm truly sorry, Sīn-Sīn," Sybil whispered. "I thought I would be able to help you, but I was too proud. It seems that nothing can replace human lives."

"Sy, please. Don't apologize, you've- you've already done so much..."

"But it wasn't enough. I still can't get you home." Sybil averted her eyes; her bottom lips quivered slightly. "With this, I can at least save you from prison. If I can't get you home, at least I can still give you a life." Her warm, grey eyes turned back to Cydney. "And you deserve a good life. I'm old, I've lived, we've all lived. But you, you have a whole life ahead of you. You should finally live the life you deserve."

Tears welled up in Cydney's eyes. "But what about the others? What about Freya? Or Dylan? Priya and Lana?"

"Oh, they are more than capable of taking care of themselves." Sybil laughed. "Don't underestimate them."

"We're still going to try to capture them," Brendan interjected, "even if you're unwilling to help."

The smile on Sybil's face vanished instantly. "Fuck you, seriously."

Brendan shrugged.

"Anyway, see you around, Sīn-Sīn." Sybil waved her hand, jangling the magic-suppressing bracelets around.

The tears blinded Cydney's vision, but she watched as the witch left the room, followed closely by the rest of the armed guards. Sybil was doing the last but biggest favor for her—what did she ever do to deserve a sacrifice like this?

"Let's go," Brendan said. "Your friends are waiting."

That was right. Her friends.

Lyn.

Her life could go back to the way it was before the QA came in and messed everything up.

Wiping her tears away, she nodded.

The next fifteen minutes were a blur as she blindly followed everyone's instructions: leaving the room, signing the contract, changing out of the ugly orange jumpsuit. Her mind was still in an icy daze until she was hit by a warmth of familiarity—or rather, tackled by an olive-skin woman.

"Cyd!"

The long, curly hair tickled Cydney's face, and that was more than enough to tell her who it was.

"Millie!" she squealed. The heat from Millie's body melted the ice cage of her heart. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too! So, so much!" Millie peeled herself away and stared at Cydney with teary brown eyes. "They won't tell us the full details, but they said that you're no longer charged with- with the... major crimes... Is that true? You're not going to jail?"

Cydney beamed. "I just need to do community service now for two years."

Millie broke into tears on the spot. "I knew it! I knew you weren't a Blood Magic user! See what I told you, Irene? I told you, Cyd is a good person, she's not at all what you said!"

Behind the crying Latina, Irene was scratching her dreadlocks and shuffling on her feet. "Hey, Cyd, good to see you again."

"Did you hear what I said?" Millie continued her rant. "I told you, didn't I? I told you to believe in her!"

"I know, I know..." Irene grumbled as she flashed Cydney a nervous smile. "I'm sorry I doubted you, Cyd, but welcome back, really. We all missed you."

"Thank you," Cydney said as she patted the sobbing Millie on the back. "I mean, I- I did do some pretty bad things..."

"But you're out now!" Millie insisted. "The QA let you go, and they never let anything go. Oh, I missed you so, so much, Cyd. I can't wait to catch up with you, and go shopping with you, and bring you to musicals, and dress you up in pretty dresses..."

"Welcome back, Cydney." Raph appeared next to Millie. "I'm so glad you're back."

After Millie had her fair share of hugs (about ten whole minutes of bone-crushing embrace), Raph and Irene both came forward and hugged Cydney too. The more they talked, the more Cydney realized just how much her life was returning back to normal. She was free, and she was back.

Hope filled her heart. Her life had fallen to pieces, and she had been struggling to fit them back together. But maybe she could create new pieces for herself; maybe she could start a new life here.

Maybe she could stay in this world.

A smile crept up her lips. "Where's Lyn?" she asked, looking around expectantly.

Her three friends exchanged knowing looks. "Well, she's..." Irene gulped. "She's still at home. I can bring you to her."

"Oh..." Cydney frowned. "W- Why didn't she come?"

More strange looks were traded. "She's a mess right now," Irene admitted.

Memories flooded back to her like a cold splash of water. "Is it... Is it because of me?" she croaked, remembering how she had left the redhead so abruptly. "I was, erm, I was sort of mean to her the last time we spoke."

Irene raised her eyebrows, but Millie shook her head.

"I don't know, Cyd," Millie said, "I've never seen her like this before, not even when you were... Well, we're not sure what's up with her."

"Let me just bring you to her for now," Irene offered.

After bidding goodbye to Raph and Millie, the two of them made their way to the familiar apartment building.

"Since you just got out, do you need a place to live in?" Irene asked.

"Ah, you're right. I'll- I'll figure it out..."

"Well, I've been thinking of moving out with Cameron anyway—he's my partner, I don't think you've met him yet. So, if you want, I'm sure Lyn would be more than happy to have you live in her apartment."

Cydney's cheeks heated up. "Oh. That sounds great."

Lyn had asked her to move in with her a while ago, and now Irene was asking her the same thing. But this time, she was finally doing it.

"I mean, she's kind of a hot mess right now, and honestly she always has been, but my room has a lock and everything so you can hide there if she ever gets too much." Irene cast her a worried glance. "I will also check on you guys frequently, just in case. You know how to contact me, right?"

"Yeah, I do," Cydney said with a chuckle. "Don't worry, Irene, I can take care of myself."

Irene nodded glumly. When they reached the apartment, she opened the door. Filled with a strange mix of eagerness and hesitation, Cydney stepped into the nostalgic living room.

The sight in front of her caused a gasp—and every bit of her energy—to escape her throat.

"Lyn?"

Slumped on the dining table, the woman slowly lifted her head. Reddish-brown hair sprouted around her head like a lion, with only remnants of a braid remaining. Her eyes were red and puffy, while her oversized T-shirt was sprawling off her shoulders.

"Cinna?" Lyn's voice was as deflated as her spirit.

"I'll leave you two alone." A scowl of worry painted Irene's face. Before leaving, she whispered to Cydney, "She's been like this for the entire day. I hope you can help her out."

Cydney nodded as Irene left the room.

"Cinna, they really did let you go." Lyn heaved herself up.

"Lyn, be careful," Cydney chided as she hurried over to hold the stumbling redhead.

"You're really here."

"I am. They let me go because Sybil, she..." Cydney gulped, the guilt was still eating into her. "She gave up her freedom for mine."

"Oh yeah, she did tell me she was going to do that."

"She talked to you?"

"Yeah..."

Lyn was so close, the closest they had been to each other since Cydney had left to join the Witches; her hands were grabbing onto her arms, while her breath—still stank of alcohol—tickled her face. It was déjà vu. Was Lyn going to kiss her?

Thud.

Lyn's knees slammed to the ground.

"W- What—"

Before Cydney could react, Lyn wrapped her hands around her waist and buried her head into her stomach. Tears soaked through her shirt, cooling the area of her torso where her scars used to be. Not knowing what to do, Cydney patted Lyn on the head.

"Lyn, are- are you okay?"

"I'm sorry..." Lyn's muffled voice came from Cydney's belly like a cry from a baby. "I'm sorry, Cinna..."

The anguish seeping out of the strangled sound shocked Cydney to her core. Lyn was never one to hide her emotions, but this sadness was so raw, so genuine, so vulnerable. Cydney had never seen Lyn this way, not during her apology after their first kiss, not even after she had abandoned her in the cave.

"What's wrong?" Cydney asked gently. "If you're apologizing for not believing me yesterday, it's okay, really—"

"Sybil showed me your memories."

Cydney blinked. "She- She did?" Sybil had apologized for revealing her memories, but she thought that she had only revealed them to the lawyers and QA officials. She gulped. "H- How much did you see?"

"Enough." Lyn's hands were shaking as much as her voice. "I'm the biggest idiot in the world. Time and time again, I've been doing nothing but hurting you. Because I'm too stupid, and too dumb, and too selfish, and... just, the worst. If I've just- If only I'd trusted you more, listened to you more, talked to you more... I wouldn't have hurt you back then or driven you away, and you wouldn't have needed to go through all of this..."

Lyn's shoulders lurched, pushing against Cydney's abdomen.

"Lyn..." Cydney choked. The dam broke, and the tears that she had been holding back flooded out of her eyes. "Please stop, it's not your fault..."

"It is. I claim to love you, and yet... I'm the one who hurt you, over and over again. All these times, it's just been fun and games for me, but it's been life and death for you. You were hurting, and I never knew. I never knew, I never knew."

Lyn lifted her head. Her emerald eyes glistened on her teary face, like the reflected stars on a tranquil lake. Lyn, who had always had a wide smile plastered on her face; Lyn, who had always put on a strong front; Lyn, who had always buried her grief deep down inside her. Right now, this same woman was staring at Cydney with remorse so pure and so sincere, it melted Cydney's heart into the puddle on her face.

"I promise you, from now on, I will put you first," Lyn whispered. "My life is yours to take."

"W- What?"

"Take my life. Sybil told me you can't go home without a sacrifice. Take mine. Please."

The world crashed down around Cydney. This was the second sacrifice someone was willing to do for her. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground. Wrapping her hands around Lyn's neck, she tugged on it until the pair of green eyes—blinking and glancing around nervously—settled in front of her.

"Don't ever, ever, say something like this, ever again," she chided.

"No, I mean it, Cinna, I've hurt you too many times, and I deserve to pay, and I am willing to pay, and—"

"Lyn, stop! Please!" Cydney cried as she pressed her forehead against Lyn's. "You idiot, you have a life too! You have friends and family who care so much about you, why aren't you thinking about them?"

"But you do too! I saw them! I know how much you've missed them, and I want nothing more than to help you see them again. Please, take my life and go home, I beg you—"

"What's the point of going back home when you're not going to be there with me?"

That shut Lyn up. Her eyes widened.

"You are the light of my life, Lyn," Cydney continued softly. "Ever since I met you, my hellish life has become bearable. I don't want to go home to a world without you."

Lyn's lips trembled. "Cinna..."

"I love you, Lyn. I want to stay. I want to stay in this world with you."

For what seemed like forever, they stared at each other in silence. The scene must have been hilarious to witness: two grown women kneeling on the ground, hugging and bawling.

Lyn was dumbfounded by Cydney's confession, but she managed a smile. "If you're not taking my life, then I'm giving you my life in another way." She cupped Cydney's face in her palms. "My life is yours, no matter what."

Then, she leaned forward and kissed her.