I found myself sitting at an indistinct table, in a dark and foggy space. There were very few features around, and while I couldn't be sure there were walls enclosing the space I also couldn't see any doors, no way in or out.

The situation probably would have left me feeling anxious, except for two things. First, I was positive it was all just a dream. And second, it was familiar enough that I was just as certain I'd had this dream before.

A moment later I realized I wasn't alone. Someone else had joined me, seated on the far side of the table. They seemed to be wrapped in shadows, their features were as blurry and indistinct as everything else around me. It was only the general outline of a person that told me they were there at all.

"You should never have taken my toys from the vending machines!" the shadowy figure across from me scowled. "You should have expanded! More toys, more machines!"

"How many times are we going to have this argument?" I asked, as half-forgotten memories of similar conversations drifted through my mind.

As the fuzzy memories seemed to solidify I added, "May Hawthorne would have destroyed the machines and their contents if I'd left them. And I know the enchantments on the toys prevented scrying, but it's possible she could have traced the unenchanted ones back to me."

The figure scoffed, "Doubtful. You cannot be detected through scrying, but even if she did somehow link them to you she knows better than to risk attacking you with her magic."

"That doesn't mean she couldn't attack me without magic," I pointed out. "I wouldn't put it past her to get the bright idea that killing me is the easiest way to make sure you can't use me to come back."

"You needn't worry about that child. Demons are notoriously difficult to kill," they responded with a smug tone.

Before I could comment on that the figure stated in a harder tone, "I grow tired of the way you keep interfering with my designs. It's bad enough you put that sorting spell on the vending machines, and even worse you modified the enchantments on the toys themselves to ensure their users would be happy with the results. Do you even know what Chaos means, child?"

"Do you?" I retorted. "Because it's not a synonym for randomness. And it doesn't have anything to do with being good bad or neutral either."

I continued before they could respond, "Anyways my sorting enchantment benefited everyone, including you. Same with the way I improved the enchantments on the plushies. Thanks to me people got the toys they wanted, and their toy gave them a body that'll make them happy. That means they'll keep using the toys, and every time they trigger their transformations they're effectively performing a rite in your honour."

"That's how you gods gain power isn't it?" I asked in a pointed tone. "Mortals performing your rites and rituals?"

"Clever move child, I'll grant you that," the figure conceded. "Their faith and worship flows back to you, where it becomes available to me."

Then their tone grew harsh as they continued, "Except as long as you're hoarding the remaining toys in your closet, nobody is using them to trigger anything!"

"That's not true!" I insisted. "I'm distributing them by mail now, to people who want them or need them. So they're still getting out there, and into the hands of folks who'll appreciate them and use them."

They snapped at me, "Not fast enough!"

"It's your fault we had to stop using the vending machines, not mine!" I half-shouted back at the indistinct shadow. "The only reason Miss Hawthorne found out about the toys in the first place is you insisted on setting up a machine here in town. After that it was only a matter of time before someone in Club Luna stumbled onto it. Having a bunnygirl walk into your mom's classroom was just poetic justice."

They chuckled, "Cute. If May Hawthorne is my mother, doesn't that make her your grandmother?"

"You're not my mom!" I shouted at them. "And as soon as I figure out what to do with that stupid thing in my chest you'll be gone forever!"

"You're right," the figure responded in a calm voice. "I'm not your mother. Our relationship is much closer than that."

Then they leaned forward and asked, "Anyways, have you had much progress on removing that shard from your body? I don't imagine that sad excuse of a demon you've befriended has been much help."

"Nina might not be as good as you with runes and enchantments," I said with a frown, "But she's nice and friendly and helpful."

Another amused chuckle echoed across the table, "She's naive, clueless, and oh so easy to manipulate. It's a tragedy her demonic power is wasted on someone as cowardly and ineffective as her."

"Just leave her alone," I stated as I glared at them.

The figure relaxed back into their chair and asked, "Back to the matter of that shard in your chest, what do you imagine might happen if you and those angels you call parents should actually manage to remove it? Assuming you aren't killed in the process, that is."

When I didn't respond they continued, "Removing such a fundamental part of yourself will doubtless have a rather significant impact on you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, and I tried not to let on how nervous I was at the prospect. I couldn't help shifting uncomfortably in my seat though, and I ended up leaning forward on the dark table that separated me from them.

The indistinct figure laughed, "That shard has been there your whole life, you've grown up with it slowly saturating your body and mind with its influence. Why do you think Ninaya was instructed to perform the ritual on an infant, then ship the hapless child off for adoption? Why not use an adult human instead? And why not complete the process immediately, why wait years or decades before removing the containment runes?"

They answered their own question, "Seeds need to be nurtured child, and it takes time before the fruit is ready for harvest."

I tried to suppress my nervous shudder but the figure noticed regardless.

They laughed again, "That scares you. Good, you should be scared. That shard is as much a part of you as your right arm or your frontal lobe. You wouldn't be quite the same without it."

"At least I can admit when I'm scared," I finally responded. "If you're so brave why not show me your face?"

That earned me another laugh, which was starting to get on my nerves. "I have no face in here because you don't know what I look like. Who do you think I am? Socha? She has no influence here, not since she was banished, exiled from the mortal realm. I'm you, I'm part of your imagination. You think you're arguing with your enemy, when really you're only talking to yourself."

"Considering you're supposed to be all about illusions and deception, I'm pretty sure you're lying," I responded, but I felt another wave of anxiety at their words.

"I have no need to lie to myself child," the figure sounded amused. "Self-deception is your domain, not mine."

Then their voice hardened as they stated, "Enough stalling. I created you, my magic gave you life. You're part of me, and you will do my bidding! Now get the rest of those toys into the hands of the public. I don't care how you do it or where you distribute them, just make it happen!"

The figure relaxed again, and in their smug amused tone they added, "Be a good girl and do as you're told Cassandra. Appease me and I can reward you. Continue to disappoint me and there will be penalties. You wouldn't want anything to happen to that unpleasant little redhead you're still pining over, would you?"

Hearing that last bit sent a shock through me, and I demanded "You stay away from -"

• • • • •

"- Kaylee?" I gasped as I woke with a start. My heart was racing and there was a cold sweat clinging to my body.

It was a dream, except the details had already faded. Just like every other dream I'd had since May Hawthorne's magic put me in the hospital. I knew I still dreamed, a couple times a week I'd wake in a cold sweat like I just did now. I could never remember why though. Like this morning, all I could remember was darkness and the sense of being afraid of something. I wasn't even sure if my ex-girlfriend was in the dream or not, or why I'd said her name as I woke.

I finally slumped back then turned to check the time, which led to a deep sigh. It was half past six, Tuesday morning. And as much as I wanted another hour's sleep I desperately needed a shower.

When I emerged from the bathroom a little over an hour later I was feeling a lot better. Clean and fresh, I even washed and blow-dried my hair. It took me a few minutes to pick an outfit for the day, then I took my time getting dressed.

It wasn't anything fancy, I went with a pair of tight blue jeans and my favourite sneakers. I picked out a lacy bra that did good things for my figure, and finally I pulled on my Hecatia top. I kind of liked the way the wide neck slipped off one shoulder or the other. And the text on the front encouraged people to stare at my chest, as they tried to figure out what 'Welcome ♥ Hell' was supposed to mean.

Next was make-up and a bit of styling for my hair, then I grabbed my backpack and a cute jacket. I paused before closing my closet door, and my eyes fell on that big mystery cardboard box at the back. And as much as I wanted to ignore it, I stepped into the closet and opened it up.

Part of me felt really awkward and uncomfortable as I reached into the box, like I really didn't want to be doing that. On the other hand I did sort of promise Kenzie I'd try and find a spare kitty plushie for her sister. And as much as I wanted to forget the box even existed, I knew for a fact there were a dozen cat plushies in there. Except I couldn't remember how I knew how many there were.

All the capsules were frosted so their contents were hidden, yet I somehow seemed to know exactly what I was looking for. After a few seconds of digging around I finally pulled out the specific capsule I'd been searching for.

Without even opening it I knew the plushie inside was not only a cat, but it was based on the Singapura breed. That was the smallest domestic breed available, and I knew it'd be a good match for the second-smallest bunny breed.

Finally I closed the box then my closet door. I moved to my desk and got a scrap of paper, then quickly jotted down some simple instructions and warnings, along with the toy's trigger word 'Mew'. I wasn't sure how I knew that, but thinking about it scared me so I tried not to worry about it. I folded up the paper then opened the capsule and tucked the instructions inside next to the cute knitted toy. Then I sealed the capsule and dropped it in my backpack, next to my books and homework.

The rest of the family were already downstairs in the kitchen when I finally joined them, and we all exchanged the usual morning greetings. Mom and mum were having coffee and toast for breakfast, while Nina had a glass of orange juice. I poured myself a glass as well, then filled a bowl with cereal and milk before taking the seat next to my little sister.

After breakfast Nina picked up her backpack and we both grabbed our lunches. Then the two of us set out for school together, while mum headed to work and mom went into her home office. In other words, it was a typical boring weekday morning.

My sister and I headed towards the ravine, we still took that same short-cut to school every day like I always did. So did Kaylee, which meant some days we ended up meeting her along the way.

"Hi Cass, hi Nina," she said quietly as she started walking next to me.

Both she and my little sister made sure I was between the two of them, but at least my ex-girlfriend had stopped being so bitchy to Nina since school started. And the fact that she'd started calling her by her human name seemed like a good sign too.

Me and my little sister both said hi to Kaylee as well, then the three of us walked quietly down into the ravine, then up the other side and out across the field. Soon enough we reached the back door of the school, where we all went our separate ways. I stopped by my locker to put away my jacket and lunch, then made my way to math class.

That was kind of boring and typical too, like Mr. Guthrie was still a math ogre but he was the boring kind rather than the scary or exciting kind. Before long I found myself daydreaming instead of paying attention to the lesson.

I started wondering what it was like for Nina, attending high school and having teachers think she was just another kid. And I wondered what they'd think if they found out she was really fifteen-hundred years old, or if they learned she was really a demon. That in turn led me to wonder what they'd think of me if they knew what I really was. And I wondered how I'd feel about all that stuff in another hundred years, or another thousand. Assuming the thing in my chest didn't go off and kill me first.

Both my morning classes went like that, and soon enough it was time for lunch. I made a point of hurrying to my locker then to the cafeteria, and as soon as I spotted the small bunnygirl I headed over to join her.

"Hey Kenzie," I greeted her as I sat down across from her.

She was munching on an egg sandwich when I arrived, but smiled back. "Hi Cass. How's it going?"

We ended up talking about school stuff as we ate together, and like usual as soon as she finished it looked like she was about to run off.

That's when I spoke up, "Before you go, I brought something for you."

"Oh?" she asked in surprise. Then she grinned, "Wait did you find another plushie?"

I smiled back as I fished it out of my backpack, "I did. It's a kitty, like you said your sister wanted."

"Wow! Thank you!" she gushed as I handed her the capsule. "Can I open it and look?"

I shrugged, "Sure, I guess? There's some instructions in there too, so she'll know what to do as soon as she gets it."

Kenzie carefully popped open the plastic container and looked inside, then giggled softly. "Its fur colour is sort of similar to mine. Cool. So whether she's a kitty or a catgirl we'll probably still look like sisters."

"I guess," I replied with a smile. Then I got a little serious and added, "I should have said this before, but please don't tell anyone where you got that? I'd rather keep it secret, and not have my source get swamped."

She closed up the capsule again and tucked it away in her hoodie pocket, then nodded "Ok Cass. I think I'll sneak it into her room so she won't know it's from me. And if anyone asks, I didn't get it from you."

I smiled as she got to her feet, "See you in class later. Good luck with Kimmie, let me know how it turns out."

"Will do! Thanks again Cass, see you!" she replied as she grabbed her things and took off.

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