Dex smiled.“Which is the kind of thing Wizard would do.Did do.”
Tosh asked, “Do you dance?”
“Not ballet.Contemporary and a bit of flamenco, but I am not very good at that yet.”
Dex snorted.“She’s good at ballet, but she gets distracted, and our instructor kept making her the primary dancer, so she started stumbling.”
Wizard grinned.“It worked.Madame freaked out, and I got to go to the chorus.”
Dex sighed.“Right.Down to business.I hate to ask, but will you help keep my dad from getting up here?”
“Sure.Do you want me to make him confess?Like, constantly and uncontrollably?”
Etienne blinked.“Can you do that?”
“Sure.Since I have been on my own, I have discovered I can do all kinds of bizarre things.”
Tosh asked, “But you have white hair as well?”
“Sure.I work from home and in a room where no one talks to me.It could be black or rainbow.No one would care.”She smiled.“Well, I have already put my sentries to watching for him.If he enters the building and passes one plant, I will know.”
Tosh looked at her.“So, you are a druid.”
“Sure.Whatever.”She waved one hand in the air.
Dex was laughing.It was nice to have Wizard at her side.They stood and discussed the plan while the nurse brought in her meal and did a double-take at Wizard.
Wizard grinned.“Spooky, right?”
The nurse laughed and set the meal down in front of Dex.
Wizard smiled and took a seat.Etienne offered to get food for the rest of them, and Tosh decided to get something from the gift shop.
Dex looked at her.“Did you just do that?”
Wizard nodded.“I did.He’s coming up the elevator, and I need to do an illusion so he picks the right sister.”
Dex swallowed with fear.“What should I do?”
“Let me hide you in the bathroom and stay there.Are we clear?”
“I...yeah.”Her heart was pounding.
Wizard got up and helped her walk slowly to the bathroom and left the door open, while hiding the reflection in the mirror.“You are good at this, Giggles.”
“I know.Now, shush.Don’t react, no matter what you hear.”
Dex stood and steadied her breathing.“Right.This is the last step.”
“Oh, and the moment things go silent, call nine-one-one.”
“Right.And you had better become me before he gets here.”
Wizard changed into Dex before her eyes, right down to the blood spots on the gown.
Wizard kissed Dex’s cheek, and then she went to jump into bed and manifest an IV.
* * * *
