They looked relieved.She got to her feet and saw the gathering near the door to the outside.Helen was talking with someone who looked like family, and Mik smiled.“Come on, this is for you.”
Helen looked wary.“What are you up to?”
“Just a little chaos and a small flash mob.Come on.”She linked arms with her friend, and they walked out the doors.The excited folks came with them, streaming out to the lawn where an area had been cordoned off.There was a slim chair with arms set up.
Helen muttered, “Priority seating.”
“Yup.And everyone is here.”
The night was pleasant, and once she was sure Helen was comfortable, Mik walked into the crowd and spoke softly without making any noise.The instructions were going directly to the minds of the other chaos mages who had gathered for this.
A crowd was spilling out of the hotel and gathering to watch.
Mik rotated her wrist, creating a crystal in her palm.She walked up to Helen and said, “Hold this.”
Helen smiled.“What are you up to?”
“Shenanigans.”She winked.“Just a little chaos.”
Mik walked back to the crowd, and music blared.Mik started to sing, and the words weren’t words but a spell that called on the earth and stars to give a little energy to a beloved child.
* * * *
Helen couldn’t believewhat she was seeing.Mik had always been goofy and generous, but now, she was liquid starlight, and so were all the dancers who matched her move for move.As she watched, the other dancers became Mik.
A rich, deep voice murmured, “She cares for you very much.”
Helen didn’t look up.“I didn’t know this is what she was.”
“I have seen mages before.This is not something that is trained into them.”
Helen chuckled.“Mik is excellent at being self-taught, and she’s always been magic.”
She watched until the stone in her hands was glowing wildly, and when the song was over, riotous applause struck from everywhere around them.It seemed the entire convention had come out to watch.
Nyssa ran and hugged Mik.Dina and her friend Tamara were still with her.
Helen saw someone move near her, and she looked up at the man she had been speaking to.“Holy shit.”
The tall man with skin made of the night sky looked down with a smile.“Are there any more mages and blood djinn around?”
“No.Just the ones that are here, as far as I know.What are you going to do?”
“Nothing.They are coming to me.”
Helen chuckled weakly.“Actually, they are coming to me.”
Mik and Nyssa were walking toward her.Nyssa was beaming.“Well, Helen, you aren’t going to be leaving us anytime soon.”
Helen blinked.“What?”
Mik crouched and tapped the crystal.“This filtered the light from the stars and the energy from the soil underneath our feet.No human, djinn, or elf was injured in this process.No life force from a living being was offered to you, but stars know radiation, and the earth knows wild growth.You are now on the road to recovery, but you are still brittle for now, so just accept that your numbers will get better, and the growth of the cancer has ceased.Still go to your appointments, but you will recover, you will get stronger, and it will look like spontaneous remission.You still have chemo buddies if you want them.We can chat and watch the drip, racing your IV with the others.”
Helen stared at her.“I didn’t want healing.”
“This isn’t healing, this is having a conversation with your disease and telling it to fuck off.Your body still has to heal itself, but now it has the power to fight.That’s all.”Mik smiled and leaned up to kiss her cheek.Now, who is the big blue yutz, and why is he glaring at Nyssa and me?”
“No idea.He just showed up and started talking.”
