Walking to the tenants' meeting that afternoon, Molly remained mostly quiet, lost in thought. Seraphina had given her a lot to consider, but at least she seemed to be on Seraphina's side for the time being.
Farlow rested in one of Sera's larger purses that Seraphina had found, his head peeking out to observe every passerby. Molly had insisted that he stay at home, but that was never an option. Having Farlow by her side infused Seraphina with renewed energy, even though she possessed no magic. More importantly, he was her only tangible connection to the old world, a constant reminder that everything she had experienced was real. Molly would simply have to get used to him.
Farlow, however, was taking much longer to accept Molly. He had been furious that she had even suggested separating them, his distrust of her motives evident. Between his keen observations of the humans and animals on the street, he occasionally shot Molly wary glances, growling and baring his teeth.
As they entered the bookstore, Seraphina was surprised to find a large number of people already gathered. With the meeting set to begin in just a few minutes, Molly scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face. She rose onto her tiptoes, peering over groups of people.
"Do you see Jonathan anywhere? We should at least say hi." She turned to Seraphina. "Well, you should say hi." Scanning the room again, she pointed. "There!"
Following her gesture, Seraphina spotted Jonathan speaking with Adrian near the back of the store.
"Come on."
Molly led the way, slowly weaving through the crowd. As Seraphina moved, snippets of conversations reached her ears. An older woman speaking to a group of teens said, "They want to build these million-dollar condos. No way any of us can afford to live here anymore." One of the teens rolled his eyes and muttered, "That's what those Stanley jerks are hoping for."
Another group was discussing the same topic. "That family just loves flaunting their power . . ." a woman with long, colorful nails remarked. Others in the crowd were focused on their phones, some even pointing them around the room, a behavior Seraphina found odd.
Grasping Molly's arm, she leaned in and whispered, "Is this the same family who owns the academy you teach at?"
Bethany sighed and nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. We tried to find jobs elsewhere, but no one was hiring. That doesn't mean we won't keep fighting them."
Finally, something Seraphina could agree with. She was always up for a good fight.
Yet, as she continued to listen to the murmurs around her, she found herself unimpressed. The people here sounded defeated, their words laced with frustration rather than resolve. Giving up before even attempting to fight? They had it all wrong.
She glanced down at Farlow just as his voice echoed in her mind.
"I know what you're thinking, my lady. These people can never win if they continue to feel as if they've already lost."
Seraphina nodded and moved closer to Bethany, subtly slowing their pace.
"What's wrong?" Molly asked.
"I don't understand. Why do they allow this Stanley army to act this way?"
Molly frowned. "First, it's not an army. They're just a powerful family with a ridiculous amount of money and influence. And it's not as simple as 'allowing' the Stanley family to do anything. These people—" she gestured around the room—"they're just regular folks trying to get by. And they feel like they don't have many options, especially when a Stanley sits on the city council that approves these developments."
Seraphina shook her head. "That is a serious disadvantage."
"Yeah, and you'd think it would be a conflict of interest, but no one seems to care except us."
Molly appeared troubled, and Seraphina briefly thought that if Sera were here, she would likely offer some comfort. Thankfully, the thought was short-lived as they finally reached the back of the store.
Jon's gaze immediately landed on Seraphina, and he offered a smile. "You came!" His smile faltered as he noticed Helios growling from the bag on her shoulder. "And you brought your dog. Yay."
"Good, he knows that I will kill him," Farlow murmured in Seraphina's mind.
Molly greeted Adrian warmly, and then turned to Seraphina with a pointed look, likely reminding her to be at least somewhat cordial toward Kane.
"Yes, hello, Jon," Seraphina managed. Feigning friendliness was going to take some practice.
Jonathan either didn't notice or chose to ignore her lack of enthusiasm. "I'm really glad you made it. The more of us that get involved, the better."
For a moment, they all stood in silence, taking in the crowd. Seraphina, however, took the opportunity to study Jonathan. His stance was casual, hands in the pockets of his slacks, yet his gaze held a familiar fire—the same old fight she recognized in the Knight Jonathan from her world. And yet, this one seemed . . . softer.
"Are you not worried?" she asked. "I hear the fear in this room about the Stanley family." Battles were not won through fear but through courage. But she refrained from saying this aloud.
Jonathan nodded. "Yes, and I don't blame them. The Stanley family is powerful. They're the ultimate villain to go up against." For a split second, his gaze darted away, though Seraphina couldn't be sure she hadn't imagined it. "But how could I not fight?" he continued. "If they win, I lose an important part of my family history."
"The bookstore," Seraphina confirmed.
"Yes. I can't just let that happen without trying to stop it." His determined gaze met hers.
It was difficult not to admire someone willing to fight for their family, but Seraphina would never admit that to him. Instead, she smirked. "Good. This lord of the land thinks he can take what's yours? Have you never started a revolution?"
"Exactly!"
Adrian grinned at her and then turned to address the crowd. "That's exactly it, —" he paused and asked in a lower voice—"what's your name again?"
Before Seraphina could answer, Molly cut in. "It's Sera." She shot Seraphina a knowing look, daring her to argue.
Adrian, unaware of the exchange, turned back to the crowd. "It's what Sera said. This is about fighting for what's ours! So how do we do that?"
His words sparked an eruption of voices, with suggestions flying from all directions. Some spoke with anger, others with resignation. Smaller groups murmured among themselves. It was clear that without proper leadership, their fears would become reality.
Adrian did his best to field questions, but Seraphina could only make out snippets of their concerns—intimidation, powerlessness, fear. The memories it dredged up were unwelcome. She had known this struggle before, growing up in the Thalassara Kingdom. Her family had lost their home, leaving them on the streets. She had clawed her way to power so that it would never happen again. And when she returned to her homeland, she would ensure that no one could ever strip her of it. No mercy.
A hand on her arm jolted her from her thoughts, and she gasped. Molly's wide, frantic eyes darted around the room.
"Andi, where is your dog?"
Molly's words sent a jolt of panic through Seraphina. Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized she had been so lost in memories of her former life that she hadn't noticed Helios was missing.
Immediately, she reached out to him telepathically. "Farlow, where have you run off to?"
Silence. Her pulse quickened. She called again, her thoughts desperate. "Answer me, Farlow. Where are you?" The absence of his response sent a cold wave of fear washing over her. He was her one true friend, her only trusted companion, and now he was gone. The very idea felt like some cruel form of torture. Steeling herself, she forced rationality into her thoughts. He had likely gotten bored and wandered off to explore.
Determined, she pushed through the crowd, weaving between people as she scanned the room. His small size made the search even more difficult. The chances of spotting him amidst the mass of people were slim, but she refused to wait for the room to clear.
Molly grabbed her wrist, her voice calm but firm. "Hey, I'm sure he's fine. You need to calm down."
Seraphina shook off the attempt at reassurance and continued searching. "Help me," she demanded.
Molly crouched to peer through people's legs. "Do you think he could have gotten outside?"
"I don't know," Seraphina admitted. The thought terrified her, but she shoved it aside. "Maybe. If someone opened the door and he ran out—"
A familiar yipping sound cut through her words. She turned to Molly, and their eyes locked in mutual understanding.
"Is that him?" Molly asked.
Instead of answering, Seraphina darted toward the sound. "Farlow!" she called aloud, heedless of those around her. The barks grew louder, leading her toward the rows of bookshelves at the back of the store.
Rounding a corner, she finally spotted Farlow—dangling mid-air in Jon's outstretched hands. Jon held the small Pomeranian at arm's length, his expression a mixture of discomfort and exasperation. Helios, for his part, squirmed violently, flipping his head back in an attempt to snap at Kane's hands.
Relief flooded through Seraphina, though she couldn't help but smirk at the sight of Jon's clear unease.
"Oh, good. I think this is yours," his voice edged with irritation.
Molly exhaled audibly. "Oh, thank god."
Seraphina approached, offering Jon a forced grin. Simultaneously, she reached out to Farlow in her mind. "What in the world are you doing?!"
"This murderer ruined my surprise for you," Farlow responded indignantly. "I was going to take on this evil Stanley family myself and bring you their heads, my queen."
A genuine smile curled Seraphina's lips. Despite her fear, Farlow had only the best intentions—just as he always had. Once, in the magical realm, he had proudly presented her with the severed head of a rival sorcerer's familiar, a reminder of his unwavering loyalty.
Taking Farlow from Jon, she hugged him tightly before nestling him back into her bag. Rather than scold him, she reached out with her thoughts. "Thank you, old friend. Your loyalty is always appreciated. But we will do this together, all right?"
Farlow panted, his tongue lolling out in an almost satisfied grin. "Whatever you say, Seraphina. Your wish is my command."
Jonathan watched the exchange, brow furrowed. "How did you do that?"
Seraphina tilted her head. "Do what?"
"Get him to calm down so fast." Jonathan ran a hand through his hair. "He was acting completely insane back here. I thought he was going to bolt out of the store."
The thought sent a fresh wave of anxiety through her, but she fought to keep her expression neutral. "That would have been terrible." She met Jonathan's gaze, sincerity threading through her words. "Thank you for finding him and keeping him safe until I got here." She placed a hand on his arm. "Truly, I appreciate it."
Jon's face turned slightly pink as he shifted awkwardly. "It was, uh, no trouble at all." He cleared his throat, running a hand over the back of his neck. "I'm happy I could help."
They lingered in an awkward silence before someone called Jonathan's name. He gave them a nod before excusing himself, stepping away.
Molly watched him leave before turning to Seraphina with an eager grin. "That was perfect. Now you have an in, for sure."
Seraphina hesitated. "I suppose..." The term was unfamiliar, but she understood the sentiment. Gaining Jon's trust was vital to her plans.
Molly smirked. "You could have given him a hug or something. The way those cheeks of his were blushing, I bet he would've loved that."
Seraphina scowled at the suggestion.
Molly shrugged. "Too soon? Fine. Moving forward then. Now you need to ask him to hang out."
"What does that mean?" Seraphina asked suspiciously.
Molly chuckled. "It just means spending time together." She smirked. "Depends on who you ask."
Seraphina ignored the implication. "Any ideas?"
"Actually, why don't you ask him to help make signs for the rally?" Molly suggested. "It's the perfect excuse to spend time with him and get to know him better. If you still think that's the best way to get home."
Seraphina nodded. "I'm fairly certain. And I don't see any other pathways at this time."
"Perfect." Molly nudged her forward. "No time like the present."
They made their way back through the store, now considerably emptier. Jonathan stood at a book display, carefully straightening a stack of books. He seemed to take great pride in the store, handling the books with care.
He looked up as they approached. "Are you two heading out?"
Molly nodded. "Yes, and thanks for hosting. I know everyone appreciated it. I'm excited to get started on this fight in an organized way."
"Glad to hear that," Jonathan said with a small smile, returning his attention to the books.
Molly jabbed Seraphina lightly in the back—a clear cue.
Seraphina took a step closer. "Jonathan..." She waited for him to glance back at her. "You will come to my home, and we will make posters of rallying cries for this event."
Jonathan stared at her for a long moment, then took a few steps closer, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Is that an order?"