Seraphina began at the voice in her head, her eyes wide. Flipping her head left and right, she searched for the source. Could it be? She knew that voice; it was as familiar to her as her own. Her heart raced double-time as she held out hope that the only friend in her life she trusted implicitly was alive. Her true and faithful companion, Helios. Not seeing him anywhere, she called out, "Farlow? Is that you?"In her head, she heard, "Yes! Seraphina, I'm here!" Swiveling around once again, she examined every possible place he could be but found no trace of her friend. "Where?!" she asked, her voice trembling.She stared down at her feet when suddenly a high-pitched barking drew her attention. Bouncing next to her, like the fattest dandelion blowing in the wind, was a little white dog wearing a bright pink bow on its head. Seraphina wrinkled her nose. How disgustingly sweet. "What do you want, little pest?" she muttered, leaning over to get a closer look. Then she heard in her mind, "But it is I, Seraphina."Her breath caught. "Oh, no." Falling to her knees, she wrapped her hands around the sides of the dog's snout. "What have they done to you, my precious Farlow?" she whispered.Her head rang with his strong voice, his anger clear. "The indignity, my lady. My form, my beautiful form is gone. Now I am stuck in the tiny cage of this infernal thing they call a Pomeranian."Seraphina touched the pink material decorating his head. "And what of this pink atrocity?""A human put it in my hair. My hair. Farlow, slayer of armies, owner of the skies. Why would they belittle me like this?"Feeling Farlow's pain, she gathered him into her arms, hugging him tightly. "You deserve better than suffering this way, my sweet.""Yes, but I am so relieved to have found you. I—""Excuse me," a man said, hurrying up and halting in front of her. "I'm so sorry. That's my dog.""Your dog?" Andromeda narrowed her eyes as she scowled at him. How could he claim to possess her Helios. She had feared she had lost Helios forever, and now that they had been reunited, she would not let this person touch him.The man ran his hand over his almost bald head. "I just bought this idiotic puppy from a shelter yesterday, and it's the worst. They said it was trained, yet all it does is bark and urinate everywhere. He put out his hands, as if to pull Farlow away. "I'm taking it back there right now.""Please, Seraphina, do not allow this peasant take me back there. I was surrounded by beings incapable of forming single phrases. My lady, it was hell."Seraphina raised her chin. "He seemed to have developed a fancy to me. "Why don't I take him?"The man peered at her, his hands on his hips, appearing reluctant. "I don't want to bother you, ma'am. He's quite the handful.""Handful, my ass, you pathetic excuse for a man. Do not listen to him, Seraphina!" Farlow's voice boomed in her head.Seraphina grabbed Farlow closer, gazing him down. "Look, he's fine. I will take him. Save you the trouble.""You twisted my arm, Lady. Thank you." The man's expression expressed relief. "But I'll need to transfer the paperwork to you," he told her. "If you give me your phone, we can exchange numbers?""That's fine," she responded, transferring Farlow onto one arm and snatching her phone with the other. She'd have to ask Molly about it later. After they performed their futile mission, the man went, and Farlow rested in her arms. He let out a satisfied sigh and asked, "So, what is this place... and why are we here?""I'm afraid I don't know, Farlow." Seraphina glanced at him, unsure how she'd adjust to his new appearance. He appeared like the kind of creature Sera would want at her side. "But I'm working on it." I will bring us both home. I guarantee you that.""Home and out of this annoying white ball of fur.""Yes, Helios. Now, tell me, what do you recall about our last time together?""Unfortunately, my final memory is of falling to Jonathan's sword. I apologize for failing you, Seraphina.""Nonsense. You must not even consider it." She patted his little, white head. "I, too, have the same horrific memory of the end.""What can we do? How do we get out of here?""First, we must learn everything we can about the world. They appear to have some magic here. Perhaps we can use it.""That would be great, my lady. Have you tried?""Not yet. I had to be patient for a while.""What do you mean?"Seraphina went on to tell Farlow about all she'd been through and how she, too, was in the body of someone else. She recounted her experiences with underground transit and the tasks she had to accomplish the day before. She then questioned him, "Farlow, have you ever heard of such a thing before?""No. This spell is unlike anything else I've heard of. Nothing at the magical academy ever mentioned something like this."They stayed silent for a time before Farlow said, "What about your mentor. Did he ever mention that?"Seraphina shook her head. "Farlow, there's one more thing I must tell you, and you're not going to like it.""Please tell me you are not sending me back to the Anima prison?""No . . . But the same way you and I are in this world but not quite ourselves, there is someone else here as well.""No, please don't say it.""Yes, it is Jonathan."Farlow went still in her arms, but she could still sense the tension he was holding. After all, Jonathan wasn't only her enemy, he killed Farlow too. She nodded in the direction of Jonathan's store. "That is where the vile man is right now. Invading the body of a bookstore owner."Farlow jumped from her clutches and raced across the street. "Wait! Keep an eye out! Damn the fast-moving carriages." Farlow paid her no attention. Farlow was raising his leg and defecating on Jonathan's door when she came up with him at the front of the business. Seraphina laughed and enjoyed having her companion back. This was the most Farlow thing he could have done, yet it felt familiar. He may not be her big and powerful hippogriff in this realm, but he still harbored hate for her and discovered a way to use his own strength. "Well done, friend."She was still laughing when the door opened, and Jonathan stuck his head out. Seraphina quickly steeled herself to a calm expression. Farlow finished, then rushed up to Jonathan, biting at his ankles."What the hell?" Jonathan exclaimed, attempting to lift his legs one at a time to get Farlow off him, but the dog was relentless. "Whose demon dog is this?!"Holding back a grin, Seraphina raised her hand. Jonathan eyed her and groaned. "Of course. I should have known." He shook his head. "Look, I'm trying to get through opening the store without any issues." He gestured at Farlow. "Do you mind?"Seraphina narrowed her eyes at him. "Why aren't you telling me how much you hate me? Isn't that your typical greeting? Where's the dazzling hero monologue?" She waved her hands in the air with a flourish and readied for a mocking tone: "I was born in a small village, but fortune had a plan for me, etcetera, etcetera.""What the heck are you talking about?" His brows furrowed. "You sound like you're from the Middle Ages or something." Then a hesitant grin played on his lips. "I didn't know you were from Queens," he said with a head shake. "Whatever, it doesn't matter."He was right about one thing—this frivolous banter would get them nowhere. Seraphina needed to switch tactics. "Actually, I was coming to apologize to you."Farlow gave up Jonathan's legs then, and Seraphina hoped he wouldn't pop into her head with his protests. Jonathan's brows rose for only a moment before he gave her a short nod. "All right. Why don't you come in for a bit."Without waiting for her answer, he held the door open wider. Seraphina stooped to lift Farlow, but Jonathan stepped to block the doorway. "Wait a minute. You can't bring that dog in here.""But what if he runs away if I leave him outside?" she asked, giving him wide eyes and a downturned mouth she was sure Sera was no stranger to. "I promise he'll be good."Farlow harrumphed in her mind. "Is that so? You want me to be good in front of the man who killed us both?"Seraphina sent her thoughts back to Farlow: "We need to learn more from him, and you need to temper your rage, little one. Just for now."She caught Jonathan staring at her with something unreadable in his gaze before he turned and led them inside. It was unnerving, to say the least. She would put up with it only until she discovered the truth. "I truly am sorry for the way I acted last night."Jonathan turned and grinned, and it was achingly familiar. It was the same crooked smile he gave her just before the battle turned in his favor. She took a step back, her arms tightening around Jonathan."You mean for hitting me?" he asked.She gave him a single nod. He shrugged and turned away before adding, "I guess I can't really blame you for the way you acted. If I were in your shoes, I would have done the same."Mouth agape, Seraphina stared at his back. What the hell. . . ?Helios's words burst into her head: "He knows. He damn well knows!"Seraphina felt her heart drop into her stomach as she scanned Jonathan's shop, searching for something to use as a weapon. Farlow, the griffin trapped in the form of a tiny Pomeranian, growled menacingly from her arms, his teeth bared."If Jonathan knows, then we must fight, my lady," Farlow spoke in her mind, his voice sharp with urgency.But Seraphina hesitated. Jonathan's expression and body language didn't match her expectations. Instead of an attacker's stance, he was smiling, his cheeks faintly pink"What do you mean, you would have done the same?" she asked cautiously. The smile faded from Jonathan's face as he rubbed the back of his head, his eyes darting away. "I mean, I guess I shouldn't have been staring at you.""You were... staring at me?" Seraphina's tone betrayed her confusion."Yes. You just looked really pretty last night," he admitted, awkwardly.In her head, Farlow roared, "He's lying!"Seraphina shot a glare down at her hippogriff-turned-Pomeranian. "So, you don't think he thinks I'm pretty?" she thought back, sarcastic. Of course, she was still wearing the ridiculous garment that Sera had found appropriate.Farlow was spared from responding by the bookstore door opening. A man rushed in, his expression marked with concern."Adrian! What's up, man?" Jonathan greeted him.The newcomer, whom Seraphina thought looked vaguely familiar, grew increasingly agitated as he waved a paper under Jonathan's nose. "You see this? This is the kind of bull-crap the Brooks are pulling!" he exclaimed. "They want to raise rents again after they just did last year. They can't keep doing this."Jonathan sighed, patting Adrian's on the shoulder. "Yeah, I got a notice, too. We know why they're doing it. They just want to price us out so they can tear all this down and invite the rich people in."As the two men spoke, Seraphina felt invisible, and she didn't care for it. Their concern was evident, though Jonathan's face showed more despair compared to Adrian's fiery rage."Why not simply kill the landlord?" she interjected, drawing their attention.Jonathan's eyes widened in shock, while Adrian let out a surprised laugh. "I like her," Adrian said, finally acknowledging her presence. "I'm Adrian, by the way.""Oh... hi," Seraphina replied, nodding awkwardly.Adrian held up the flier again. "You should come to the tenants' meeting we're having later tonight."Seraphina glanced at Jonathan, who nodded in agreement. "Yeah, everyone on the block should come. I'll be there, too," he added, his gaze holding hers with an unspoken hope she would attend.Another customer entered the store, pulling Jonathan's attention away. Seraphina's phone vibrated in her pocket, and she struggled to hold Farlow as she fished it out. A text from Molly lit up the screen: Where are you?_______________Unsure of Molly's urgency but seeing it as an opportunity to escape Jonathan, Seraphina headed for the door. "I have to go," she said over her shoulder."Sera, one sec!" Jonathan called out just as she reached the handle.Turning back, she saw him smiling again. What reason did this man have to be smiling so much? This new Jonathan was almost as irritating as the archenemy she thought she'd left behind."I'll see you at the meeting tonight, yeah?" Jonathan asked, his expectant expression tempting her to retort. Instead, she nodded. "Yes, of course. Um, where is it?"Jonathan's grin widened, clearly pleased by her reply. "It's here at the bookstore," he said.Farlow nuzzled into her, his voice in her mind urging, "This is a good opportunity to get closer to him."Seraphina nodded, then waved to the two men before leaving. As she walked back to her dwelling, her thoughts lingered on Jonathan. The old-world Jonathan would have sacrificed himself to trap her in this strange place, away from the magical realm. Yet this world's Jonathan seemed different, as if he didn't remember her or their shared history at all.The thought filled her with hope. She would use his amnesia to her advantage, get close to him, and find a way to return home—leaving him behind, of course.Molly was waiting at Sera's apartment door when Seraphina arrived. The young woman's anxious demeanor shifted as she noticed Farlow. "When did you get a dog? I don't know if our apartment allows pets," Molly said.Seraphina bristled. "This is my familiar. He's also been sent here from our real home, so wherever I go, he goes."Molly smirked, raising a brow. "Your familiar? He's a Pomeranian!"Seraphina glared. "It is only his outer appearance! In the Concord Alliance Kingdoms, Farlow is a much-feared hippogriff, and you would do well to remember that and speak of him with respect."Molly leaned back, unimpressed. "Uh-huh, okay, sure, whatever. Anyway, that's not why I was looking for you. I need you to come up to my place so we can look at wedding dresses.""As in a white matronly garment you wear for nuptials?" Seraphina asked, disinterested.Molly put her hands on her hips. "Yeah, you're my maid of honor, right?" She didn't wait for an answer. "I know there's some weird stuff going on with you... but I still need to buy a dress, and I'm not doing that without you.""Fine," Seraphina sighed. "I'll help with this thing, but in return, you'll continue to be my guide in this world.""Yeah, yeah, I'll be your guide, and we'll slay all the dragons and stuff.""There are dragons here?" Seraphina's eyes widened until she realized Molly was being sarcastic."Come on, Sera," Molly said, leading the way up the stairs and down a hall to her apartment. Seraphina was surprised to find it mirrored Sera's, though its muted colors and abundance of greenery gave it a calmer, forest-like atmosphere."Let's sit in the kitchen," Molly said, gesturing to a wooden table cluttered with books and papers. The rest of the kitchen was similarly chaotic."You allow your servant to keep your kitchen in such disarray?" Seraphina asked, her tone critical.Molly scoffed. "Servant, right? She's on holiday with the butler." Shaking her head, she added, "You know I love to cook, Sera. Leave me alone about it. It's called organized chaos. I know where everything is."Seraphina sat down, holding Farlow in her lap. Molly joined her, reaching for a slim device that lit up when she touched it, displaying images of women in white gowns."Oh, wedding dresses, correct?" Seraphina guessed.Molly rolled her eyes, manipulating the device to make the dresses change. "You're here to help me pick," she said."Why do you even need—or want—my opinion for something so trivial?" Seraphina asked.Molly's face fell, then shifted to anger. "Gah! Can you please stop this stupid act? I just want to be excited about this wedding, and you're ruining it." She narrowed her eyes. "Is that what this act is about? Are you jealous or something?""I'm jealous of no one. And this is not an act. I've told you nothing but the truth," Seraphina said firmly.Molly took a deep breath, leaning back in her chair. After a long, pointed look, she finally said, "Fine. You say you're not Sera. You're some sorceress named Seraphina? Then prove it."