Of course it was an order. Seraphina had no idea why Jon would even question her, but perhaps this new version of him needed some education on the type of ruler she was. She was just about to give him the confirmation he sought when movement over his shoulder caught her eye.
Molly had shifted into Seraphina's line of vision just beyond Jon's shoulder, waving her hands emphatically, her expression annoyed for some reason.
"That woman is a strange creature," Farlow spoke in her mind.
"No doubt," Seraphina replied telepathically. "I'm afraid we will just have to get used to it."
Molly's gesturing made little sense, considering Seraphina had done exactly as they had discussed—ensuring she and Jon spent time together. But then she noticed Molly mouthing something and narrowed her eyes at her. Molly was trying to say, "Ask him." It was probably due to the fragile male ego, one of the only things their two worlds had in common.
Letting out a sigh, Seraphina said to Jon, "Of course it's not an order," adding a fake giggle to appease Molly, who was still gesturing behind him. Sheesh. She wasn't about to beg this man, but she compromised with, "It's a . . . request." Lifting her brows, she waited.
Jon's stoic expression cracked, and he let out a burst of laughter. "I was just kidding. Yeah, that totally works for me." Running a hand over his chin, he added, "Molly mentioned you're both teachers, so I'm guessing you have a ton of great materials lying around. Yeah, let's do it." He pulled out his phone and extended it toward her. "Just put your number in there, and I'll text you."
Seraphina's eyes widened as she connected glances with Molly. She had no idea what Sera's phone number was. Hesitantly, she took hold of the phone.
Molly stepped between them, snagging the device from Seraphina's grasp. "I'll do it for you, Andi. It looks like Farlow needs your attention."
As Molly blocked Jon's view, Seraphina pretended to adjust the silly bow on Farlow's head, giving Molly enough time to enter the required information. After handing the phone back, Molly stepped to Seraphina's side. Jon glanced at his screen before smiling. "Sera Johnson, we'll talk soon."
Seraphina nodded, and Molly quickly looped an arm through hers. "Well, we should get going. We have to get up early for lesson planning, right, Sera?"
"Uh, yeah."
"But Seraphina will set up the poster-making session!" Molly declared, ushering her out of the store as if she feared Seraphina might say something that would ruin the plan.
As they walked back to the apartment building, Molly beamed with satisfaction.
"You're certainly happy," Seraphina remarked, her expression neutral. "We have only begun to fight."
Molly shook her head. "I think it went great, and we're going to have Sera back in no time."
*****
Sitting at Sera's desk, Seraphina observed the children with an eagle eye as they colored. She needed the quiet moment to calm the irritation brewing from the chaos and noise of preschoolers. Why did they ask so many questions? She wasn't sure how much longer she could endure this. There had been no progress in her mission because everything hinged on Sera, and he was too busy to meet until Thursday.
Her only salvation with the children was nap time and bribing them with treats from a stash she had found in Sera's desk—otherwise, her time at the school was disastrous and draining.
At least she had deciphered the schedule and now understood what each bell meant. When the next one rang, she knew it signaled gym playtime. She was sorely disappointed to find out that it only involved playing with balls rather than engaging in swordplay or combat maneuvers.
"Children, line up at the door, mouths closed."
She was ready for them to expend their energy so they could reach the best part of the day: nap time. Moving to the door, she faced them.
"I'll wait," she said, staring at two little girls whispering.
Once the line was ready, she placed her hand on the door, but as she glanced over the little faces, something felt off—a strange sort of energy, long faces that didn't quite fit children about to be freed from the confines of academia.
Pointing to one little know-it-all named Mary, she asked, "You. What's going on with all the children? Why are you all so somber?"
The girl shrugged, her mouth downturned.
"I don't have time for games, child. What is it?"
"It's dodgeball day," Mary answered despondently. "We hate dodgeball."
Seraphina scoffed. "So? Children love to play ball."
Mary shook her head. "Not that game. Class-B always beats us, and then we all feel bad for losing."
She could understand that. She almost confirmed by saying, "Nobody wants to be a loser," but then she recalled Molly's warning that children were delicate and that her hardened worldview could damage them—or worse, reveal her identity. Instead, she said, "Well, why don't you just win then?"
"We can't," another student chimed in.
Mary added, "Yeah, and they always say you're a bad teacher, Ms. Sera, because you can't teach us to win."
That may have been true when Sera was here, but Seraphina? She did not lose. "I won't have my classroom losing anything. I am the winner of all winners." Standing taller, she declared, "I have vanquished all my foes. Now come, children. We have a dodgeball match to win."
She marched the children to the gym, where the other preschool classroom stood on the opposite side of the basketball court. Two small foam balls lay on the ground, one on each side.
The other teacher, Mr. Williams, stood with his feet apart, arms folded, and a shiny metal object dangling from a rope around his neck. "You ready to lose, Class-A?" he called out.
Seraphina's blood boiled. They would see about that. She turned to Mary and knelt beside her. "Tell me the rules of this game, quickly."
The girl explained the simple procedures—catch the ball, and the thrower is out; don't get hit, or you're out; throw at the enemy to eliminate them. The last team standing wins.
"Gather 'round, children." She outlined a battle-worthy strategy, forming a strong front to shield those in the back. After a brief pep talk for the fearful, they spread across the court.
From the sidelines, she commanded her troops. When she noticed a boy from the opposing team distracted, she shouted, "There! Throw it now." The ball struck his shoulder, and without a word, he wandered off. Did he not care that he failed? "Watch it! You with the orange hair, don't get hit!" she ordered. "Remember! They are the enemy! Never surrender!"
One by one, her team picked off the opponents until none remained, losing only one of their own.
Mr. Williams approached her, chuckling. "I didn't think your class had it in them. That was wild."
"You may have lost, but at least you learned never to underestimate me."
He nodded. "Guess I was wrong about you. You know, you should be the captain for the teacher's team at the Stanley Family Charity Dodgeball event."
Stanley! She was about to ask more when a child's triumphant shout rang out across the court: "You are the enemy, and you will be vanquished!"
Mr. Williams and Seraphina immediately turned toward the source of the commotion, the child's voice still ringing through the gymnasium. A small girl named April stood over the crumpled form of the largest child from Class-B, her stance wide and hands planted firmly on her hips.
"Stay down! You're weak!" she bellowed at the fallen boy, her tone filled with unshakable confidence.
Mr. Williams hurried toward them while Seraphina followed at a more measured pace, not particularly eager to interrupt the spectacle. She found it rather impressive that someone as small as April had managed to bring down an opponent twice her size. It was exactly the kind of determination she respected.
By the time she reached the group, Mr. Williams was already addressing April, bending at the waist to meet her gaze.
"That's not how we play together here at Stanley Academy, now is it, April?" he asked.
The girl merely shook her head, her wide eyes betraying nothing.
"All right," Mr. Williams continued, "then help Jordan up and apologize for pushing him down."
April's expression darkened, and she narrowed her eyes at the teacher. "He was weak. I think Jordan should say he's sorry for being weak." She turned her glare toward the boy, who had covered his face with his arm in embarrassment. "He let his team down."
Mr. Williams shot Seraphina a look, eyebrows raised expectantly, but she simply shrugged. She had no interest in coddling the boy's feelings. If anything, April had a valid point.
Letting out a sigh, Mr. Williams turned back to the girl. "I'm sure Jordan tried his best, and you know we don't condone bullying here. So, I'm going to ask you one more time to apologize, or you're going up to see Mrs. Sanchez."
April held her ground for several seconds before finally turning toward Patrick. "I'm sorry, Jordan," she said, though her tone lacked any trace of sincerity. As she stepped past him, she mumbled under her breath, "That you're weak," before marching over to line up with the rest of her class.
Mr. Williams exhaled and turned back to Seraphina. "Wow. You believe that?" He chuckled but tried to stifle it. "I didn't think you had it in you, Sera. Your kids used to be such pushovers, but you really turned things around."
"That's what I do," she replied, folding her arms. "I don't associate with losers."
Grinning, Mr. Williams shook his head. "I'm definitely going to be on your team at the teachers' dodgeball tournament."
Tilting her head, Seraphina smirked. "We'll see if you have anything to offer," she said before turning and walking away.
*****
Later, Seraphina sat on Sera's bed, watching as Bethany rummaged through the closet in search of an outfit for her upcoming "hanging out" with Jon. Molly, delighted to take on the task, seemed completely unaware that she was prattling on incessantly about what Seraphina should and shouldn't do.
Growing weary of the lecture, Seraphina finally interrupted. "Am I to understand that you think I don't know how to seduce a man?"
Molly spun around, rolling her eyes. "That is definitely not what I'm talking about." She held up a soft pink dress, but Seraphina immediately shook her head in disapproval.
Molly sighed, placing the dress back in the closet. "This is your first date. We need to go over what that means in this world."
Seraphina frowned. "I still don't understand why you keep bringing up fruit."
Molly blinked. "What?"
"You keep mentioning dates. Do people in your world eat them when they meet with potential mates?"
Molly groaned. "Yes, that's exactly it. Dates are an aphrodisiac."
Seraphina curled her lip in distaste. "None for me, thank you." She moved beside Molly, deciding her wardrobe selection was sorely lacking. "If this is a courting ritual, isn't seduction enough? Getting a man into bed has never been an issue for me."
Molly blanched. "Seraphina, no. Please, no. This is a first date. You don't have to sleep with him." She pointed to a pair of jeans. "Sera wouldn't do that, and neither should you. Got it?"
Seraphina glanced at the jeans before shrugging. "Why should Sera's choices guide mine? Was she particularly successful in such matters?"
Molly smirked. "Uh, that would be a no. But Sera had a big crush on bookstore boy. Nothing ever happened, though." She handed Seraphina a shirt. "And I don't want you ruining her chances when she comes back."
Seraphina considered this for a moment before scoffing. "Sera liked him and did nothing about it. Yet, here I am, and I'm the one who succeeded in securing this much-wanted date."
Molly rolled her eyes and collapsed onto the bed as Seraphina sorted through the rest of the closet. "How does she dress with such incompetence?" she muttered. "Everything in here is ridiculous."
Molly laughed. "I can't believe I thought you were just Sera going through some weird, new-age identity crisis."
Seraphina froze, her eyes widening. "Of course! That's it!"
Molly sat up quickly. "What? What is?"
"The crystal!" Seraphina exclaimed. "If Jon is here, perhaps he brought the crystal with him—the one containing my magic."
Molly's expression shifted. "Wait, seriously?" She hesitated before adding, "Oh, that story you told me... I mean, not story. I believe you. It's just... a lot."
Seraphina nodded, pacing the room. "He used that crystal to siphon my magic. If it's here, I need to get it back."
Molly pressed her palms together. "Well, I think Jonathan lives above the bookstore, so that's probably the best place to start."
Seraphina's pulse quickened with excitement. "That makes sense."
Molly grinned. "I guess you just need to get invited over, then."
But Seraphina was already thinking ahead. As Molly spoke, she murmured, "I will steal his keys tonight."