"Alex?" Jonathan called. He had seen her car parked outside--a little black 'Vette with a "Majyk Happens" bumper sticker. He poked around, opening doors and looking for her, until a sudden noise from the back yard drew him to the patio.

And there she was. She and Sean were apparently having a practice session--either that or they were dueling. Both were barefoot, and Alex's long hair had been pulled back into a tight braid. The blades flashed in the hot sun, in and out, left and right, forward and back. Jonathan sat down to watch.

It was an energetic match. Sean and Alex were both very good, but it soon became clear that Alex was better. As he watched, Jonathan couldn't help admiring her. Her movements were smooth and graceful, one flowing into the next as naturally as water flowing downstream. As she struck and parried, feinted and even flinched, he realised that she was stronger than she looked. It was a hot day, the match was beginning to drag out, and steel was heavy--but she never lost her grip. Not something he would have expected from someone almost anorexically thin.

Much to Jonathan's surprise, Sean disarmed Alex. Without missing a beat, she ducked, rolled, and came up with a dagger in her hand. Jonathan blinked in surprise. Sean was less startled and lunged at her again. However, he was playing right into her hands. She dodged the blade, but caught his wrist with her free hand, twisting it so that he dropped his sword. Suddenly, the point of her dagger was at his throat.

"Yield!" Sean yelped, now much more surprised than he had been when the dagger had appeared. Alex smiled and lowered her blade. Jonathan applauded.

He frowned. "I didn't."

"You can't be serious. You shouldn't have been able to sense It."

"But I could. It was... evil. There's no other word. I knew that if we didn't leave right then, we wouldn't be leaving at all."