i have one back home on the mainland.

she nodded and started writing on a pad. good. if you give me her number and sign a release, i can update her as to what has happened. you are going to need to address tonight's events.

no kidding. tonight's events. last week's. last month's. last year's. sheesh. i could foresee paying for gwen's future mansion with the therapy bills. but she was the best. and it would absolutely be worth the price if she could help me pull myself back together. because, while i had been trying to put up a good front in front of bruno and igor, i was faking it big-time.

at the same time, i was worried. gwen had once told me that if anything happened to my protections, she wouldn't be able to reestablish them-doing so might destroy all my memories.

i signed the appropriate paperwork, took the proffered prescription, and we were on our way.

creede was waiting at the car. like bruno, he didn't say a word. but it wasn't the first time he'd seen me throw myself into danger right after a demon encounter. he just shook his head and got into the front passenger seat while bruno got in next to me in the back.

even early as it was, there was an electric excitement in the air. it was as if the whole country was a small child and it was finally, finally christmas morning. today was the wedding day.

the limo drove through the streets leading to the castle in the thin, watery light of dawn. i watched through the window as the vendors bustled and tourists stumbled sleepily up to the police barriers, clutching steaming mugs or styrofoam cups as they shivered slightly in the early-morning chill. later in the day it was supposed to be sunny and in the seventies, but at the moment it was quite cool.

had it really only been days since i'd made a similar pre-wedding drive through the streets of serenity? it felt like years. bad, dark years filled with pain.

enough with the depressing thoughts, i admonished myself. it's adriana's wedding day. i wished i could be as excited about it as the bystanders i saw outside the car windows. i just wasn't. i tried giving myself a little internal pep talk, but the results were less than stellar.

just get through the day. you can do this.

we reached the compound at 6:30. i sped to my rooms to relieve myself, have a quick shower, and retrieve my weapons and jewelry before heading down to the dressing room. at my request, the servants agreed to bring my breakfast there.

we were getting dressed in a different small room, not the one used for the fittings the previous day. i was glad. i don't exactly believe in bad luck, but i wouldn't have wanted to start this day in that room.

as before, the dresses were hung on racks, with the bridesmaids' dresses shoved down to one end and adriana's wedding gown taking the rest of the space. i'd gotten only a peek at it before i was teleported away; now i took a closer look.

it was gorgeous, a simple, elegant design in ivory silk with embroidery and pearl beads and a long train trimmed in lace. i knew she would look absolutely stunning in it.

on the east wall were the hair and makeup areas. neither were manned at the moment, but all the equipment was laid out at the ready. on another wall, a television played. the british announcers were filling the time before the actual event translating local background stories about everything from the designers of adriana's dress and veil to rusland's wedding traditions. a clock in one bottom corner of the screen showed a countdown until the wedding.

when she saw me at the door, adriana ran to greet me with a glad cry and a huge hug. she was wearing a full-length housecoat, her hair loose and uncombed. even so, she was gorgeous. she was radiant with joy and quivering with nerves. her embrace was gentle and warm, and i could feel her delight as she released me.

natasha hugged me next. she was a little shy and awkward about it, but that just made it feel more sincere.

"you are all right?" natasha asked as i followed her over to the corner to examine my dress.

"my ears still hurt," i admitted. i was having some problems with my balance as well. it wasn't anything too serious, a touch of vertigo. dr. shablinski had said both problems would probably fade in a few days. the ear damage had been extensive enough that a regular human would have been permanently deaf. of course, i didn't go into that with natasha. "other than that, i'm okay."

"you were fortunate." she shuddered visibly. "a demon. you are very fortunate."

"you got that right."

"celia!" i whirled at the sound of gilda's joyous shout. "you're all right? i wanted so badly to warn you, but i could not move or speak. what a hideous, terrible spell." gilda burst into the room like a little tornado, with isaac following in her wake. the two of them swept me into yet another hug. apparently this was the day for it. while i'm not normally all that huggy, today it felt good, reassuring.

gilda drew me away from the others, leading me behind the screens that had been set up to give us a private dressing area, and whispered, "are you truly all right? you look ... strained."

"it was rough, but i'll be okay."

she pursed her lips, giving me a narrow-eyed look of pure skepticism. "if you say so."

"i do."

as she was helping me out of my shirt, she whispered near my ear, "we haven't told your grandmother about what happened, darling. it wouldn't help her heal. but she's doing much better. she plans to watch you on television, so we'll make you look extra special." i thanked her for visiting my gran and wondered what the three of them-i assumed isaac had gone, too; the levys were rarely parted-had talked about.

it took a few minutes to slip out of my clothes. i was sort of sore. sue me. then i donned my best frilly underthings and armed myself. next came the dress and jacket. i smoothed my hands along the fabric of the dress as i stepped out from behind the screen to give isaac and gilda a chance to examine their work.

the two of them circled me like sharks, examining me from every angle for long moments before finally expressing their satisfaction. i was happy with the result. the dress and jacket fit like a dream, and, thanks to isaac's magic, i could be well armed without looking like it. i had all my usual gear and then some-isaac had tucked things i wasn't sure even how to use into hidden pockets, murmuring, "if all else fails, throw them."

released, i sat on the edge of a chair and pulled on my thigh-high hose. gone were the days when my legs would tan enough for me not to need stockings. these were black silk and as sheer as cobwebs. they perfectly matched my brand-new black lace bra and panties, so i felt very sexy pulling them on. i didn't put on the shoes yet. the heels were high and because of the ear injury i figured i wouldn't be entirely steady on them. i'd have switched shoes, but there was no time to rehem the dress. so i just said a quick prayer that i wouldn't fall on my ass and make a fool of myself in front of the entire world.

now that i was dressed, it was time to accessorize. i opened the jewel case sitting on the table beside me. diamonds and amethysts sparkled in the bright overhead lights. i felt tears welling in my eyes as i looked at them. isaac and gilda were wonderful, wonderful friends. i loved them. but at this moment, i wished very much that i had family here. i missed my gran so much; missed ivy's ghost. i wanted to hear gran say i looked pretty, have ivy draw a heart in ice crystals on the mirror like she used to. i slipped on the earrings, controlling my expression, trying hard not to show anyone what i was feeling.

as if in response to my wish the temperature in the room dropped like a stone. the lights flickered overhead as gilda fastened the necklace around my neck.

"ivy?" i whispered. the lights flashed once in response. our old code had been once for yes, twice for no. "i'm so glad you're here." i felt myself smiling. "i've missed you."

as i watched, ice crystals formed on the full-length mirror in front of me, taking the shape of a heart.

is that my cousin ivy? adriana came over to stand beside me, her voice perfectly clear inside my mind.

yep. i think she knew i missed my family today.

adriana opened her arms and let the cool air flow around her. welcome, beloved cousin. i am most glad to have you at my wedding.

the lights flickered on and off joyfully. few people ever spoke to ivy directly except me. i could tell she was pleased by the way the air danced cool and then warm. but celia, you should know that we are your family, too; my mother and i, and now dahlmar as well. in fact, if you will come with me for a moment, i have a special gift for you.

natasha was being quiet as a mouse, standing in the background, looking ... sad. it was an odd reaction, out of place. then again, she'd had a day like this not too long ago and had lost her husband shortly after. maybe this brought back painful memories.

"natasha, are you all right?" i asked.

she smiled at me in response. "i'm fine. just remembering."

adriana spoke out loud for natasha's sake. "ladies, before things get started, i'd like to give you each a thank-you gift."

adriana picked up a jeweler's box from the top of her dressing table and passed it to natasha. inside was a necklace with an amethyst the size of my thumb, set in gold with accents of diamond. "i hope you like it."

natasha beamed and babbled something in ruslandic that i assumed was thanks. adriana answered her slowly, also in ruslandic, then turned to me.

"my gift to you," she said aloud as well as in my mind as she slid a pearl ring off of her finger and offered it to me. it's not as valuable as the many gifts you've given to me, but it's been in our family for a very long time. i hope you'll wear it as a token of the affection i have come to feel for you.

i slid the ring onto the middle finger of my left hand. it fit perfectly. i felt a gentle thrum of magic as it slid into place and for an instant i could've sworn i heard the rush of waves tumbling into the sand. what in the world? i turned to adriana, my eyes wide with surprise and pleasure. "thank you."