She slept long and deep, not realizing the depth of her fatigue. As she would learn, the use of the phantom arm is not without cost and it brings forth weariness unmatched by that of purely physical fatigue. Her Mom and Pam stood over them watching them sleep for some time before finally gently bringing them back.

“Wake up Cindy, you need to eat and dress, you have another orientation meeting this afternoon.” When Cindy rolled over and burrowed under Jays arm as if to hide, her Aunt laughed and then her Mom said, “Come on, shake out, Your play mate will still be here when you are done. You will need his attentions again and he will be better rested and able to do his work.”

Jay rolled and mumbled, “Yeah, It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it!” He yelped and jumped half out of bed when Cindy pinched him on the inside of his thigh. “What was that for??”

Cindy looked up at him, batting her eyes as if she were just waking up. “What?? What are you talking about Jay? Pooooor Baby, you must have worked soooo hard that you are just deliriously tired and are imagining things.”

She got out of bed and then turned back around to tuck him back in and collect a kiss and a promise to rest up. She then returned to the bathroom for a quick shower and her dress. As flimsy and light as it was, she was astounded at how well it seemed to recover from the abuses she threw at it. She was to learn later that one of the perks of being a witch is the Witchy fabrics. They shed dirt, auto unwrinkled, cannot be torn except by the intentional will of a witch and looked and smelled fresh every time you put them on. Once she was dressed and ready her Mom and Aunt each took a hand and they were gone with a soundless port. When her eyes focused she was back in the dinning hall.

She turned to her Mom, “Witches eat a lot don’t they?”

“We are ravenous in bed and in the cafeteria.” Pam answered. “When you start using your powers more you will see; it takes a lot of fuel to port and it’s gotta come from somewhere.”

“I was wondering about that, why don’t we just walk? I mean this isn’t the biggest building in the world or anything. The top floor is just about all banquet room, and from the size of this dining hall, there couldn’t be much left to this floor. What floor are we on anyway?” Cindy saw a window and headed over to look out with her Mother and Aunt right behind.

When she got to the window, she just stopped and looked out, mouth open and eyes wide. Instead of the rundown afternoon downtown West Town she was expecting a view of from a, maybe, second floor window, she saw instead a beautiful night scene from a floor far above any this building was supposed to have. In the distance she saw something familiar and turned to her Mom sort of gasping for breath.

“Paris!!! That IS the Eiffel Tower isn’t it??” she blurted.

“Yes Dear, I believe it is. We were going to cover this in your next orientation. You see porting isn’t about distance. It takes the same energy to port to Paris as it does to port across the room. We actually haven’t been in West Town except for the Banquet and your passing.”

“What are on the other two floors of that building then?...Where is Jay?”

“I don’t have a clue is the answer to both questions. I actually didn’t know we were in Paris until you said that about the Tower. Louisa beaconed the places where we should go and gather so we could all stay together. I haven’t a clue WHERE any of the places are. I just know how to get there.” Sheryl patted her hand.

Pam took up the commentary, “We tend to spread out our meeting places, I happen to know that the Place in West Town was bought 20 years ago and the first and second floor are warehouse space we sub let and the basement parking is the local storage place for cars. I suspect that of the fifty or so cars you saw in the parking garage, only a handful were local people who drove there just for appearances. We do lots of things just for appearances you will find. NOW can we please go and eat, I am starving?”

Their meal was wonderful, Cindy was encouraged to eat and anything you could imagine was available. Cindy wondered if it was cooked there or just “Zapped” there from where ever. When they were done Cindy again stood between them and they went elsewhere.

The room was quiet and a little dark. Louisa and her Daughter Georgina were there as well as another Woman of middle years. “There you are!” Louisa exclaimed, “I was afraid that I was going to have to send the wolfhounds out to find you.” Her eyes twinkled and Cindy felt a special warmness in her heart that she knew she would always have for her because they had shared something intimate and special when she had helped Cindy to pass. “I know though that it is always so hard to drag yourself away from your First. He was especially charming I thought. I hope he was pleasing?”

Cindy blushed, “Extremely so my Queen.”

“Aw Poo, we are all just witches here Dear, Just call me Louisa. I hope that we will get to know each other well in the years to come. Your special strength will be both a blessing and a trial for you until you master it and control it. You need to always be careful that you do no harm to any. We never use our powers to harm except in self-defense and even then there are always other more pleasant options. A mugger is so much more fun to play with than to harm. I love it when they, just as they start to close on me, suddenly lose control of their bowels and bladder and have a big OOPs.”

Everyone chuckled and Pam threw in, “Or their weapon gets hung in their clothing and the more they try to get it out the more entangled they become until finally they just fall over with their clothes all twisted up around them and they are unable to move.” This brought on other chuckles and nods of appreciation.

Georgina who always seemed to be a bit solemn and dower cleared her throat and reminded, “We need to get to the matters at hand Mother. She can’t be returned to her home until we are sure she understands her place and what is expected of her.”

“Georgina, I swear, I wonder about you some times. We have as long as we need and just because you don’t like small talk doesn’t mean that the rest of us have to follow in line. I’ll tell you what, why don’t you pop over to that wonderful Japanese place in Tokyo and get us some of their wonderful tea and noodles. You know the one I mean; it has a dragon out front. When you get back we will settle down to the business at hand and then we can get on with the fun stuff.” Louisa picked up her purse and pulled out some assorted moneys. “Here Dear, convert some of this.” Georgina huffed but rather than buck her Mother’s authority she just nodded and tight lipped ported out. “She is a good girl but she has too much of her Father in her. She is so serious, and so determined to always be right and proper. He Father was like that…Though I must admit that this kind of dedication to detail was quite wonderful in the sack. Jeffery, may the Goddess allow his soul to rest, died in the saddle you know…but not until I was done and just waiting for him. He was such a considerate one!”

Pam snorted, “Louisa, I remember Jeffery, he may have been dynamite in the sack, but considerate? I don’t think so! He just had you cock whipped and led you around by the nose. I also remember that at his wake you tried to screw every man that was ported in.”

Louisa smiled sweetly, “Well dear, I was over come with grief. I wasn’t myself at all.”

Sheryl nodded, “You know she is right Pam. If she had been herself, there wouldn’t have been any TRIED to it, all of the men would have been had. As it was, several escaped her clutches and managed to leave un-sampled. Louisa was definitely not at her best or that would never have happened.”

Louisa smiled graciously and said, “Exactly, Jeffery would have wanted it that way!” everyone broke up at this and it left Cindy a little puzzled as to exactly what the joke was.

Everyone just visited after that and she was introduced to the new face. “Cindy I would like you to meet Jaclyn. She will be your personal counselor between now, and when school starts up again in the fall. The two of you will get to know each other quite well. She is going to help you learn to harness your powers and learn the ways of the Sisterhood.” Louisa smiled and patted her hand, “The school had assigned Georgina but as soon as I realized your strength I sent for Jaclyn. Georgina could never have controlled you.

It is one of the mysteries of Witches that the strength of the witch does not always follow in their Mothers foot steps. I am glad we took her off of your board of Governesses for another reason. You will learn that your passage was remarkably easy. As yours was on one extreme, I am afraid that Georgina’s was on the other. The Queen, Mary at the time, beat her until she didn’t have the heart to continue. We were about to declare her Fragilis and wipe her memory when she finally lifted one rod and freed one hand. She was so befuddled and exhausted that all she could think to do was reach back and try to cover her ass with it. She didn’t even reach to free her other hand. Mary, Goddess bless her kind old soul instead of sweeping her hand aside and continuing the beating until Georgina freed herself fully and turned to demand the paddle, instead swatted her gently and when Georgina’s fingers closed on the paddle she relinquished it and declared her passed. There had to be a conclave to debate this and a dispensation allowed because she didn’t actually meet the full definition for passing. You passed so easily that Georgina harbors certain resentment at your fortune. I love my Daughter but I also know her; you would do well to tread lightly around her.”

“But that’s not fair, it isn’t my fault that she had a hard time and I didn’t.” Cindy rubbed her ass, “I’m still not sure I believe that part either. You hit HARD!!!”

Louisa threw back her head and laughed, “Indeed I do little sister, I saw long ago that some kindnesses are not and this is one such. I did everything in my power to speed you on your way and will accept at least partial responsibility for your swift passage. You may thank me for that now.”

Cindy wasn’t sure if it was a joke or not but chose to take no chances, “Thank you My Queen Louisa for the merciful swiftness of your work.”

This seemed to be a very pleasing thing to say because Louisa pulled her tight to her and kissed her on each cheek, “You are most welcome my little princess.” Then she turned to the others and said, “I think she has a future in Fragilis handling. She is definitely diplomatic enough.”

There was a loud Pop as Georgina returned with the tea and noodles. Cindy was to learn that these pops were both her trademark and her shame as other witches took pride in their silent entrances and exits.

She sat the cups down on the coffee table. “Now can we get down to business, I for one have other more pressing engagements I will need to attend to soon?”

Jaclyn looked at her for a split second and Cindy could see the sparks jump between them. “Actually Georgina, now that I am here, there is really no reason you have to stay. I will take care of her and see that all is done according to the law. You needn’t trouble yourself further if there are other matters pending.” Though the words were sweetly spoken, they dripped with acid and Cindy knew that there was no love between THESE sisters.

Georgina stopped what she was doing and looked at her Mother. When Louisa said nothing she glared at Jaclyn and with a harrumph said, “Well since it appears that my presence is not needed or appreciated I will go then!” She whirled and with a deafening POP vanished.

Louisa was rubbing her ear with a finger, “I do wish that girl would work on her take offs and landings a bit more!! When she is in a huff it is like two trains running head on into each other except it is cut off before it reaches its full crescendo.”

Jaclyn’s eyes were dancing, “With all due respect to your office Louisa, I think it is a shame that she is allowed contact with young minds! Her poor control and ill temper makes us out to be the hags of legend. She should be barred from teaching them!”

“I well know your feelings on this matter Jaclyn, and there is also some justification for it I know. In her defense however, she is a tireless counter balance for the others who would too easily allow total hedonism. While others rule with powers, she rules with law and rules of order. I think that the balance the two of you strike is good for all. Now enough politics lets help bring our new sister in from the darkness.” Louisa waved her hands and fluttered her fingers and everyone found a seat and were served by invisible hands.