Chapter 2: The STEP
“You can open your eyes now,” said Viktoria, “I’ve closed it.”Lily opened her eyes and looked around herself. The sight of where she was startled and amazed her. Viktoria and Lily were now in a sunny clearing in a forest with a small cascading waterfall and a statue of a queenly girl holding up a staff.
“Where are we?” Lily asked, “And who is that?” She pointed to a figure running towards them.
“We’re in The Lady Catamount’s Forest. This is actually forbidden land because Lady Catamount was a devil.” replied Viktoria, “That is Kierra Pemberton, a descendant of the Lady. She’s part of the Society of Tremendously Endangered Peoples, or just STEP.”
Soon, the figure of Kierra reached them. Lily studied her carefully. Kierra was a teenager, just like Lily herself. She was wearing a light green top and skinny jeans. Her light brown hair was tied in a bun and there was no influence that she was feral, in fact, she looked very civilized and wealthy.
“Oh Viktoria, thank goodness I found you. A minute you were in your house, the next, you were here again.” Kierra exclaimed, “Jenni’s sent you a letter, but the hippogriff got shot down by Le Paranormal People’s ballistas.”
“Well, I’m fine, but are you?” Viktoria replied, “I was just teaching my pupil, Lily Sinclare.”
“I'm great. We need you at the STEP right away. You can take Lily too. We can run some diagnostics on her if she’s of age.” Kierra explained, then faced Lily and asked, “How old are you, mademoiselle?”
“Sixteen” Lily replied,
“Not of age, but could work.” Kierra said thoughtfully, “Can you drive? Like can you drive a car, I mean? And what about a plane?”
“I can drive a car. I have one at home.” Lily answered, “And I can pilot if a supersonic jet shaped like an oversized peregrine falcon counts.”
“Even better!” Viktoria chimed in, “Let's get to the nearest HQ. The lesson can be hands-on learning at the STEP or something.”
Kierra and Viktoria ran through the forest the way Kierra came, with Lily following closely behind. Up ahead, a small and old fishing shack sat tucked in the trees. Kierra stopped and opened the door. Inside was completely different. The floor was neatly polished, and everything looked, well, nice. Kierra walked to a wall, and opened up something that looked like a hidden door. She motioned for Lily and Viktoria to get through. Viktoria immediately pulled Lily through.
On the other side, there was a city, not a forest, but mostly, the shack seemed to have vanished.
“Is this normal?” Lily asked, “It looks almost normal.”
Everything, indeed, was normal, for a city. The three ladies were in the center of a city downtown. Many people were shopping and talking on their TINDs (Tribal and International Devices, much like a phone). “Welcome to the Richmond STEP Center. We are, indeed, standing against gravity. The Richmond LIOHL (List, Interrogation, Observatory, Homing, Literature) building is right this way.” Kierra explained, “Viktoria, Jenni will need to see you for a discussion, but I think she will want an appointment from Lily first.”
“Ok,” Viktoria shrugged, I was going to catch the sales, anyways.”
As she walked off, Lily and Kierra walked to the LIOHl building, chatting about life above.
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Once inside the LIOHL building, Kierra and Lily walked down the corridor of the first floor. Kierra then stopped in front of a door with a knocker shaped like a wyvern. Kierra knocked gently.
“Come in.” a curt voice answered
“Jenni, It's Kierra. I've got a new recruit, Lily Sinclare.” Kierra explained, “Viktoria is catching the sales. She'll be back in a while.”
“Thanks, Kierra.” Jenni added.
The letter said:
Dear Lily,
Please fill out this simple survey. Answer the pamphlet truthfully. Then hand it to Jenni Lawler, your personal mentor’s mentor.
The STEP Administration
These were Lily’s answers:
What is your full name?
Lily Alanah Sinclare the First
Do you go to general school?
No
Do you get an education? If so, who is your mentor?
I am the student of Viktoria Roshonva Holliday
What do you most enjoy in nature?
I like foxes. My transformation is a fox.
What do you most enjoy in everyday life?
I most enjoy my education in magic and potions.
What do you most enjoy doing?
I most enjoy making forest potions.
What form of arts do you do?
I do martial arts, visual arts, music, pottery, and magic.
What grade are you in, if you have an education?
My education does not vary in grade level. I don't know what grade I'm in.
How old are you since birth?
16 earth years
Can you drive a plane and a car?
Yes. I can drive a supersonic jet.
Have you met your mentor’s mentor before today?
No
Who introduced you to your mentor?
Kierra Pemberton
Do you acquire anything involving dark magic? If so, what?
I detest dark magic. I fight against it. I don't have anything of relation.
Have you been against gravity before?
Today was the first time.
Do you live with your parents?
No. I don't have parents.
“I’m done.” Lily said,
“Thank you, Lily.” Jenni said, looking up from her own paperwork. She took the pamphlet from Lily and asked, “I suppose you are new to all this?”
Lily nodded,
Jenni looked at the pamphlet briefly.
“I would like to offer you a job here at the STEP. You can stay at the LIOHL HomeQuarters if you accept the job, and one of my lady’s maids can give you a tour. You will earn more money than people do on normal jobs, and of course, no taxes.” Jenni offered, “You are a good fit.”
“Of course” Lily replied, she loathed the life above. She barely knew anyone, and the rich folk she lived near called her “uncivilized night girl”, because she chose Anthropologie over Gucci and Channel. She would like the life here, and everyone seemed more like her, more like normal people who were not rich and snobbish.
“Wonderful.” Jenni beamed, “Cassie?! Show this new pupil around. You are now hers and will live at the HomeQuarters Luxury Hotel. You will get paid ¾ of what Lily gets paid. Sounds good?”
A young girl, about the same age as Lily emerged from the hall. She smiled and nodded. She was pretty and had a fair complexion. Her hair was an ombré from orange to scarlet and she wore a simple dandelion colored dress.
“Welcome to the Richmond STEP. This is your new home and your new life. You can take all your stuff, I’ll help you carry it to your new luxurious room.” Cassie welcomed, “Please follow me.”
Lily beamed, and said, “I don't need anything else. I make my own clothes, so we can head to the hotel now. Thank you, Jenni, Cassie.”
Cassie turned around, with Lily following, and they walked out of Jenni’s study.
They walked out of the building and out to the shops and stores of the STEP.
“The HomeQuarters Luxury is in the East, I think.” Cassie predicted, “That's where all the better hotels are.”
“Great!” Lily said, and the two continued walking in the Eastern direction.
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