Alexandra Quick and the Wizard War

Alexandra Quick and the Wizard War is the sixth volume of the Alexandra Quick series, following Alexandra Quick and the World Away and followed by Alexandra Quick and the End of Time, set between the Summer of 2012 and June of 2013, during Alex's eleventh-grade year (not that she's in school anymore). The title was announced on February 23, 2020 alongside the last chapter of the fifth book."AQATWA: Author's Notes", Inverarity's LiveJournal
The first draft was announced to be finished on February 20, 2023."AQATWW: End Year Six", Inverarity's LJ "Word shuffling" / a first editing pass is going on (25% on March 26th, 2023)."AQATWW progress, AQATDR print book, and more AI art", Inverarity's LJ The second draft in (theoretical) final form was released for beta readers on June 19th, 2023. The manuscript was beta-read by no less than four people this time. According to the same LJ post, AQATWW posting will start somewhen in 2023."AQATWW: Unleash the Betas!", Inverarity's LJ On July 17th, 2023, they all had given their first feedback."AQATWW: One step forward, take a step back", Inverarity's LJ On October 29th, the draft was announced to have been "sanded down" from 377,000 to 375,000 words."AQATWW: Still At It", Inverarity's LJ On January 1st, 2024, word count stood at 373,693 words."AQATWW: I Wish I Could Be a Professional Writer", Inverarity's LJ
Then, on March 17th, Inverarity announced that the story's finally finished and chapters would be posted "on a biweekly schedule, Mondays and Fridays", starting on April 1st - which happened as promised. "It's No Joke! Coming April 1: Alexandra Quick and the Wizard War", Inverarity's LJ"AQATWW: Chapter One - Prologue", Inverarity's LJ
See also: All posts tagged with "AQATWW" on Inverarity's LJ.
==Plot Summary==
=== Chapter 1: Prologue ===
Two British witches are on a mission to New Amsterdam/York, to meet Governor-General Elias Hucksteen. Their names: Hermione Granger and Millicent Bulstrode! They call him out on the Deathly Regiment and deliver a Royal Writ from the very Queen, which says that he's dismissed from his office, and the Confederation will have to choose a successor. He just lets it burst into flames, defends the Confederation saying that nobody's innocent anyway, and is willing to defy the whole rest of the Wizarding World. Then, things escalate as Millicent releases a cockatrice - turns out she was on a secret mission, which Hermione wasn't aware of, to steal the Confederation Census. Since the foreign wizards aren't able to defeat his government, Millicent expects that the Americans will have to sort this out on their own.
=== Chapter 2: Driving Lessons ===
Alex has spent the summer in Dinétah, learning about hiking, driving cars, and magic from Henry Tsotsie, even helping him with his Auror tasks - once, they banished some chindi together. Although she's still wanted, he didn't tell her off. They meet his fellow Diné Auror, a Yas Benally. They climb to the top of White Shell Mountain (aka Mount Blanca), where she manages to cast a Patronus (hers is a stormcrow, fittingly) for the first time successfully. Then, they meet Billi's Patronus, a deer, who lets them know that the Confederation wants them to join their campaign against the Dark Convention.
=== Chapter 3: The Battle of Larkin Mills ===
Alex returns to her home town, to look after Claudia. She meets some teens who have seen her in the viral New York video and ask her to do "witchy things". So she makes their cigarettes disappear. Then she meets witch-colonel Shirtliffe, who's there to fight the Dark Convention's forces. Since Alex resists, she's bound by magical means, and her fourth wand is confiscated. But Mrs. Wilborough, her old neighbor, liberates her. She also knows that Claudia isn't Alex' mother. Turns out she's a Squib, and works for Abraham Thorn. A battle ensues, in which at least hundred ROC wizards are fighting the Dark Convention. Alex herself has to fight off a hag. Then, she has to cast a Patronus - with her yew wand - to defend against some depression-spreading cowled creatures. Since she isn't willing to give in to Shirtliffe, they have a Duello. After telling her how disappointed she is from her, Alex has Shirtliffe swallowed by the earth, then faints.
=== Chapter 4: It's Time to Go ===
Alex awakes. A healer has cared for her - fortunately, because she managed to splinch herself internally.
Shirtliffe opinionates that the Dark Convention won't dare to attack Larkin Mills again, and informs her that she's leaving for Charmbridge which needs defense too, after all. Then, the ROC leaves.
She meets Archie and warns him that he and Claudia will have to leave the town. He tells her to drive him to Claudia. When she does so, he reveals that he's Pasquale Mercurio. He wants her to take him to the Regal Royalty Sweets and Confections house where he plans to deliver her to a third party. Fortunately not the WJD. When he comes too close to her, Nigel emerges from her tattoo and threatens him. Alex accelerates, drives the car through the metal fence, turns herself and Nigel into stone before the truck hits the building. When back to flesh, she runs over Mercurio, who disappears. Then, she returns to her home, meeting Claudia and Archie. After that, Richard Raspire Apparates in. A fight ensues. He disarms Alex and kills Archie with Avada Kedavra, but Claudia shoots him dead. Fortunately, this Archie too was Mercurio. Now what to do with the bodies? Mrs. Wilborough told Abraham Thorn about the situation. Then, Lucilla and Drucilla enter by Floo, to make the bodies disappear. Alex lets Archie and Claudia know how much in danger they are and recommends to stay with the sisters, which is fine for them. Archie however prefers to stay where he is.
=== Chapter 5: Not Far from the Interstate ===
Alex awakes on the couch in her old home, finding that Archie has guarded her when she was out. He lets her know that he covered up the two deaths. Also, he got a promotion. They have a serious conversation about the wizard war. Then she exchanges text messages with David - first one in weeks, they've been concerned about her. Then she goes to Mrs. Wilborough, where she learns that the old woman owns one of these magic clocks which can tell which persons are in which place - or in mortal peril. The Confederation doesn't care too much about Squibs. Apparently, Abraham Thorn has contacts to the Muggle government. Later, Alex is at Old Larkin Pond. She sent a magical request to Brian Seabury, who decides to go there. She demonstrates to him that she's a witch. After that, she informs him that other wizards Obliviated him. And she wants to fix that.
=== Chapter 6: Memories ===
Alex explains that she wants to fix Brian's memories by magic, not without telling him that some danger might be involved. He asks whether Bonnie's gone, which she confirms. Then, he agrees. Alex starts a complicated ritual involving the World Away and her own memories as ingredients, which turns the pond's water into a silvery liquid. Brian has to step into it and breathe it in. The ritual works, although Brian breaks down as he's overwhelmed by five years of missing memories coming back suddenly. Brian informs her that they're blaming each other, they're moving away from Larkin Mills, and that the marriage of his parents is breaking down. After she tell on his inquiry that Bonnie's dead and wizards are to blame, he wants to know everything. She gives him the short version, but can't explain why Bonnie of all children was chosen. Before they separate, they have a long kiss. Then, she goes to the Pruett school and informs Goody that Livia is in danger now. After their talk which ends with Alex using Pictogel on Goody, her father surprises her. She tells him that she restored Brian's memories, after which he points out that Hecate's suffering from some kind of way worse Obliviation, which none of Livia's experts and himself couldn't cure either. Then he asks her whether she'll stand with the Thorn Circle in the war - which she affirmates.
=== Chapter 7: Vengeance ===
Abraham Thorn gives Alex a job: Mapping the cracks in the world around Larkin Mills. Other than that, he stays secretive. Then she has another talk with Mrs. Wilborough, this time about Hecate. The old woman tells her that her mother used to be arrogant and didn't care for anyone but Abraham Thorn. After this talk, she visits Brian. They sleep in his bed together, naked. On the next morning Brian reveals he wants to join her revolution. Then he grabs her wand, which leads to trouble: The wand flails him around, the electronics in his room fail (fortunately Alex has used Muffliato). Then, he drops the info that some fat bearded guy in long green robes was around his house the night Bonnie disappeared... She warns him again that messing with wizards is dangerous, but promises to avenge Bonnie for him.
=== Chapter 8: No One Has Clean Hands ===
Alex calls Livia to find out the address of Brown. She doesn't have the info either, but suggests Madam Erdglass. But at first, Alex asks her father by mirror. They arrange a meeting. But before that, Alex goes to visit Brian once more, and they go to the mall together. His mother warned him about her. When Alex is back to her home, Claudia calls and tells her that they all should leave the country, like Valeria who went to Europe. At the evening, she visits Brian again, but when he asks her about magic to prevent a pregnancy, she lets him know that she slept with someone when she was in the Ozarks. He doesn't react well, and she leaves. The next day, Mrs. Wilborough warns that Archie is in mortal danger. He's on the way to the Tri-Best Dairy out of town - a good place for ambushes. Indeed, there are five wizards there who disarm Archie and try to kill him. Alex's Tentacle Curse catches three of them, the other two prefer to Apparate away. In the ensuing fight, Alex's wrist is impaled. Fortunately Diana Grimm comes along to save the situation. She is fighting the Confederation now, and lets Alex know that she and Lilith are watching over her. She calls Diana out why they didn't ever say so. Also, Diana still hasn't forgiven Abraham Thorn for Hecate. She petrifies Alex, Obliviates Archie and Imperius-es him so he'll do what his wife says. Then she gives Alex a healing potion before she Apparates away.
=== Chapter 9: These Are My People ===
Alex calls her relatives in New England to inform them about Diana, her joining the Thorn Circle, and that Archie changed his mind, to their surprise. She feels alone, so she visits Brian again. She reveals that the problem with Brown is that he works for the Confederation, so he won't be sent to a wizard prison. Later, she goes to the Pruett School, to get some Floo powder and to meet her father. He points out that her revenge wasn't more important than the big picture, since Brown was just a little accountant. She tells him that she's willing to be his lieutenant as soon as she gets Brown. He predicts that even after the end of the Confederation, wizard America will have to repair its relationship with the rest of the world, and laughs about her wanting to protect her sisters who don't want to go to Europe. He presents an ally for her hunt for Brown - Hela Punuk, of all people. Alex isn't pleased, and Hela says she was a slattern. Also, it seems that Brown has disappeared. Later, when Alex and Hela walk through Larkin Mills Park, they meet Billy Boggleston, who makes fun of the "eskimo" girl, even calls her a "crazy, ugly chick". So Hela throws him into the pond. In a way that's pretty much impossible for Muggles. Alex is worried about the onlookers, Hela doesn't care, they're in a war now after all. They eat burgers, and Alex decides to look for evidence in Charmbridge next.
=== Chapter 10: Finding Brown ===
Hela and Alex walk back to the Pruett School. Since the Floo network is under surveillance, Alex suggests using Polyjuice Potion. On the next morning, she wakes up in Brian's bed again. He tells her that his parents have sold the house, and they're leaving the town. When she meets Hela in the school again, Hela reveals that she used a Revealing Spell to snoop after Alex, who isn't happy. Then Alex "disguises" as Brian, and they go by car on the Automagicka. At the Trollbooth, she has to use Confundo to get away with not having a proper identification. Finally they've reached Charmbridge and walk over the Invisible Bridge. Then they meet the hag Sofia, the new groundskeeper since something happened to Ms. Fletcher. A fight ensues; when the hag seems to get the upper hand, Hela saves Alex by turning Sofia into a tree. In the front foyer, they meet Glaucus Grue. Another fight is narrowly avoided. Alex is allowed to talk for ten minutes with Franklin Percival Brown the Elder's statue - that is, bust. To her surprise, he used to be the Deputy Assistant Plumber here. She suspects that there's more behind that and sweet-talks him into revealing his real duties involving the Registrar's Scroll. Brown reveals that his daughter-in-law was a Lydia Griffin. Alex decides she knows enough, destroys the statue before mending it again magically. Now they have to go to the Central Territory Census Office next.
=== Chapter 11: Humble Origins ===
Alex plans to go to Chicago - disguised as Hela, to the latter's chagrin. Hela compares her to a doppelganger. Alex travels by Floo to Chicago Wizardrail Station. At the Census office, she calls herself "Angel Dearpunk" and pretends she wanted to check for Muggles and Squibs in her Colonial fiancé's family tree. A witch she meets notices her/Hela's scars and comments about her being "exposed", which doesn't tell Alex anything. She meets Thomas Bagby (again) and asks for the records of Brown and Lydia Griffin. When she has to sign her name, it turns out that the Signature Quill uses Veritas-ink, so only her real name will do. So she drops all pretense, copies the records with the Geminarius spell and exploits Bagby's vampiric OCD, by covering him in millet seeds which he is compulsed to count. Back in the Pruett School, Hela's gone. To Alex' surprise, Franklin Percival Brown, II is Muggle-born. She also finds out that the Griffins owned (besides many other ones) a familial residence in Central Territory near Chicago, which she visits using her trusted Seven-League Boots. To both their surprise, Hela's come there as well. She finds out that the only person in there has to be in the basement. It's Brown indeed, and he's a huge slob. Alex easily defeats him, but can't disarm him - he's a Squib who fakes being a Wizard by carrying a bamboo wand.
=== Chapter 12: The Long Game ===
Alex calls out Brown on him being responsible for multiple murders, while he tries to paint himself as a small cog who "only" commited an "accounting error". Also, he was fired after a case of malfeasance, regarding Roger Darby. He claims that if the human sacrifices weren't made, "forces of pagan antiquity" will erupt on both the Muggle and the wizarding world. Alex and Hela squabble who should kill Brown, and Hela leaves. Alex thinks about using the Cruciatus curse, but finds herself unable to do it, instead destroys everything in the basement. Then a multiple surprise happens: 1) Madam Erdglass appears, who 2) has been an enemy of the Confederation for a long time, actually 3) for longer than Abraham Thorn whom she collaborates with, 4) saved Roger and sent his family away (even if she had to use Imperius on them), because 5) her daughter was taken by the Deathly Regiment, which 6) she wants to end at all cost. She's not in the Thorn Circle, though. Madam Erdglass was sent because her father suspected that she might not be able to kill. Then she turns Brown into a pig and takes him away, leaving Alex.
=== Chapter 13: A Confederation to Tear down ===
Alex and Hela separate. Back in Larkin Mills, her father visits her and tells her that she did not fail, although she thought so. In fact, he tells her that she had the guts to kill and will do so one day - but not a "helpless Squib in cold blood". His new task for her: Learning more how the magic connected with the World Away works. Then, they go together to some lonely place near a lake, where she opens some cracks (for a short time) to show him a glimpse. Apparently, a certain Albus Dumbledore's last paper dealt with the topic, claiming there was an infinity of World Aways. Abraham Thorn plans to liberate all prisoners - and Doomguards - on Eerie Island. Meanwhile, Lucilla and Drucilla plan to go to Europe in September, together with Archie and Claudia.
=== Chapter 14: Return to Eerie Island ===
Alex, Abraham Thorn, Medea, and Hela have gone to Eerie Island - which is now in Lake Erie, not Lake Michigan where it used to be when Alex was there. Abraham has summoned a big storm to help with their attack. Then he conjures a ghost ship (not a wooden, but a metal one) to take them over the lake. There are more protection spells around the island than there used to be. Alex opens a crack, and they pass through a (this time, green) World Away into the dock. Abraham kills the first wizard they encounter, doesn't care for Alex' suggestion to give the defenders a chance to surrender. They meet two goblins building Doomguards and demand them handed over. The goblins refuse that, as they haven't been paid, and think that Abraham can't control them, with them being made from Goblin iron. Only for him to prove them wrong. Then he kills one of them and orders Alex to bring him the other one's head. She tries to cheat him, telling the alive goblin to stay quiet and chopping off the dead goblin's head instead. When she returns to him, Hela and Medea have rounded up all the other goblins. He doesn't seem to notice that she cheated. Then he tells the prisoners that he's removing the Doomguards, leaving them to decide whether they'll swear allegiance to him or stay here and try to get off the island on their own. Apparently Oren already is a follower of him and waited seventeen years for his liberation. Then, Abraham orders the Doomguards to kill all the goblins, which they do. Alex asks whether that was necessary; he tells her that he can't afford mercy in this war, and recommends her not to question him in public anymore. They leave those who don't want to follow him, and he tells her to open a crack to the Lands Below. She isn't sure she can do it, but he encourages her. Indeed she opens a crack. When she objects she doesn't know how to close it, he tells her that there used to be more such cracks, but the Confederation sealed them all. He takes his new followers, Medea and the Doomguards into the Lands Below, but gives Alex and Hela two Obols - which he can make now. Then he leaves them.
=== Chapter 15: Kneel ===
Alex is at Brian's place again. In the sheets, she tells him that Brown got his punishment, but she didn't kill him - couldn't do it. They talk about the topic, until Brian mentions that he found her very scary when she threatened Billy Boggleston. Who apparently said that it was Alex' fault that his truck was destroyed and "horror movie crap" happened to him. Alex has a guess who's really responsible. She goes to the Pruett School, where Goody lets her know that "that pagan girl" is doing "debased" things. Alex hears some sounds which aren't exactly screams of pain, opens the door where they come from, and wishes she could forget what she saw Hela and Billy doing. Seems Amortentia was involved. After he leaves, Alex calls Hela out that everyone in Larkin Mills was under her protection. "CODE DUELLO!" Hela loses the fight, and Alex forces her to kneel, bow down, and promise she'll do anything Alex orders her to do. Also, she controls Hela's wand now.
=== Chapter 16: The Ban ===
Claudia calls Alex from Paris, in panic: Lucilla and Drucilla have disappeared from their plane, just like that! Apparently there's a magical Ban on the Confederation done by the wizards of other countries, so Confederation citizens can't possibly leave it. Alex' doggerel spell doesn't help either. She feels a bit alone in the house, so she visits Mrs. Wilborough. The old woman says that she doesn't care for how the wizarding world of the future will look like as long as she can see the old one burn. Then, Alex uses her Seven-League Boots to go to New England to check on the house of the twins. But they aren't there either. Two days later, Abraham Thorn and Hela visit her. He tells her that Claudia wasn't Banned because she's still on the census as Claudia Carolina Thorn. But he doesn't have an idea where the twins are either. Then, he gives her an update about wizard politics. Deseret, Columbia, and Yukon have seceded; the West is at the verge of it; New England and the Central Territory are mixed; most of the East Coast is still loyal to Hucksteen. Then he suggests to her to become the "public face" of the rebellion, because he cannot be. But Alex wonders whether she, with her reputation as Troublesome, fits this. Abraham tells her that he wants Hela to protect her when he isn't around; then, Archibald Mudd Apparates in.
=== Chapter 17: I Bring the Fire ===
Mudd has joined the resistance, although Abraham never told Alex. In fact, he's been in it for quite some time - as was his father before him. His jerkass behavior towards Alex during the Decathlon was just part of his disguise. Now they want her to tour the Confederation, winning hearts and minds - while at the same time looking for literal Cracks in the world. They have a discussion about the killing that will be necessary according to Abraham to topple the Confederation and end the Deathly Regiment. After all, he wants to avoid a lawless vacuum of the Wizard world in North America. Hence he wants to set up a new kind of government - but not leading it himself, not after having the image of a Dark Lord. Then Alex has a discussion with Mudd, who's supposed to be her chaperone - she begs to differ. In fact, she has Mrs. Wilborough in mind. So she returns to the Pruett School, only to find Hela and Billy as a couple. Because, y'see, Billy actually found kinda hot what happened. Alex is confused, but is willing to tolerate this as long as they boink somewhere else.
=== Chapter 18: We're Not Negotiating ===
Alex, Hela, Mrs. Wilborough, and Mudd are travelling through the country in an RV now. Currently Archie makes a broadcast interviewing Alex about the Deathly Regiment. She also mentions Lucy and Dru. Hela got a vision telling her that her people might ally with the Dark Convention. Mudd reports about a troop of werewolves (organized in the Free Wolves Army) was slaughtered in Texarcana. In late September, they are invited to come to a decaying mansion. She makes a speech to the guests (among which are several prominent wizards) to end the DR. Louisiana Justicar Brigitte Jumeau wants to talk to her. She knows her sisters are in prison - for trafficking Dark artifacts. Louisiana wants to end the DR, but also prefers if the Dark Convention stayed out. Jumeau gives her a Magical Needle in case she wants to contact her and leaves.
=== Chapter 19: Wizard War ===
The group stops in a motel, on their way to Roanoke Territory. Anna has a message for her, informing her that the No-Maj government might be listening. Then, Charlie warns her that there's danger. She checks the RV where they left Hela - a manticore is attacking. She chases it away with a magically enlarged Nigel's help, then saves Hela's life with the bezoar the latter was carrying. The rest of the group leaves with the RV, she catches up thanks to her Seven-League Boots. Reunited, they get stopped by a load of police, which are relatively easy to deal with. A bit later, they're attacked again - by the Confederation's winged manticores. And a dragon with a rider. Another fight ensues, which Alex wins, albeit splinching herself again when Apparating. Mudd got seriously wounded too, getting a spike through his chest. So Alex decides to go to Wisconsin, via the Automagicka (with Hela having to blow away a Troll Booth) - to see Livia, the only Healer she trusts. Livia (as Alex expected already) isn't pleased, since she and her nuclear family have just been placed in witness protection, and Central Territory's been placed under martial law. Livia sends her another wizard, a Blake Blaxley. But apparently he's too late - and might be Mudd's father to boot.
=== Chapter 20: No-Majes ===
Livia and her baby son Nicholas meet Alex at the hotel pool. Livia claims she wanted for Alex and Claudia having a life free of Abraham's influence, but Alex doesn't believe her. Apparently he wanted her to be Wandless, so he'd be able to keep her as a contact. Dr. Farr has known since his proposal to her that Livia's a witch. Then, the FBI Agent Curtis (a woman) wants explanations from Alex about the magical stuff that happened. When agent Curtis complains that "No-Majes" (she insists on this appellation) have no wizards on their side, surprisingly Abraham and Medea appear. He claims he was on their side. Mudd's father also died in Abraham's service. He warns Alex that the Dark Convention may dissolve after they break the Confederation. Then he reveals that he wants to attack Charmbridge and BMI soon - because they, like Baleswood and New Amsterdam Academy, were built over former entries to the Lands Below, which the Confederation had sealed. All these seals need to be broken. That's why he asks Alex to tell Lilith Grimm that he's going to attack, and nothing can stop him from doing that.
=== Chapter 21: Troublesome Vexes ===
Alex goes to Charmbridge - this time, alone. William Killmond is shocked to see her, but doesn't tattle. When Mrs. Shirtliffe and Sofia take her to the dean, the kids sing the Troublesome song. After telling Dean Grimm about the situation, Alex meets her old friends. David tells her that Anna is not in hiding, but by her father's side. Sonja gives her a prophecy: She will go back to the Ozarks, and take her along. Before leaving, Adela wants to know whether there's something between her and Larry. Then she tells Alex that he joined the ROC of Central Territory, which comes as a shock to Alex. Also, she lets Alex know that Sonja predicted that the next time Alex and Larry meet, she'll cost him his life - unless she spares him! Her words "You and your father are going to burn everything down" stay in Alex' memory - her decision is along the line "So be it".
=== Chapter 22: As Above, So Below ===
Mrs. Wilborough has decided to leave. Then, agent Trent Rafferty wants to talk with Alex, without anyone else. Alex finds it... odd that the No-Maj government still maintains connections with the Confederation despite knowing about the Deathly Regiment. They talk about Mr. Chu who is trying to find a third way for California (that is, neither with the Confederation nor with Abraham Thorn); about the twins who were captured by Hit-wizards in Bangor, who also Obliviated everyone else around; and that Abraham also knows about this. Alex rants about this development when she's back with Livia and Dr. Farr. She thinks it was time to join the war herself. Then, Alex tells Hela she's free to go back to her people - and that she's going to the Lands Below. Near the crack she opened for Abraham, she manages to summon Quimley with a doggerel verse. She tells him what happened meanwhile - but he knows already. In fact, he knows even more: Abraham Thorn has waged war against the Generous Ones, which are now scattered - but have allied with other people of the Lands Below, and the elves of the Lands Above. He also knows that because of the DR, every day one human child is sacrificed - but the elves aren't allowed to tell, because of the Compact. He even knows about the situation of Lucilla and Drucilla. And he's joined Abraham's war, albeit not the Thorn Circle, since he's no wizard. Although he thinks Abraham Thorn won't be pleased, he takes Alex to the Lands Below.
=== Chapter 23: Prisoners of War ===
The first thing Alex sees in the Lands Below are some huge black stone structures her father must've made. They go in. Doomguards are guarding the place. Then, some curse freezes her. Abraham Thorn appears, and they talk about his planned attacks on Charmbridge and Blacksburg, and how he's (not) protecting his family. Then, Medea enters and brings along a Philomena Pepper - the granddaughter of the governor of New England, now their prisoner of war, and she's not their only one. That's how he wants to liberate Lu and Dru - and if it won't work, well, he has more obols. He tells her to continue mapping cracks in the world, and she promises to obey him. Then she and Quimley go back to Livia and Hela - and to Alex' surprise, Livia knows him. And Jezebel Hucksteen, for that matter. She remembers what Jezebel's ghost had told her during the Junior Wizard Decathlon: "" Both Alex and Livia find that the respectively other one has some explaining to do. Now Alex learns: Livia, Claudia, and Jezebel used to be friends - until Claudia was chosen for the Deathly Regiment. Quimley had to take her to the Lands Below because house elves are used for this task in general. In fact, the jeans jacket he's always wearing once was Claudia's. The fog around them looks dangerous, possibly magical (although Alex doesn't notice anything), so they go back.
=== Chapter 24: You'll Never Save Anyone ===
Alex, Blaxley, and Hela are still travelling through North America to map cracks. Muggle media are reporting about magic and monsters - often, in the wrong way. Then, a Thunderbird appears in the sky above them - a "living power of storm". When she tries to save three Muggles in a boat on a lake from an underwater panther, she gets wounded and unconscious. She awakes in a safehouse where Livia is tending to her. She had another Splinching accident, and the man she tried to save didn't make it. Alex remembers that someone told her once that she'll never save anyone. Livia calls her out that it was egotistical to think she had to save everyone. Later, she telephones with Claudia who wonders about Lucy and Dru. Apparently they did something with magic so their seven-gabled house now contains a part of their souls... She decides to make her backpack ready and come for them.
=== Chapter 25: A Hundred Boggarts ===
Valeria has called Alex, telling her that it'd be a bad idea to go into the house, and she's have to expect a hundred boggarts there. Of course she goes there anyway. But even on the porch she's attacked by planks and poisonous smells. Inside, she encounters a boggart in the shape of a hanged Lucy, which she defeats with the Riddikulus spell. Next, she has to banish a blue wraith und get rid of a boggart in the shape of John Manuelito. In the sitting room, there's a hanged young man - but this one is no boggart. As he claims, he was one of Lucy's lovers until he turned traitor on the Thorn Circle and was killed by Abraham with a Judas Curse. She suspects he's involved in the twins' capture on the plane and banishes him too. Then she has to face the worst boggart in the shape of a ghost Julia who tells her that she should have died instead of Max. After getting rid of this one, Alex checks out the basement. There she meets a Dementor, but can fight him off with her Patronus. Then however she encounters a horde of them and decides to retreat, not without telling them she'll be back. She enters the library next, where a boggart in the shape of a hanged Brian is waiting for her, and this time she has no idea how to make this funny. When she leaves, Diana Grimm is waiting for her - and has disarmed and bound Hela, who's followed Alex without her noticing it. Diana knows where the Twins are: In The Castle, the most secretive prison of the Confederacy, where even Abraham may have no contacts. Then she shows Alex photos of (probably disappeared) wizard kids: Marcelius Viner (nephew of Brigitte Jumeau), Pendragon Carew, and Philomena Pepper. Alex defends her father claiming that they were prisoners of war and he wanted to exchange hostages. Diana challenges Alex to release the twins, since that's the only way for them to come free.
=== Chapter 26: I Will Never Forgive You ===
The three witches are sitting in a diner. Diana knows that most Native Americans have broken with the Confederacy, and fights have started. She also claims that The Castle was impregnable for all known magic - but doesn't know how Alex escaped from Eerie Island, and Alex doesn't want to tell her. She offers to tell them about the place where prisoners go to it from, if Abraham Thorn will release his hostages. Back in the safehouse, Livia says that Abraham never should've dragged Alex in, what with her being the youngest sister. Then she goes to Lake Erie, to summon the two obols - the one she threw away, and the one Hela buried. Then she summons Quimley and makes him take her to the Lands Below. Oren is also there. She tells Abraham where Lucy and Dru are, and about Diana's offer. He says he wants to force her to give him the info, albeit without torture. A fight between them ensues, which ends with her telling him she won't forgive him if the twins won't come back. After they return to the surface, Alex questions Quimley about the Compact. Apparently, in the past elves were immortal. But they paid a price for their immortality. Wizards helped them to get rid of this ancient debt, the Most Terrible Gift. The Compact with the Generous Ones also said that humans need an obol to visit the Lands Below - but a free elf like him doesn't. Hard to explain. After he leaves, she uses the magic needle she got from Brigitte Jumeau to sting herself, which summons a winged homunculus. She's willing to hand herself in to liberate the Twins, but the unbreakable rule is "eye for an eye". But she's also willing to liberate Marcelius, although she's not sure how. They agree that he'll send a contract signed in blood to the Pruett School.
=== Chapter 27: The Blacksburg Magery Institute ===
Blake Blaxley comes and takes Alex together with Hela to Mage-General Hastings Flint in Roanoke. He'll help them infiltrating BMI. Alex' part will be finding the entry to the Lands Below under it. Also, Blaxley and Livia used to date in college. They meet Flint, who is a childhood friend of Abraham Thorn, and Julia's and Max' godfather. Since he's a member of the BMI board, they just have to disguise Alex - by polymorphing her into a ferret. Then they take his Granian-drawn carriage to BMI. They get in without any problem, but as a ferret, Alex' witch-sight doesn't work, so he has to turn her human again. Alex thinks that the entry's hidden near the oldest building on campus - which'd be the Commandant's residence. They meet the Commandant, Mage-General Andrew Armstrong, with Flint introducing Alex as his second-grade cousin and Witch-Lieutenant Acantha. Then, Armstrong and Alex have a discussion about the magical defenses of BMI.
=== Chapter 28: The Price of Our Protection ===
What if Armstrong will remember "Acantha", but the Stormcrows who greeted them won't? He sends off his owl (named Elma) with a message, and they leave. (Alex is disguised as a ferret again.) Next, they visit Thalia King in Croatoa - a personal visit, he claims. Her house elves can understand Alex' ferret-talk! He transforms her back. Despite of everything, Thalia and Julia are glad to see her. She informs them that the media are telling the truth, she is indeed an enemy of the Confederation now. Alexandra is planning something - something she can't tell them if it'll leak out, since she wants the Kings to be safe. It might involve her defying her father... Julia tries to talk her into not taking "the weight of the world upon [her] shoulders". But in the end, Thalia gives in. Alex convinces Flint to stay here for the night, so the visit (on case they're scryed) will look less suspicious. She also defends Abraham, telling them that Abraham didn't force her, the twins or Max into danger. At night in her room, she summons the ghosts of Joshua and Absalom Thorn. She hints that ghosts can fight too... an idea that scares the ghosts. Then she asks what a geist is, but they can only give cryptic hints - it's a kind of nemesis or shadow, and she's brought it upon herself.
=== Chapter 29: On Your Own ===
Flint informs Alex that Abraham actually allowed him to woo Thalia. Then they return to Blaxley and Hela. Alex wants to return to Larkin Mills to fetch Brigitte Jumeau's blood contract before she executes her plan. When she calls David, he tells her that the whole west coast has seceded now. Some of them (including folks we haven't heard much of yet, like Shen, Arthur, and Reina) have left Charmbridge to join the war on Geming Chu's side - David even Obliviated his parents! In her old home, she first calls Mrs. Wilborough to check on Archie and Claudia, then she releases Charlie to check out Pruett School. Since it's safe, she Apparates there. Mrs. Erdglass has a sealed scroll for her. Alex warns her fellow students that a war is going on, and the Deathly Regiment is true. The next morning, Abraham is in Larkin Mills. He thinks that Geming Chu's faith was misplaced. When she asks why she can't join her friends in California, he warns her that they won't see each other again until the war will be over. So they separate.
=== Chapter 30: The Orpheus Journey ===
The blood contract says that if Alex brings Marcelius Viner to the Chief Justicar and submits to imprisonment, they'll release Drucilla. But before, she has to deal with a former Vacation Bible school teacher of her who thinks she was a sign of the End Times. Coming back, there's a black car waiting in front of her house - FBI Agents Trampier and Irwin want to talk to her. After a magic storm which killed 400 No-Majes, they're worried and need her help. They offer her to have a talk with the president, but that's as futile as are their threats. After that, she calls Mrs. Wilborough to tell her that she should give her a warning as soon as Abraham Thorn's in danger. She calls Brian who's very interested in the Wizard war although she warns him. She also warns Claudia that their phonecalls might be tapped. When Mrs. Wilborough tells her Abraham's in Deadly Peril, Alex comments it's "What I’ve been waiting for". She opens a crack to the Lands Below and steps through, obols ready. At the keep Abraham's followers have built meanwhile, she has to fight off the Lagaru and make Oren let her in. After which she reprimands him that he hasn't been more careful. She summons Quimley and tells him to show her where the kids sleep. There, she rejuvenates Philomena (so she's easier to carry), blindfolds her and warns her that whatever happens, she shouldn't make noises or so. Then she also takes Marcelius and convinces Oren to let them out. Guarded by Shield and Flame Charms, she makes her way through the Lagaru back. She tells Philomena about the Deathly Regiment, then releases her to Diana Grimm. She offers Charlie to go free, but he declines, so she decides to take him with her once more. Then she uses the magic needle, which summons a homunculus who tells her to bring the baby to Brigitte, so she goes by Floo to the Maison.
=== Chapter 31: The Castle ===
Alex delivers little Marcelius and is shackled by Aurors. The Castle she's Apparated to is located on a hilltop in a forested area - and beneath it are two cracks in the world, which makes Alex smile. Drucilla has suffered in The Castle, but is released indeed as promised. Alex arrives in a room with three wizards, who strip her naked, with magical means. Then she gets clothes and is brought to her cell. The Doomguards which used to be here were replaced by Dementors (although even the human guards hate them), since the Doomguards are needed somewhere else. She gets to see Lucilla as was promised to her - Lucy has suffered from the Dementor's Kiss, as the guards tell her. Alex doesn't waste much time, steps into the World Away and drags Lucy with her.
=== Chapter 32: Spiritus Loci ===
Alex and Lucy arrive in a dark place, with many stars above. She recites the incantation Forbearance once used to summon the Parliament of Stars. But instead, Typhon the sphinx appears in front of her. He and Edna (and their many children - for the "stars" are really their eyes) want to return to the world since they can't do it on their own. So Alex tells them she needs a silver thread to find he way back. Edna does something so Alex can see the thread leading back to the seven-gabled house. Now she knows that they aren't actually in the World Away. She jumps with Lucy into the darkness - only to land in a cold forest. After making fire with doggerel verse, she tries to summon Abraham - instead, Hela appears. Who hints that Alex hasn't done something she yet has to do. Oh, and they're somewhere near the Hudson Territory. When Alex inquires, Hela tells her about a prophecy that claims Alex would end the Confederation, but die doing that. Meanwhile, they've reached the house - or a shadow, which only Lucy and Alex can see. Drucilla receives them. She's started to exorcise the house, but there's still a lot to do. Also, she tells Alex that Lucy's ex-boyfriend Jack was the one who committed treason on them. Also, Doomguards supposedly can kill Dementors. And Dru is very competent at fighting Dementors. Alex and Hela return to Larkin Mills to fetch her wands. Then, Alex announces that she'll go back to New England, for the duty she has towards her sisters - and Hela's with her.
=== Chapter 33: The Witch of November ===
Alex is willing to start exorcising the Dementors from the house immediately, but Dru isn't ready yet. Alex has an idea however: She wants to fetch the Doomguards in Abraham's lair in the Lands Below - and a goblin who's able to command them, to kick out the Dementors. But first she has to go - with Hela - back to Eerie Island. She summons the ghost ship - the same one Abraham used the last time - and plans to have the Thunderbird fight the underwater panther. With the powers of Alex' patronus, Charlie, and Hela's chant combined, they manage to summon the giant bird. An epic battle between the monsters ensues. When they arrive at the island, Mad Haddie (who may have interfered in the fight/summoning or not) receives them and calls Alex "The Witch of November". She tells the goblin Rathnail that she wants to activate said Doomguards and offers to liberate him and Haddie. She apologizes for his fellow goblins killed by Abraham and tells him that if her father wants to kill him, he'd have to go through her first. Haddie warns that "spies" were around. Rathnail agrees to activate the Doomguards and let Alex command them for a goblin year, but also wants ten pounds of gold. Alex opens the crack in the world, and they go down to the Lands Below, to Haddie's horror.
=== Chapter 34: Costs Must Be Paid ===
The four of them arrive near the lair. This time, there are no Lagaru around. Oren opens them - Abraham and most of the rest aren't around, not even Quimley. Alex uses Revelio to find the hidden gold, while Rathnail and Haddie activate the Doomguards. To her surprise, Bewi the deer woman is in Abraham's bedroom. Alex calls her a succubus and a psycho, but learns that Bewi's willingly here - and Abraham promised her people that they could leave the Lands Below after his victory. Alex talks her into coming with them - and taking Abraham's box of obols. Then, she goes to the place where the children sleep and tells the guarding (free) elves Miney and Meenie (seriously) that she'll take the kids with her. The older kids Pendragon Carew, Lorelei Reiner, and Clark Griffin assist her. Then she pays Rathnail and gets the Doomguards marching, to the kids' shock. On the way out, they encounter a group of "elves" with reddish skin - Generous Ones lead by Tiow. Who warns her that whenever she enters or leaves outside of the Compact, the paths will stay open in both ways - and he can't just cancel her Geas. They leave the Lands Below and are in Larkin Mills, where Alex hides four Doomguards in the pond. Oh, Bewi wasn't Abraham's lover, BTW. Next, Alex wants to go to the Pruett School.
=== Chapter 35: March of the Doomguards ===
Alex and her companions walk down the street in Old Larkin. When they pass the police station where Archie used to work, his colleague Sergeant Ridenour asks Alex what's going on, whether she's in a cult, what happened to Archie, whether the wizard stuff was bullshit... she tells him they were just making a show. At the Pruett School, nobody's there at all - because it's Saturday, which Alex forgot. Makes things easier for her. She sends most kids back to their houses via Floo, not without telling them to ask their parents about the Deathly Regiment. The last four kids, plus Rathnail and Haddie, are sent to the Wizardrail station. Then, Alex, Hela, and the Doomguards go to the Seven-Gabled House. Alex and Drucilla go to the basement together with the Doomguards, who proceed to cut up the Dementors with their swords. When they come back, Hela's gone instead of guarding Lucilla, because she had to exorcise a taunting ghost. Next, they go to The Castle with their Doomguard army. One for one, they send Doomguards in and guards out. Alex calls out the stringy-haired guard for molesting her and making inappropriate jokes. She finds out the gloomy old black guard is named Fergus, and the big blond one Morton. While she wonders whether the prisoners deserve their jail time or not, she still liberates all of them. Fergus isn't willing to beg, so she Stuns him. On the way back, she has her Patronus kill one Dementor. At the end, she orders the Doomguards to go with Hela and obey her, as long as she won't kill Muggles.
=== Chapter 36: I Remember You ===
Alex tells Drucilla what she did in The Castle. Then they go to the basement, where Lucilla is sleeping, slowly recovering. Alex decides to stay until December and does so. Brian tells her that the Pruett School has been fenced off. He wants to fight "this Confederation", but she doesn't allow him to. One day, when Livia is visiting, men in black want to approach Alex, but she evades them. Then, Lucilla finally opens her eyes. On the fourth night, she sits up and is able to say that she remembers Alex - and recognizes Dru as her sister. Slowly, she recovers. One week later, Alex decides it's time for her to go. She wants to see her friends again and fight for them.
=== Chapter 37: The Enemies' Daughters ===
Alex is now in Chinatown, next to Little Wuyi, and uses a spell to get in - although she can also see the crack. After passing the guards - a white and a black swan - she finally meets Anna again. Who has heard rumors that Alex had been given to Dementors. Then, they meet Geming Chu and his group. He tells Alex that she's not well-behaved - which she protests - but admits that well-behaved girls wouldn't have achieved what she did. She tells him she's independent of her father now and wants to join them. Congressman Chu wants to restore a new order after the Confederation will fall. Torvald and Stuart have joined the New Regiments, despite still being young. Then, Dylan Weitzner picks them up with his new black SUV, to take them to their apartment in the hills. There, they meet his girlfriend Siti - and David, plus the college girls Chrissy and Cherry he picked up, who admire Alex. In the past months, the friends have guarded the city against "Deathies". Alex decides to sleep in Anna's bed (not like that, though). During the night, an intruder is caught - it's Hela, because Abraham Thorn ordered her to stay with Alex.
=== Chapter 38: The MACUSA ===
Anna tells Alex that the No-Maj government still hopes that the Confederation will win. In the library, she receives a voicemail from Abraham Thorn who tells her that she's still welcome on his side, despite all she did. Julia calls her to tell her that there was a battle over New Roanoke, and a lot of it was burned. She'll stay there, though. Then, some Muggles recognize her, and they have to leave. Lorelei Reiner is interviewed by wizard wireless - and claims Alex yelled at them and threatened them, and had an army of Dark creatures! Then, there's a big meeting of the local wizards and witches in the temple-like hall. One radicalist-looking wizard named Mr. Muckletongue mentions the topic because many still have an Unbreakable Vow: The Deathly Regiment. Alex tells the community that her father only wants to tear down the Confederation and doesn't care what happens next. She also tells them that this is still better than doing nothing against the Deathly Regiment. She asks the Majokai why they didn't join the Confederation. And why there are no Muggle-born around. To her surprise, Anna's father sides with her. Later, Hela mentions the MACUSA - "Magical Congress of United Muggle... something". Even later, Alex calls Brian and promises he may help her with the War at some later point. Then, Alex goes with David and Hela to Mount Diablo. The regiment supposed to be there left however. And the Confederation Air Force is fighting the Majokai now.
=== Chapter 39: Matsuzaka ===
Another meeting at Geming Chu's place. Meanwhile, even CNN reports about the fights resulting from the "secession" of the wizards. There's been black mist in several cities, incl. Detroit. He offers her to go on a scouting mission for them, since the Majokai seem to be in trouble. Her Lost Traveler's Compass will be helpful in this situation. The Majokai woman Maeko Minemata informs her that she has to go to Seijin Matsuzaka, Tomo's father. Who has retainers - Muggles in his service, marked with a special Charm. When leaving, Anna reprimands Alex for talking that disrespectfully with her father. David's temper has worsened, he insults Hela. Anna defies her father - just not to his face. Alex goes to some place near Los Angeles, where a fire is blazing - caused by a dragon, who is dead now, as is his rider from the Confederation Air Force! Everything there seems to be destroyed, everyone in the Matsuzaka village dead. All she can do is reporting to Maeko what happened. And Tomo is with her too.
=== Chapter 40: The Majokai ===
The wizards wonder where the dragons will attack next. Alex suggests she might go to the coastal city of Mahomachi and check. Some dragons are indeed there, but haven't attacked yet. She sends a message back and learns that the Alta California Regiment is on the way. Also, some magic prohibits her from entering the city. Someone on a dragon wants to check her, but she runs away. Then she enters the city and contacts the locals, who recognize her as "that girl". A sergeant Ito takes her to the Majokai, where she meets Seimei Kamo from the Junior Wizarding Decathlon. He takes her to the leading Majokai, among which is Hideki Minemata, Maeko's husband. Apparently the Confederation is upholding a Ward for the whole city so they can't leave. So Alex opens the crack in the world under them. Since they aren't convinced yet, she has to lead a small group of them through the crack and back. According to one of their legends, the Majokai came through a similar crack to the New World... Then, they open the crack again, and hundreds of Majokai pass through in minutes.
=== Chapter 41: Code Duello ===
The Majokai are grateful that Alex saved them. And mention that the Thorn Circle is responsible for assassinations. Then they recommend her to rest. On the next morning, she's visited by David, Dylan, and Hela. They want to crush the last Deathies in California. Seimei Kamo arrives, calls Alex' friends "mudbloods", and doesn't like that she is seen as a heroine while his Culture is destroyed. So David challenges him to a magical duel. Alex steps with her Seven-League Boots to the place where the MACUSA force is growing, where she meets Anna. And Tomo, who warns her that Majokai duels are fought until incapacitation or worse. When Alex returns, the duel is about to start, and David doesn't want to quit. So she warns Seimei that if he hurts David, she'll hurt him twice as bad. He warns her that his people wouldn't take her interfering against conduct well. So the duel starts, and Seimei manages to break David's leg - things don't look well. But then Tomo Apparates in, and being the last one of clan Matsuzaka, she's also the head of it - as which she can order Seimei to stop the duel. He confesses he's in love with Constance. Tomo has bad news: The Confederation has summoned a tsunami to destroy Mahomachi. It doesn't matter that the Majokai escaped, it will still strike.
=== Chapter 42: Turn Back the Sea ===
Alex witnesses another meeting of the MACUSA. Tomo wants to save the Muggles of Mahomachi, many of which are their retainers. The other mages don't think her wish was practical. Alex shames the Majokai, because after all she saved them although she isn't one of their people. Their reaction is mixed. Tomo wants to do a last gesture, even if it's futile. She Apparates to a small rock in the sea and starts gesturing. Then the sea starts to recede - the sign of an incoming tsunami. Then Anna joins Tomo on the rock, because she isn't braver than her. Alex does the same. They try to help her with her Japanese ritual. Even Hela joins it. Then, a lot of Japanese ghosts appear around them - and there's a smell of charcoal. Then, a hundred Majokai around them (incl. drummers) are helping with the ritual. The giant wave seems to freeze, crumble, and recede - as if it had listened to them. But meanwhile, a battle between Confederation Regiments and the MACUSA has begun. Alex congratulates Anna for doing the bravest thing ever - even if it also was the stupidest. They go to Mahomachi, where they celebrate in a restaurant. When they return, the battle is over, and the MACUSA has won the west. A congressman Hallowell wants to ally with Abraham Thorn now. Then, Alex is distracted because she spots Stuart, who was wounded in the battle. He doesn't know where Torvald is. But he has survived too, helped killing two dragons or so, and kisses "Troublesome". But then she notices Dylan, who seems to be dead.
=== Chapter 43: Marked ===
David goes to Cleveland, together with Dylan's casket. Alex wants to go back to Larkin Mills. Also, David loaned his car to her. Then, she has to say goodbye to Anna. Hela can shorten the time for a drive - but didn't so far because nobody asked her to. Also, she mentions that a Thunderbird has been in the sky when the tsunami almost struck. As if Alex was attracting their attention... When they arrive near Larkin Mills, someone defaced a country sign with a "No Wizards" graffiti. They go to the abandoned Pruett School, where Hela has to fight off a Boggart - Alex didn't see it, though. Goody claims no one else had been there. Later, Alex goes to the local police station to meet Dale Ridenour. He knows that Archie and Claudia are in France now. There were sightings of all kinds of fantasy beings, up to a band of dwarves abducting an April Lipincott. Then she meets with Mrs. Wilborough, informing her about MACUSA and telling her about her new plan: Cast a magic badge on her that marks her as protected. In fact, she wants to do this to more Muggles, to protect the whole town. Later in the park she meets Brian, and Hela and Billy join. He's in fact interested in her plan.
=== Chapter 44: A Little Calamity ===
Alex and Hela start building up magical defenses for Larkin Mills. There are reports about Redcaps abducting and killing people. So she checks out the Pond, where she encounters ghosts of wizards and witches who died in battle. They claim it was her fault that they can't go away, and her very own prophecy said that she had to die a the Great Work can be done, and the Deathly Regiment broken. Again the words "Ask what you were born for". As long as the DR won't fall, they're stuck on this world and can't move to the afterlife. Alex wonders why her father didn't burn the Accounting Office down. David tells her that in Detroit, ghosts are "stuck" as well. She tells him to send a mail by owl for her. Then, Mage-Lieutenant Thickerson (one of the ghosts from the Pond) tells her that Billy and Brian are in danger. They're alive, even if Brian looks bad, and killed some Redcaps with baseball bats. Hela calls this brave but idiotic. Later, Alex meets Madam Erdglass. She says that she wants to go back to the 13th floor of the Accounting Office and set it on fire, which makes the old witch laugh. But then she suggests Alex using Fiendfyre. Then, they go to Chicago together. Turns out Madam Erdglass has a collaborator - it's Thomas Bagby, in fact. Alex goes to the room, breaks the last defense, and starts a fire with her yew wand. Alex and Bagby leave through a crack, but Madam Erdglass stays, together with Franklin the pig she brought along - she has to finish some work she started decades ago. Seems to have to do with her Sigrun she lost a century ago... Back in the Muggle world, Alex notices to her shock that the Fiendfyre is spreading. So she decides to summon a Thunderbird. She's even successful, but how can she communicate to him what she needs? She promises him to get rid of the underwater panthers on the lake. Which seems to have been the right thing, because a deluge-like rain starts.
=== Chapter 45: Responsibility ===
David calls Alex out for causing a fire in which people died. She blocks him for it, but regrets it immediately. After that, she spends some time with Livia and the latter's family. They have some discussions about responsibility. Alex still doesn't want to hide in a safehouse. She spends Christmas with Mrs. Wilborough - and Hela with Billy! Also, Anna's visiting her. The Congress has lost Central Territory after the fire. Anna asks Alex to return and join MACUSA. Livia in fact has done so already. But Alex doesn't want to become a politician before the DR is ended. Then she has a long talk with Anna, who isn't happy about the promise Alex gave the Thunderbird. She wants Alex to join them and shut down the remaining Accounting Offices. Alex calls her out on the "accountants" working there who've become guilty.
=== Chapter 46: Final Girl ===
New Year's night. Hela and Billy have gone to lone Murdoch Road outside Larkin Mills where odd events have multiplied last year. Hela's spell reveals someone there - it's Harriet Isingrim, who claims to be with the Dark Convention now - but still wants to kill Alex. A magical fight ensues. Harriet defeats Hela when her invisibility's broken (so to speak), then disarms and catches Billy. He claims to hate Alex, which seems to save him. Somewhat later, Billy calls Brian while he's at Alex' place. When she arrives, Harriet Crucios Billy. Alex attacks her, barely evades Harriet's Avada Kedavra. The fight in the dark continues. Then Harriet shapeshifts into her wolf form and overwhelms Alex. Alex calls Nigel for help, who bites wolf Harriet, but to no avail. When Alex expects to be dead any moment now, a recovered Hela joins the fight. Finally, when Harriet throws Billy's truck on Hela, things look hopeless again, when a car with two people arrives at the scene - with Brian and Anna inside. Anna can't interfere with a formal magical duel, so Brian grabs a baseball bat and attacks Harriet, knocking her down. Then he also destroys her wand (but his bat's broken too). Harriet shapeshifts again. Only now, Anna interferes with a Revulsio to get wolf Harriet off Brian. Alex tries to save Hela, but to no avail. "It was always... you or me." Meanwhile, Anna magics up vines which catch Harriet. Now she wants to punish her. Meanwhile, Hela confesses that Abraham knew her mother, and she was never accepted by her father... Does the prophecy mean "eighth child" or "eighth daughter"? Is Alex the final girl? Before there is any answer, Hela stabs Alex with her stone knife.
=== Chapter 47: Lies My Father Told Me ===
Alex awakes in a bed and remembers. Livia's with her. She tells her that she had no chance of saving Hela's life, and that Alex was in a coma for a week. When she awakes once more, Abraham is visiting her. She wants to know whether Hela is his daughter. He met Hela's mother Skæda, had a short "tryst" with her, but isn't sure about his fatherhood. He thinks she just misunderstood the prophecy. Now Alex wants to hear it. Abraham tells her that it comes from a Seer (actually, Hecate's grandmother), not the Stars Above, and he doesn't actually know it - only Hecate did. He thinks Alex couldn't possibly find her, but gives her something to start with: Granny Grimm from the Ozarks. The next, day, Anna visits. Alex tells her she wants to contact Charmbridge - Sonja, to be precise, since it is said that you need a Seer to find a Seer. So Anna sends Jingwei. Alex asks Anna about Harriet - and, well, Anna did what she had to do.
=== Chapter 48: The Inner Eye ===
Alex visits Brian, who might be going to Chicago soon. Next, she goes (using the Escalade) to Charmbridge to meet Sonja who's ready. So they leave for the Ozarks together and arrive after two days. Then, they go by broom to Furthest Holler. During the talk with Granny Pritchard, Alex learns why they didn't mention Granny Grimm last year: They don't speak of her in general, since she went bad and left the community. Alex still inquires. Sonja can feel that the Ozarkers have been preparing for long for something big in June. So Granny Pritchard gives them a hint to start with: Granny Grimm disappeared around Alex' birth near a place named "Hunnert Boggarts Holler".
=== Chapter 49: Granny Grimm ===
Alex and Sonja stay the night with Dust and Lamentation Pritchard before proceeding to Hundred Boggarts Holler. When they sleep in Constance's and Forbearance's bed, at night Alex awakes when Sonja's writing stuff - which she burns immediately, claiming it was no important prophecy. But she also thinks she knows how to find Granny Grimm now. On the way to the holler, Burton overhears them mentioning whom they want to visit. Alex almost hexes him, and Sonja unfortunately has loose lips. Burton nonetheless joins them and gets some flying mules to get there. Having arrived, Burton mentions a rumor that Granny Grimm was hiding in a "house of ill repute" here. Then, they're attacked by the Wood Witch, but it's just Burton's Boggart. At a crossroad, they encounter a signpost, which turns into a tentacled monster and grabs Sonja. They can't defeat it with Diffindo, so Alex turns to the ultima ratio and casts Avada Kedavra. Then, they take a path leading deeper into the woods. Another sign warns them: "TURN BACK". Then Alex has the right idea: Granny Grimm must be hiding among Muggles. So they go to the trailer park, where some Dementors appear. Alex casts her Patronus and scares them away. In the center of the park, they find a big trailer surrounded by Muggle-repealing Charms and try to get Granny Grimm to notice them. Since she doesn't react to shouting, Alex sends her Patronus inside. Suddenly despair overwhelms her. The door opens, and Granny Grimm steps out - she caught Alex' Patronus like a ball. She knows that Alex is Hecate's daughter and tells her that she warned her about "that man" and birthing Alex. She also wants to see Hecate's wand, and tells Alex she has a geist - and that it'll be the end of her. Alex mentions Jezebel, whom Granny calls a "haint". Furthermore, she thinks that every sad tale starts with a "slut" (which is what she calls both her daughter and her granddaughter!) falling for a bad man. That's why she doesn't care much, and doesn't think highly about love. Alex still inquires and learns that both parents of the triplets were murdered, and that her parents had her despite knowing from the Stars Above that she'd be doomed to die - and end the Deathly Regiment. Hecate seems to have had second thoughts though, which is why she visited her grandmother during her pregnancy and asked for a different prophecy. Then she asks Alex whether she's a murderer. Alex doesn't think it counts as murder, and that's why neither does Granny. She told Hecate that "it'd take a murder", in fact. Alex mentions Hela and inquires further, but Granny isn't willing to tell more and makes vague threats towards Sonja. Alex is ready to defend her, but Granny makes it clear that Alex would have to kill her to stop her. Granny seems to get through Alex' Occlumency and claims that she had it in her to be a murderer - about which she's proud. She even claims Alex will thank her later for this. In the next moment, the three visitors are outside - and Granny's trailer looks broken and dead.
=== Chapter 50: All You Have to Do Is Die ===
Alex and Sonja say goodbye to Burton and leave in the Escalade. Alex now plans to contact Abraham again, and wants to "fulfill one of [Sonja's] prophecies". Sonja warns her that she can't defy the Stars Above. But Alex wants to deal with what she set free. In Larkin Mills, she meets Brian one last time in the Frosty Freeze before he's leaving to Chicago with his father. She tells him that she'd like to stay friends with him, even if she hasn't been the best girlfriend. Brian lets her know that he wants to leave the wizard world behind, and not being a MACUSA contact anymore. The next weeks, Alex is hunting Redcaps and ghosts in her town. The MACUSA is said to advance in Yukon and Arcadia. Abraham calls her again, offers her again to come to the Lands Below, but she declines and he doesn't call again. In late February, a blizzard hits Larkin Mills. Near the Interstate, Alex finds a car with two people inside - whose necks have gashes. She gets a phonecall from Mrs. Wilborough, but only hears a gurgling sound, and gets no further answers. She returns to the old woman's home, defeats a tall robed figure in there - too late, Melody Wilborough is dead already. Turns out the killer is the Gaunt Man from Eerie Island. Apparently the Dark Convention gave him the job of killing her, because of the prophecy. She casts Diffindo on him, then burns down Sweetmaple Avenue 207. Then she calls Billy, tells him to call the police and that she's leaving the town forever, together with Tiger. She leaves him with the Whites, then drives to Lake Superior. She cats a spell to summon the ghosts of the people who died in there. Pasquale Mercurio's ghost appears, of all people. She needs a boat that's bound to the Lake - one that has sunk in it. If he doesn't help her, she'll Banish him. So he shows her where the goblin packet from their escape is hidden. She doesn't want to give him the favor of releasing him from his afterlife, so he transforms his face into that of a Navajo witch and accuses her that all the people who died because of her were stuck. Then she banishes the ghost to the Lands Beyond. She makes the boat ready, starts to go towards the island. She discovers that there are three underwater panthers in the Lake, opens the crack in the world, so they plummet into it, while Alex is safe above them on her broom.
=== Chapter 51: The Thorn Circle ===
Alex, the underwater panthers, and lots of water fell through a crack into the Lands Below. Alex goes to the stronghold, which has grown further since last time, having a wall and moat against the Lagaru now. She meets Abraham, tells him that Mrs. Wilborough is dead, and she had to burn down the house. He tells her that her planning is still abysmal. She also tells him that she found Granny Grimm, what she told her, and that it was a wild goose chase. He claims that Hecate loved her. Alex is ready to swear an Unbreakable Vow now - to obey Abraham, do whatever he says, and be loyal. So Alex spends some time in the stronghold, but gets bored with her guard duties. Alex wants to do more. So Abraham promises to take her to Chicago next - to help burning down Goblin Market. Also, she studies dueling with Medea, who's so damn good at it that she always wins easily. Finally she's admitted to the Thorn Circle, shortly after the Sedona Institute for Magical Awareness was destroyed. They plan plundering the banks of Goblin Market. A black member of the Circle named Iwan doesn't like Alex to be friends with Anna. Alex calls out her father why he tried to kill her. Another discussion ensues. Then, the day of the attack happens, with a hundred wizards and witches. Alex still manages to defy her father to his chagrin by casting a Patronus, to warn people. The banks are plundered, the place is burnt down with Fiendfyre. Then, an epic rainfall starts - seems the Thunderbird heard her plea. Back in the Lands Below, another discussion about Alex' defiance happens. She implies Medea was a mindless, obedient toy, who backhands her for this. Alex apologizes, which doesn't mean she's sorry. A final discussion with Abraham alone follows. He says that even Hela wasn't as hard as Alex - only one of his children...
=== Chapter 52: No Qualms ===
It's March 22nd. Alex is in Detroit to meet David. He already knows she blew up Goblin Market. They talk about Alex's situation, having to do anything Abraham Thorn orders her to. She hints that she'll have to burn down Charmbridge, but will warn him in time. Somewhat later, she and Abraham are watching BMI burn. He reveals that Hucksteen will meet the other Governors in Salem, and wants to eliminate them all. In April, it's happening. Medea has magically disguised Alex as an older, blonde, beautiful Muggle woman. Salem Witch's Academy is burning. She helps Abraham, Medea, and the others escaping into the World Away, and then reappear where the Governors are meeting. A fight against Doomguards ensues. Then, they finally meet the Governors. Hucksteen is on the verge of getting away. Alex follows him into an amphitheater - it's in a place that feels real and unreal like the World Away. They fight, Hucksteen gets the upper hand. He reveals that the Dark Convention did him a favor in removing the other Governors, and plans to get all of Abraham's kids. But then, Abraham enters the scene. He claims he had nothing to do with Jezebel's death, and wants his revenge. An epic fight starts that makes the theater literally shake. Alex manages to draw her yew wand. When Hucksteen' summoned hydra is close to winning, Alex casts Avada Kedavra on him. While she talks to Abraham about the future of the Confederation, Hucksteen's ghost appears.
=== Chapter 53: The Last Command ===
Hucksteen's ghost hints that Alex is to blame for so many ghosts around who can't pass on to the afterlife. He stabs her with a ghostly sabre, which she doesn't bother to evade - only to feel something icy... Abraham banishes the ghost and remarks that he must have learned darker arts than he thought. He tells Alex to use the Wound Relocating Charm to pass the ghost wound onto him, which she manages to. He calls it "ghost sickness". They leave the room to get help for Abraham and return to a burning place with Doomguards wandering around aimlessly. Medea gives them some Obols (they regularly make some if their enemies die, albeit not always), and they return to the Lands Below. Abraham declines getting a healer like Livia or Henry Tsotsie, saying that he has to fight the battle alone. He tells her how much faith he has in her, and gives her a Last Command: Destroy Charmbridge.
=== Chapter 54: We Are Who We Choose To Be ===
Alex arrives in Charmbridge and tells Ms. Shirtliffe that she needs to speak to Dean Grimm. The Special Inquisition is in school, and Alex is considered enemy #2. That's why Ms. Shirtliffe has to transform Alex into a raven, sitting on her shoulder. In Lilith's office, a back-transformed Alex warns her that Abraham Thorn was coming, and Lilith orders to evacuate the school. Alex mentions the Grimms' Ozarker heritage, but Lilith claims she and her sisters had been raised by non-Ozarkers far away from there. Then, surprisingly David arrives in the office too. Together with Alex, he wants to warn their friends in person. They surprise the Pritchards. Sonja seemingly had a vague idea of what was coming, but didn't warn anyone. And she's pregnant from Burton. Then, the alarm happens. A few minutes later, near Delta Delta Kappa Tau Hall, they're stopped by Special Inquisitors Mr. Hatheby, Ms. Sorrels, and Mr. Wilson. Alex offers to put down her wand if they'll let her friends go, but they don't believe her. A fight ensues, with David and the Pritchards siding with Alex. But the Special Inquisitors, being adults, seem to be stronger. The teens are saved by Diana Grimm who attacks her former colleagues from the other side. But Carol Queen and Sonja are on the ground, and Constance is badly wounded.
=== Chapter 55: The Battle of Charmbridge ===
Diana wants to stop Alex from killing the Inquisitors. Alex wants her own way, gets it, and Obliviates them, Hatheby first. Meanwhile, Diana and Alex' friends try to save Constance's life. But they can't move her, and she needs a real healer. Will Alex be able to stop Abraham from attacking? David and Forbearance are not leaving. Mr. Grue informs them while they're looking for Mrs. Murphy that the Confederate Air Regiment has landed outside with their Dragons. Alex finds Innocence and takes her to her sister. Meanwhile, Mrs. Murphy has arrived as well. The elves Laney, Lalu, and Mixelpot float Constance to the infirmary; the other sisters, David, and Alex accompany them. On the way, she meets Em and talks to her about the Compact, how the elves seem to be bound to a certain place. She wants to set them free, using a crack in the world. Benedict Journey's ghost warns her that she's done things in the Lands Beyond which have consequences, and tells her not to open the Great Veil. Her hint about a certain prophecy scares him. Meanwhile, Dean Grimm and Ms. Shirtliffe try to keep the students under control. They refused to hand over Alex. Adela Iturbide is angry about that. Alex suggests to evacuate everyone through the World Away. So a procession of students begins. Later, they even float Constance through it, in the hope this'll work. At the end, even Adela gives in. Alex demands to know about why Adela snitched her to the Inquisitors, though. When Adela is defiant, she challenges her, Code Duello. Adela doesn't want to fight a duel, but Alex doesn't kill her - but magically writes "SNITCH" onto her forehead. Together, they emerge near the Invisible Bridge where the whole crowd has arrived. As did the MACUSA, including Anna. A magical fight ensues. The Majokai summon a rain of steel. And still, new troops are arriving. When the last students and elves are crossing the bridge, Innocence is hit by a spell and turned into a statue made of salt, which is crumbling now, to the horror of her friends.
=== Chapter 56: Crack the Earth and Split the Sky ===
Alex runs back into Charmbridge Academy, to the Dean's office, to lure her enemies in. Then she goes to the basement and uses her knowledge about artificing to agitate the Clockworks into killing her enemies. Also, she casts Fiendfyre. She tells Journey's ghost that she will destroy Charmbridge. When he calls her "Starshine" once too often, she Banishes him. Then she tries to summon the Powers - Father Sun, Mother Moon, Brother Wind - with doggerel verse. Father Sun finds this very audacious. Some other Power accuses her of lying. She's saved because of her Raven tattoo. Then she tells Father Sun that his daughters are caught in the Lands Below. He is willing to Crack the Earth and Split the Sky to liberate them. She sends Charlie into the Lands Below to show him the way, hoping that he'll return. Somewhat later, he does, and the earth is shaking until she cracks. Now, corn maidens and underwater panthers interfere with the battle above. The seal to the Lands Below is broken forever. Back in the world above, Alex talks to Ms. Shirtliffe and looks for her friends. Constance thinks she shouldn't go back to the Ozarks, and Sonja decides that she herself won't. Alex meets William Killmond, Seimei Kamo, and Geming Chu who asks where Anna is. Diana Grimm arrives who witnessed the Mage-General of the Confederation shot down. She leads them to Anna's body.
=== Chapter 57: Seven Hundred Elves ===
Diana takes Alex back to the main encampment, but she barely remembers it. Livia comforts her, but Alex can't tell her the truth about Abraham. Later, Alex goes to the seven-gabled house. Lucilla's feeling better, although she "lost much of" herself. Meanwhile, the war is still going on. When Alex receives an owl message which is not from Abraham even though it looks like it, she decides to leave again. David talks to her and suggests she should care for the seven hundred elves who have been displaced by the war - and take them to the Other side, as they call the World Away. But at first, Alex goes to Salem, which is full of ghosts now. One of them claims that her death would help to put them to rest. Then she goes to the Lands Below, to the keep. Medea claims there was no cure for Abraham's curse. Apparently she didn't write the note. But then who did? Alex returns to the MACUSA HQ, to meet David in his ASPEW office. Gloria Brandywine also suggests to move the elves to the World Away. Alex doesn't know whether this is a good idea. But Bran says she'll have their help again, which she doesn't understand - but Able Pritchard is willing to explain.
=== Chapter 58: What Justice Looks Like ===
Able tells Alex that he met her mother when she came to the Ozarks to find Granny Grimm. Later, he also met Abraham. The Exodans need her help, and the elves may need it too. Some of them are trapped in the dwarven mountain. Also, Sonja's pregnant by Burton. Then, Alex, David, Able, Sonja, and Ms. Brandywine go to the Ozarks, meeting the rest of the family. The Confederation wanted to draft their community, which they declined of course. Alex wonders whether she can lead them to the World Away - and whether she's actually ever saved someone. Then, David's gone. The elves tell Alex that he wanted to meet the "Old Folks" elves at their place. Alex makes a seven-league step to the dwarven mountain. Her friends (incl. the elf Huzzkin) have met the hill dwarves already, who told them a different story than she did. David calls her out for causing a genocide, making her snap. They go back, leaving Alex. She thinks about it, then goes - wandless - into the mountain, delivering herself to the dwarves for justice.
=== Chapter 59: The Harrowing of the Hollers ===
The hill dwarves chain Alex and take her into a cavern deep down in the mountain. They also steal her Seven-League Boots. She tells them she's ready to face justice. The dwarves start arguing, it sounds as if they wanted to kill her. Then however, Noah, Burton, and David enter to save her. Sees-From-Laurel came with them. He predicts that dragons will come to burn Down Below Holler. He also claims that the dwarves were somehow involved in the compact, which they claim they can't remember. Should Alex open the World Away for them, and the Ozarkers, and the house elves? She demands from them to let bygones be bygones, no vengeance. Sees-From-Laurel promises - at least, for his people. David tells Alex she's wrong if she thinks she had never saved anyone, and people need her, and she shouldn't make a big, reckless gesture. She's willing to do the big deed now, and she has to go to the heart of the mountain with Sees-From-Laurel for that.
=== Chapter 60: Exodus ===
Sees-From-Laurel and Alex go to the heart of the mountain. He calls her selfish, for risking her life because her friend died. They can feel the strong magic already. He doesn't want to leave for the World Away, though. Alex opens a crack in the world and starts checking out what's behind. After finding a bucolic-looking place, she tells the Ozarkers - and dwarves, and house elves - that they can enter it now. Which they do. But Alex can also see that a group of dragons of the Confederation Air Force are coming for them. Now already, Regimental Officers are burning houses in the Five Hollers. So Alex summons a storm and looks out for her friends. Currently, David and Benjamin Rash are on the verge of starting a duel. She shoots a lightning near them to make them stop. Then it's time to say goodbye. Constance and Forbearance want to stay, though, and see the rest of the world they don't know yet. Sonja OTOH is willing to go with Burton to the World Away. She also warns Alex to stop the storm, despite of the Deathies. So Alex instead summons lightnings, hitting everything in the sky. After that, she magics her friends thousand miles away and closes the World Away off. Then she uses her magic to liberate the souls held by Granny Grimm around her place. But then, the Deathies find her. The last thing Alex can do is magic-ing Charlie to a safe place.
=== Chapter 61: Chained ===
To her own surprise, Alex is still alive when she wakes up. She's in a moving truck, and ROC mages are around her. Mage-General Armstrong interrogates her. She will get a trial. Then she's brought to their camp - which is situated in the ruins of the Foreigners Village the Ozarkers built last year. Then Armstrong orders a young Mage-Lieutenant to guard her - it's Larry Albo, to be precise. Squabbling ensues. Then, to her surprise (again), he opens her cell and gives her a broom, encouraging her to escape. When she declines, because she doesn't even want him to be tried as a traitor, he simply puts her onto the broom and flies away together with her. But Sonja had warned Alex: the next time she will meet Larry it'll cost him his life, unless she spared him.
=== Chapter 62: Vengeance Dire ===
Larry takes Alex miles away on the broom, to one of the deserted Hollers. At some point, they have to hide from searchers. He tells her he's sorry for Anna's death. Then, Sees-From-Laurel appears to give back Alex her two wands which she had lost. He still hopes he won't meet her again. She tells Larry about what she did and what happened - not everything, but how she killed Hucksteen. Next, they go to Croatoa. To Alex' shock, the house of the Kings is utterly destroyed. Then, Hagar appears; Alex asks the raven where her father is, to which the answer is "miles to go". She decides to ask her father's ancestors, so they go to the swamp where they meet Joshua Thorn, Jared Thorn, and Cordelia Hallowell. They say that Abraham came too late to save the Kings, but he's in the family crypt. Now he wants to make a mysterious "crossing" no one ever tried. His objective: Unleash a never seen storm at Storm King Mountain, to finally bring down the Deathly Regiment. Although Alex tries to stop him, he releases Hagar and disappears. And Alex can perceive something dark and heavy behind the cracks in the world...
=== Chapter 63: Since the Beginning of Time ===
The storm Abraham summoned is coming closer. Alex and Larry leave for the shore. But then they notice lots of ghosts of Indians around. They blame Alex for not being able to go to the afterlife. She doesn't know how to help them. They recommend her to do the right thing. They also know how she tried to bring back Maximilian. But they also tell her that Thalia King used to keep peace between Indian and white ghosts. Also, she left in a carriage drawn by Thestrals. Alex tells Larry that mage-general Hastings Flint saved Julia because he's on the Kings' side. So they go to his mansion next, where they meet Thalia and Julia indeed. They already know from their death clock (and Hagar) that Abraham Thorn died. Meanwhile in NYC, an emergency manager named Harold Blunkert has the impression that the worst could happen - a category four hurricane (despite being out of season!) hitting the harbor at high tide. Even when he fears they won't believe him, he calls the mayor's office. Larry meanwhile considers joining MACUSA, although Alex doesn't want him to. Also, she wants to borrow his broom to stop the storm somehow. They kiss before she leaves with Charlie (who just returned). Meanwhile, the hurricane's been named Abraham, has become a category five, and although Harold managed to warn the mayor, evacuation of the whole metropolis is impossible.
=== Chapter 64: The Heart of the Storm ===
Hurricane Abraham is getting closer to the coast, as big as an ocean. Alex is flying towards it, in the hope she might be able to stop it. But the Ban prevents her from going further east. Since its magic depends on her name, she decides to get around it by officially claiming her real name: Troublesome. This does the trick, the Ban gives way. However, she still has a long way before her, and gets tired. Fortunately, there's a fishing ship around on the ocean, the Dona Maria of Captain Albert Pereira. Alex lands on her deck and talks the sailors into going into the heart of the hurricane. Some hours later, they have reached its eye. As Alex expected, there's a crack in the world there. She goes through it, but this part of the World Away is stranger than what she encountered before - endless concentric circles... Neither the Thunderbirds nor Brother Wind can hear her. Instead, she meets Typhon the sphinx who ended up here. She can convince him not to eat her because she may get him out of here. Edna the lamia is also there. Typhon is not impressed by the hurricane, being a Power of Storms himself. So they reach an agreement. Typhon roars, and when Alex dares to remove her hands from her ears, hundreds of Thunderbirds are there. Then she keeps her end of the deal (so to speak) by sending Typhon and Edna to the Lands Below. The chapter ends with .
=== Chapter 65: What You've Wrought ===
Alex is... back in total darkness, accompanied by Charlie. This time, she doesn't feel cold as she did in the Lands Beyond when she went there years ago. Then, the ghost of Darla Dearborn appears to call her a loser who's still messing up everything. After that, the more friendly ghosts of Anna, Dylan, Innocence, and Archibald Mudd appear - she even can feel Anna when touching her. Hela's there too. They tell her she's really in the Lands Beyond - but they're here to send her back. Alex did mess up the afterlife, and the Most Deathly Power wants things back to balance. Mudd says that they're willing to pay the price for her opening the Lands Below. Alex admits that she really never saved anyone. They have to remind her that yes, she actually saved many people. But they also tell her to go back and fix things. So she says goodbye to all of them, knowing it's the last time ever. Innocence tells her it was her own fault that she died; Darla's nice for once; and Alex reveals to Hela that she knows they're sisters. The last thing they tell her is suggesting to make a crack, although she thinks that's impossible here. She flies up on her broom and manages exactly that, only to emerge in a huge storm. But Hurricane Abraham is already dying off. She lands on the Dona Maria again, and they give her a ride.
=== Chapter 66: The World Is Not Right ===
The ship lets Alex go to land in the Whites' town. But instead of them, Larry is there, waiting for her. He tells her that peace talks will start next week in New Amsterdam. The Deathly Regiment will be dropped. They Apparate away, without caring that the Muggles can see them. Six days later, they're in New Amsterdam themselves. There seem to be unusually many ghosts around... They go into the Wizard Congress Building. David's there as well. Then, they watch the wizards from North America and the rest of the world (incl. Kingsley Shacklebolt from Britain). Geming Chu - who also becomes President Pro-Tem - moderates the discussions about the new government. To Alex' chagrin, those responsible for the Deathly Regiment won't be punished, it seems. She calls Geming Chu out, but he tells that'd include too many people, even him and Abraham Thorn. The situation stays unclear. Alex tells in front of the press: "The world is not right." Then, a certain English witch wants to talk to Alex. She tells her what Britain went through after the end of their wizard war. Alex goes to Walloon Tower to stay there for the night. She gets a visit from Medea who claims that Geming Chu wanted to restore the Confederation in all but name and invites her to rejoin the Thorn Circle. Then, Diana Grimm suddenly appears and attacks them, but Medea Apparates away. Diana claims the Thorn Circle wanted to assassinate Chu. Alex tells her to go away. Alone then, she ponders that she'll have to go back.
== Author's Notes ==
The writer's notes"Alexandra Quick and the Wizard War - Author's Notes", Inverarity's LJ on a variety of topics, including:
* The Discontent of Readers: I'm Writing For Me, Not You
* Pacing: It's not a Web Serial
* Plot Armor and Plot Holes
* Hero of Her Own Story
* I'm Not Brandon Sanderson and this is not a LitRPG
* Do You Even Have a Plan?
* Book Seven
== References ==
Wizard War
Category:Writing