after some deliberation, a one-way ticket for Tori. It was hard for her; she had honestly enjoyed Tori’s companionship, and the two had formed a strong bond. Few, if any, had gone through trials like they had, and Two considered Tori her sister, in blood and spirit. Still, she knew that Tori needed time to become reacquainted with her parents. Two expected to spend only a short time in Ohio, and she expected to return alone.

She had allowed two weeks of time before the flight, as a chance for both of them to get used to idea. Thirteen days had passed since they ordered the tickets, and in that time great pieces of Tori’s mind had returned. She was now in possession of the larger part of her memories from before her conversion at Abraham’s hands, and was anxious to see her parents.

Tonight they were packing. Tomorrow would bring them to the airport via cab, to fly first-class to Ohio. Their flight left at four in the afternoon, changed over in Detroit, landed at eight-thirty. Two supposed they would spend the night in a motel, and find Tori’s parents the next morning. Tori was clearly excited.

“I can’t wait to see them again!” She was sitting on the bed, folding clothes.

Two laughed. “It should definitely be an experience.”

She wondered what it would be like, presenting the Perraults with a daughter that hadn’t aged in the thirteen years she’d been gone. Two hoped they didn’t think Tori was some sort of imposter. She found it unlikely; parents were capable of telling the difference between identical twins. Two had little doubt that Frank and Mona would recognize Tori for who she was.

Tori was looking over the plane tickets. As her memory had returned, so her ability to read had improved drastically. She was now in most ways a fully-functioning young woman. The only abnormalities now were not mental weaknesses, but rather physical strengths. She was unbelievably strong, and very fast. These traits did not seem to be disappearing, and Two had begun to doubt they ever would. Whatever changes Tori’s years of vampirism had wrought on her body, not all of them could be undone.

“Two...” Tori’s voice was hesitant.

“Yeah?” Two was stuffing clothes into suitcases, not worried about folding them, just wanting to be done and ready to go.

“One of these tickets is one-way...”

Two sighed. “Yes. You know why.”

“What if I don’t want to stay with them?”

“I think you will, Tori. At least for a while. I think you need to stay there without me, and get used to being normal again.”

“Are you sure? You can stay there for as long as you want. My parents will think you’re some kind of angel, trust me. They’ll be happy to have you.”

Two grinned. “No thanks, hon. New York or nothing, for me.”

“And why should I be any different?”

“Oh, come on. You might want to move back someday, sure... but right now? You’re dying to see them. You know it, I know it. It’s been thirteen years, and you remember all of those completely, so it’s not like you haven’t had plenty of time to miss them. This is your opportunity to make up for all that lost time. You’re not going to want to leave, Tori. Not for a while.”

Two liked being able to have a normal conversation with Tori. While she missed some of the wide-eyed innocence that the girl had possessed during her slow return to humanity, overall she was very happy that Tori had regained her mental capabilities. More than that, she was glad to find that even as an adult, Tori was someone whom she liked very much.

Tori sighed, smiled, nodded her head. “Okay, yes, I’m dying to see them. I miss them so much.”

“Then stop worrying about what’s going to happen in the future, and worry about what’s happening now.”

“Which is?”

Two laughed. “Which is: you’re wasting time. Keep packing.”

* * *

They arrived in Columbus ahead of schedule, just past eight o’clock. Two’s fake ID held up under the scrutiny of the young woman at the rental-car counter. “You don’t look twenty-two at all.”

Two gave her most winning smile. “Thanks!”

The car was a sedan, well equipped, comfortable. They drove it a few miles from the airport, found a motel, and once settled spent most of the night talking. Tori was scared and excited, unable to sleep. Two was nervous in her own way as well, and had little complaint about being kept up. She wanted this to go well for