Jasmine swirled the glass, watching the crimson red liquid form waves along the sides. The faint hint of iron pulling at the hunger in her stomach. It had been days since she last fed, but she hadn't had time.

  The woman in front of her made a subdued, forced coughing sound. “Darling, you need to pay attention. I know you're hungry, but this is important. We can wait until you've finished your drink if you like?”

  As Jasmine looked up, she saw the red-hued eyes of her mother looking at her with concern, obvious from the slight furrowing of her brows. Taking a deep breath, she brought the glass to her mouth and took a deep gulp of the liquid inside. The blood itself was cold, but a warm feeling still radiated from her throat and stomach out through her body. She felt some of the little power she had lost return to her. Still, she wondered how her mother could keep getting the O- out of the blood banks. Especially without anyone noticing, since she would have been doing it for decades. Though she knew her mother had her methods, she always did.

  Jasmine let out a breath, her shoulders lowering noticeably from the relief granted to her by the blood she just consumed. In a light tone, with a small smile playing at the edges of her lips, she said, “I am fine now mom. Please continue, I promise I will pay attention.”

  Her mother, a woman named Solveig who looked like she was in her late 40s, searched for something in her expression before continuing in a slightly exasperated tone. “Darling, you need to remember to feed. I know regular food is also required, but without feeding you're still going to starve. I know that you already know that, but it still saps your strength not to feed every 3 or 4 days. More than that wouldn't hurt either.”

  Jasmine sighed at her mother, repeating the same spiel she had heard a thousand times before. “Mom, I know, I will try to remember. I just don't really like using magical hypnosis when I am out working, even if the amount taken is minuscule, it feels weird to make them forget it afterwards. Keep in mind that I do it when I have to, even if I probably should do it more. But back on topic, what do you want me to do in western Montana exactly, and preferably why if you and the other matrons feel I should know?”

  The crimson eyes of the woman in front of her immediately sharpened. She felt it before she saw it. Magic flooded through the shadows around them, thickening them. She felt as if her own shadow attached her feet to the ground like tar. As if her mother was using them to look for possible eavesdroppers on their conversation, feeling the shapes around them to look for anything unwelcome with a pulse. She now understood why her mother had wanted to have the conversation outside in the garden in the afternoon. A low sun cast such long shadows.

  Seemingly satisfied having found no one listening in or at least no one she didn't allow to listen. Her mother looked at her with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, which remained as analytical and sharp as they were when she searched their surroundings. “Well, I won't reveal all of it. But I can tell you why we want you in western Montana.”

  Her mother took another sip of her own glass before continuing. “Our control on the other side of the Rockies, that is to say, in Montana, is not as good as we want it to be. While we have been helping them with upgrades to their hydropower and water management systems, and the like. It has not been enough.” Her mother hesitated for a second before continuing, “We don't have enough control locally in the western parts of the state, the ones within the Rockies, as we would like.”

  Jasmine looked out at the Portland skyline as she digested the information she had just been given. She knew her mother was testing her to see if she could identify why the task given to her was important and how. “You are figuring the initial blows won't be enough to prevent a coordinated response from the Federal government and the other states. If we have to fight a land war on scale, then Montana is the obvious first target for them as they won't have to move armaments through the Rockies.” Jasmine hesitated for a heartbeat, a full 30 seconds for her at least. Her mother watched her patiently, giving her space to complete the thought. “You also want the base far enough into the Rockies to help conceal our starting moves and to make defense easier.”

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  This time her mother's smile reached her eyes and showed a slight hint of the fangs she had hidden behind her lips. “Correct on all points, darling. Though you forgot one major point. Control over the local reservoirs and dams will let us hold the cities downstream hostage. Only if we have no other option, of course. We do expect them to fight, but we don't think it will come to us actually doing that. But first and foremost, your job is to secure our logistics through the area as well as a concealable base and to help shore up local support.”

  At the mention of holding one or more cities hostage long-term, Jasmine's eyebrows furrowed with concern. It went without saying that she was not fond of the idea, although she did see the strategic advantage of having the threat available.

  “How long until we attempt secession?” Jasmine asked. Her mother gazed out over the Portland skyline, considering the question. “About six months, give or take a maybe two months.” Jasmine nodded at that, though her jaw clenched.

  “You should also secure yourself an assistant whilst you're out there. A fledgling wouldn't hurt, gods know it would be better than a regular human, but unless you find a woman you can turn, it's not critical. A regular person will do.” On that topic, her mother sounded far less serious, though she meant every word she said.

  “I will consider creating a fledgling. I won't promise anything, though, and even so, it might simply not work. Though I will find an assistant, so to speak, either way. Do we expect any interference from back home?”

  Her mother shifted her sitting position slightly, ever so subtly, her back stiffening. “No, the courts have no reason to interfere. They might even like the fact that we weaken the US globally through this. The Mage courts and NATO aren't exactly friends.” Jasmine's jaw unclenched slightly at the reassurance of that particular statement. Her mother continued, seemingly not paying too close attention to her daughter's reactions. “They're not enemies either, but Queen Emilie has no reason to interfere.”

  “Well, that's a relief.” Jasmine almost mumbled at her mother's answer.

  Jasmine and her mother exchanged some more pleasantries and talked a bit, but the chilling air nipping at her skin and the setting sun signaled it was time to head home. She walked over to her red Chrysler C-300 and got in. The interior was worn but spotless; the car had clearly seen some use over its decades of life. She had gotten it used a few years ago, with the car having been left to rot for decades in some barn in rural Nebraska. A true crime against humanity if there ever was one, at least in Jasmine's opinion. She had spent a small fortune restoring it, having the rust removed, the interior restored, and, much to her own chagrin, having the engine improved to reduce fuel consumption.

  As she drove down the winding roads towards the apartment she temporarily lived in while she was in town, her mind wandered towards the events that were soon to unfold both here and throughout the rest of the world. She just hoped the coming months would be as bloodless as possible. And in case it wasn't, she would still need to make the preparations she could.

  The lights in her apartment flipped on just as her phone buzzed. The text came from her mother and only had a place name. It read Fairvern, Montana.

  Grabbing a cider, she sat down on her couch and searched for the name. It seemed to be mostly a declining farming community, though mining also used to be big there. That she could use.

  Her eyebrows knitted together as she found articles about plans for a ski resort not that far from town. While it would be beneficial in the short term, it could become a problem. The risk of early exposure or scrutiny was too high. It was something she would need to stop.

  Officially, she would be there to help manage the new refurbishment project for the local hydropower plant and dam, as well as to run most of West Star's local operations. Other things would, in reality, take priority, but she still needed to do her official job.

  Leaning back on the couch, she took the final swig of her cider, the taste of apple and alcohol hitting her tongue and the cool liquid moving down her throat. She stared up at the roof, the white ceiling tiles not giving her the insight she wanted.

  She needed to move the day after tomorrow, someone would help her with the heavier things she had, but she still needed to pack. There was no other option than to get started, she only had 6 months after all.