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creepers and wagons to bring their supplies home. The groceries had been collected and added to the Batmobile and Jeep combination with the Barbie car and another Jeep bringing up the rear. High-powered flashlights were mounted on the front of each vehicle and made the perilous journey down the side of the road a little bit lighter.
    They kept their conversations to a minimum. The new skill of driving required concentration and the thought of being seen was in all of their minds as they made their way home. The small vehicles were not built for off-roading, but they did a respectable job.
    They were almost to the turn of Oak Point Way when an oncoming car caught them in its headlights. The car slowed to a crawl, its occupant staring at the little parade that they had formed. When the driver accidentally steered into the brush, they made their move. Hitting the accelerator and swearing, the gnomes directed their conveyances into the safety of the shield around the street to the cul-de-sac.
    The driver of the car, a woman who was looking rather perturbed at her loss of vehicular control, was left looking at the three potting plants that were left behind in the sudden swerve. From behind the bubble, Mitsy looked back and sighed. She loved those plants. Perhaps they could get some more the next day.
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Chapter Eight
    Something was different. This morning when Abby woke up, the house was not silent. There was clattering and clanging going on and she bolted out of bed and into the kitchen. And almost fainted. It was real, it was all real, or her mind had snapped big time.
    Stationed at the coffeemaker, the skillet and the toaster were gnomes. The little beasties were making her breakfast. After the shock of seeing every chair she owned made into an access walkway for them, she had to admit that they were neat cooks.
    As she sat at the counter on one of the stools that her brood had not pressed into service, she felt the first stirrings of embarrassment run through her. She was mortified that she had run from the gathering, but she hadn't known what the hell had been going on and was just tired enough to go into full panic mode. Bitsy patted her hand in commiseration as her walked by, setting the table. It almost made her smile.
    "So fellas? Did anything else come to life last night?"
    He had to have been waiting in her living room because Xander's voice made her jump three inches to fall heavily back onto the stool. “There were reported incidents of missing lawn ornaments and footprints in the dirt for a three mile circumference around Laura's place.” He crossed his arms and scowled at her. “What the hell did you do last night? You generated enough power to set ceramics marching all over town."
    "I don't know what I did. I wish I did know. Is Laura still stuck with her tail?"
    "Yes. And we are going over there after breakfast so that you can try and reverse the power shock that you gave her.” Xander moved to sit next her and she scooted over a bit.
    Oddly enough, in his role as her teacher, she didn't find him sexy at all. His chastising tone had her sulking and feeling like a dog that peed on the carpet. “Okay. I know that I did something last night to build up the charge, mind you, I don't know what it is. How do I bleed off the magic without contact?"
    "You don't. But you find an item to discharge the power into. In the past, Nexus's have used rocks, knives, gems, belts, armour, small items that can be worn on the person. This lets you bleed it off as it generates, instead of reaching critical and popping."
    She mulled it over as a cup of coffee was delivered to her the way she liked it. “But what would I do with all the bits and bobs that I charge up?"
    Xander rubbed the back of his neck and pondered his next statement. “In the past, the Nexus has been taken into custody by the leading council of the time. Whether it was dragons, witches or warlocks heading the council."
    "Taken into