Formatting for this piece is a little off and will be changed in the final piece.

Chapter Four

Emily enjoyed a cup of tea with her mother as they sat in the family room enjoying a song playing on the radio. Mike and Jim were making themselves comfortable in their rooms and she wanted to give them a little space.

“Where do you think Tabetha is?” she asked her mother.

“Where do you think?”

“She’s not bothering them, is she?”

“Emily, she likes him. Let her be.” Mandy took a sip of her tea and set it down. “The mailman just delivered the mail; you want me to get it?”

“Sure,” Emily said with a smile.

Mandy snapped her fingers and a pile of mail appeared on the small table. “Here ya go, Emily.”

“Thank you, Mom.” Emily took the envelopes out of her mother’s hand and began opening them, one by one. “Bill—bill—oh no.” She put the others down as she began reading one of the letters.

“What is it?” She handed the letter to her mother. “Can she do this? What is Erica thinking?”

            Mandy began shaking her head. “I believe she can, Emily. Legally, anyway. Anyone has the right to challenge a will. If she has a case, you will go to court and then both of you will have to prove your cases.”

            “Well, Aunt Jane wasn’t crazy or anything so why should I have to prove my case?”

            “That is one thing you will have to prove. According to this letter, that’s what she’s challenging. Don’t worry, Emily. We’re here to help you.”

“Yeah, well I don’t want to win this magically but if I have to,” Emily began to say.

“Emily.”

“What? I’m just saying. Mom, she can’t get her hands on this castle.” As they talked about her chances, the doorbell rang. “Did you hear that?” The doorbell chimed again. “Is that the doorbell?” Once Emily realized it was, she rushed to answer the door.

            “What do you want, Erica?”

            “Did you get my letter?”

            “Yes, I did. So I ask again, Erica, what do you want?” Emily was angry seeing her standing at the door.

            “Oh, we’re going to be room mates for a little while, until we go to court anyway. After that, I will be kicking your ass out.”

            “Excuse me?”

            “What? Did I stutter?”

            “Emily, I’m moving in.”

            Emily couldn’t believe what Erica just said. She could say anything; she just stood there in shock. She heard a noise behind her, taking her out of the trance. “Oh, no you don’t. You have no right to be here.” Emily began to close the door but Erica put her foot between the door and the frame, stopping it from closing.

            “No, I have just as much of a right as you do, my dear cousin. Until we go to court, that is.” She laughed as she pushed the door open wider.

            “Mom!” Emily yelled out.

            “What?” Mandy asked from behind her. Emily jumped not knowing she was right behind her.

            “Can you help me please?”

            “Emily, she’s right. Until the court decides, she has the same rights to this castle as you do.”

            “So are you going to show me to my room or do I need to find it myself? Maybe I will take Jane’s room.”

            “I don’t think so, Erica. If I’m going to stuck with you, you’re going to take what ever room I give you and you’re going to stay out of my hair.”

            “Gladly. So where is it?” Erica pushed through the door and tossed her heavy bag on Emily’s foot. Emily held in her scream and moved her foot out from under the bag.

            Emily showed her a room upstairs, away from the others. “While you’re here, don’t start making any plans until we hear from the judge, you hear me?” Erica didn’t say anything so Emily turned around to look at her. Erica was too busy looking at things as they walked passed everything. “You don’t have a case to save your ass and you know it, Erica.”          

            “Oh, sure, like you can’t prove I’m wrong. Don’t you just love it?” Erica acted like she a plan up her sleeve and Emily didn’t like that one bit. She was quick to show her a room and left her alone.

            “Mom, I’m going out. Can you watch her while I’m gone?”

            “Where you going, Emily?”

            “I need to discuss this with out attorney.”

            “Honey, you don’t have one.”

            “No, but Aunt Jane did. That’s who I need to go see right now. I’ll be back soon. Make sure she doesn’t take anything or put her nose where it doesn’t belong.”

            Emily rushed to the lawyer’s office and asked to be seen. Lucky for her, Mrs. Thornbeusch didn’t have any appointments. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come down to this.”

            “You mean you knew Erica would do something like this?”

            “No, I didn’t know for sure. I’ve known you cousin for a long time so I know what she’s capable of. I’m sorry, Emily but she does have a case. After all, legally, she was your aunt’s daughter. Thankfully, she retained a different lawyer so I’m able to represent you if you would like. Give me a couple days and I will put the papers in order for you.”

            “Yeah, let’s do that. Can you give me a call when you’re ready for me to sign them?”

            “Sure.”

            “Good. I want this over with as soon as possible. I don’t want her in that castle.”

            “I understand, Emily. I’ll give you a call soon.” They hugged and Emily began to leave.

            “Hey, Emily, play nice please. Maybe she’ll give it up after seeing how the castle really is.”

            Emily turned around and went back inside the office. “You mean, you know about the castle?”

            “Yes, I’ve known since Frank died. Your aunt told me everything. Don’t worry, you family secret is safe with me. The world knows about witches and warlocks but they’ve never seen a power like your family has. I don’t think anyone’s ready for that level of magic. Listen, I have a lot of work ahead of me. We can discuss this further at a later time. Go home, and place nice.”

****

During the next few days, Erica wasn’t seen except for a couple occasions when Emily passed through a room where Erica was taking measurements. Every time they saw each other, one of them started arguing with the other, usually it was Erica starting the fight.

            “You know, Emily, you’re spoiled too much for your own good.”

            “And what is that supposed to mean?”

            “It means that you always get what you want and now someone else wants the same thing and you can’t stand that. It means that there could be others here who are more deserving than you are. I stayed here and helped Jane take care of this place after you deserted her.”

“Hey, wait a minute. You left too.”

“Yeah, but at least I visited the old kook. You were gone for ten years and now you come back just because you inherited this castle.”

            “Erica, I may have been gone but it didn’t mean I cared less than you did all those years. I did call Aunt Jane a lot and I wrote letters. Growing up, I was always there for her and you know that.”

            As the fights grew, Emily began saying things she didn’t mean to Erica. “I don’t even know what your father cared so deeply about you. You never did anything for the man.” Emily began to regret the arguments and wished she could’ve taken some of the words back. When Erica stormed out of the room, she knew the chance would never happen. She started going after her, but Mandy stepped in.

            “Emily, just let her go. She needs to blow off some steam. Both of you said things that neither of you meant and I think she knows that, deep down. Give her a little while and she’ll come around.”

            “What if she doesn’t, Mom? You didn’t hear some of the things I said to her. I should’ve never brought up her father.”

            “Yes, you shouldn’t have. But it’s over now. When the two of you are ready, you can apologize then. Maybe this is what you two needed. You both have your feelings out on the table now. Just let her think about it. You need to also.”

            “I know you’re right. I hope she’ll be okay.”

            “She will be. She just needs some time right now.” Her mother was right. After this fight, they both needed some time to think about what they each said. Emily planned on waiting a few hours and then she’d search for her to apologize, if it wasn’t too late for it.

****

             Hours went by and Emily grew even more upset. “I have to go find her. I really messed up this time.”

            “All right. Just be careful. It’s getting late,” Mandy said. Tabetha offered to help but Emily turned her down.

            “This is something I have to do alone. But thank you, sis. Go hang out with Jim. I’ll be fine, I promise.” Emily grabbed her jacket and headed outside. The full moon was enough to shed some light as she searched the property for Erica. The family cemetery to the left of the castle seemed more eerie as the sounds echoed through the trees. An owl hooted as a few crickets chirped and then some other critter howled under the moon. Emily shivered from the cool night air as she searched behind the tomb stones. Nothing.

            Only the dead occupied the cemetery which was plenty enough for Emily to move to another place in search for her cousin. She looked high and low, not getting anywhere, so Emily gave up and returned inside. She looked in all the rooms where she knew Erica had been; the kitchen, family room, her bedroom and bathroom. There were still no signs of her and she couldn’t sense her either.

“Why won’t my powers work right now, Mom?”

“Emily, you really need to stop worrying about her. She’s a big girl. Erica can take care of herself. Maybe she’s staying with a friend.”

“So why is her car still parked out front?” Emily began to think that something had happened.

“Emily, don’t think that.”

“Mom, get out of my head, please. Maybe we should organize a search party. Where is everyone?”

“Emily, they have all gone to bed. It’s getting late. Maybe you should too. Hey, I bet she’ll turn up in the morning thinking she gave you a scare. That’s probably all it was, she’s just hiding somewhere laughing at you.”

“You think she would stoop to that level?” She looked at her mother as a tear formed.

“You’re right about Erica, Emily. She’s capable of anything, especially now.” Mandy walked up to Emily and put her arms around her. “Let’s go to bed and wait till morning. If she’s still not here, I’ll tell Tabetha and the others. We will help you find her then. Just try to get some sleep.”

****

Emily couldn’t sleep knowing that she had said something that really hurt Erica. She kept looking at the clock as she lay there. An hour would pass, then another hour. Emily unplugged her clock radio so she could get a little rest but it didn’t seem to work, she felt restless. She hoped Erica was safe.

            Early next morning, Emily ran down the stairs. “Did she come home?”

            “I haven’t seen her,” Tabetha said. “Did you get any sleep at all last night, Emily?”

            “Not a wink. I’m so worried about her. What if she’s hurt somewhere calling to us and we’re just sitting around here.”

            “I doubt that. Besides, didn’t you want her out of here?”

            “Not like this. I’m going back out there to look for her again.” She left the kitchen, hoping the new search would turn something up, even if it was just a clue. Emily approached the door as it opened. Erica walked through chomping on some gum. “Erica, I’m so happy to see you. Can we talk?”

            “Um, sure but don’t call me Erica. My name is Bionka.” She blew a large bubble and waited for it to pop.

            “Okay, this isn’t funny. Stop joking around. We really need to talk. I said some things yesterday, I didn’t mean.” Emily tried to be serious.

            “Wait a minute. We never talked yesterday. This is the first time I ever saw you, lady. I don’t have time for your games. I have things to do here.”

            “Okay, Bionka if that’s how you want to play it. Please just let me talk to you and then you can go on your merry way. All I’m asking for is five minutes of your precious time.”

            “I don’t have five minutes. I have an entire world to explore so if you don’t mind, I’d like to get started now. We can talk later.” Erica walked away without saying another word. Emily knew something was wrong when she didn’t argue like she always had. Acting like she didn’t know her was just the icing on the cake.

            “All right, go, but before you do, just answer one question for me.”

            “Fine, what is it?”

            “If you’re not Erica, then where is she?”

            “I don’t know. I don’t even know who she is. May I go now?”

The gum chewing was really getting on Emily’s nerves. There was no way this could be Erica. Something did happen to her and this woman who looked like Erica was the missing clue. Emily knew she had to find out one way or another.

She began to walk away from Emily but stopped half-step. “Oh, wait a minute. I know who you’re talking about.” She turned around and looked at Emily who was just standing there waiting for her answer. “This girl, you call her Erica. She’s in the wishing well where I left her.” Erica looked into the mirror hanging on the wall and fixed her hair. She blew another bubble and looked at Emily. Then she walked away leaving Emily stunned from the news.

            “Hey, what wishing well?” There was no reply. Erica was gone. The front door slammed shut and Emily ran after her. By the time she reached the door and opened it, her cousin was nowhere to be seen like she had vanished into thin air. Erica didn’t have any powers; she was mortal like her father. Emily began to worry even more. She didn’t know what to think or do.

            Emily ran to her mother. “What have I done?”

            “What are you talking about, Emily?”

            “Something has happened to Erica and it’s all my fault.”

            “I just saw her downstairs talking to you. What are you talking about?”

            “I don’t know who that was but it wasn’t Erica. The woman you saw me talking to was someone named Bionka. She told me Erica was in the wishing well. I don’t know where the well is or how I can find it.”

            “Emily, you need to get a hold of yourself. This is not your fault. You will find her and you will make things right again. You just have to believe,” Mandy said.

            “You’re right. I’ll start looking for her. It was dark last night; maybe I just missed her or something. Thanks, Mom.” Emily hugged her and ran out of the kitchen. She returned outside for another search. She made a complete trip around the castle which took all day, even with her powers. When she reached the backside of the castle, she found a well that wasn’t there before. “Please be the well she was talking about?” Emily ran up to it and peeked inside. “Erica?”

The well was made up of irregular shaped rocks that were round along the edges. It had nothing along the top so it appeared that it wasn’t made for drinking water. There was no other well so Emily hoped she was at the right place.

            “Emily? Emily, is that you?” A faint voice from inside the well called out to Emily and she was happy to hear Erica’s sweet voice. She leaned over the ledge and tried to see to the bottom but it was too far down for Emily to see anything.

            “Hang on, Erica; let me get a rope so you can climb up.”

            “I can’t, Emily.”

            “Are you hurt?”

            “No, I’m fine.”

            “So why can’t you climb up?” Emily asked, confused.

            “I know this sounds strange but I lost my body somehow. Someone by the name of Bionka took it. I’m trapped down here and I don’t know what to do. Can you get someone to help me?”

Emily couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Bionka had her cousin’s body and she let her just walk away from her. She stood there as she tried to come up with a plan.

“Emily, are you still there?”

            “Yeah, let me go get some help. Stay there, Erica.”

            “Don’t leave me.” Her voice was filled with panic.

            Emily wanted Erica to see the truth and be frightened by it but she didn’t want something like this to happen. If she couldn’t help her, she would never be able to forgive herself for it. “I’ll be right back. You’re okay, just wait there.” Emily transported back inside the castle. When she appeared in the foyer, she began calling out to everyone. Emily heard a familiar voice and ran to the family room where she found Bionka reading a book as if nothing had happened. “Who the hell are you?”

            “I told you already. My name is Bionka.”

            “Yes, I already know that. I mean what are you?” Emily was mad.

            “She made a wish and I granted it. She didn’t want to be here and I didn’t want to be there. It was a fair trade and I’m not giving her body back.” Bionka backed away as Emily approached her.

            “You need to come with me, Bionka. You have some explaining to do.” Emily grabbed Bionka by Erica’s arm and pulled her outside. They were transported to the well.

            As they stood by the well, Emily demanded to know who this being was who stole her cousin’s body. “So she wasn’t the one who was promised to us for our freedom?”

            “What are you talking about?” Emily asked.

            “A beautiful woman in a white gown told us a woman would come to us and make a wish. When this happens, we would grant this wish and in return, all of us would win our freedom.”

            “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Start from the beginning, please.” Emily sat down on the well’s ledge without letting go of her arm.

            “Our people are called the Voicemells and I’m the princess. Our well has been invisible for centuries. Every one hundred years, we have a special ability to grant one wish and in return for this wish, the granter receives his own wish fulfillment. The woman in the white gown came to us and said if we drop our protective shield and become visible, a great witch would come to us with her wish. In return our strongest wish would come true. I granted the woman’s wish.”

            “Okay, well you have to take back that wish now. Erica doesn’t belong in the well.”

            “But I can’t go back, lady,” Bionka said.

            “Why can’t you go back?”

            “If my father knew I left it would mean the beginning of a war. We are not to set foot on this land, anyone’s foot. It isn’t safe here.”

            “So why did you come here if so much was at stake?”

            “Because I’ve always wanted a body. We are only but a voice. Each of us. We cannot form bodies like you can. Please, don’t send me back there.” Bionka broke free of Emily’s grip and ran away.

Emily could hear Erica calling out to her so she let Bionka go. She ran up to the well and answered her. “I’m here, Erica. I’m coming down.” Emily flipped her legs over the ledge and let herself drop. The darkness consumed her as she searched for Erica. “Can you hear me”?”

            “Emily, I’m right here. How did this happen to me, Emily? Is help coming?”

            “Erica, this is too hard for me to explain. I need to find the king to make things right again. I’ll help you but you have to stay calm for me.”

            “You’re going to help me? How can you help me? Emily, what’s going on?”

            “Please, Erica. You need to stay calm for me. I have to find the king and get his help if I’m to help you get your body back.”

            “Who asks for the king?” A firm voice asked.

            “It is I, Emily Peterson, owner of the Peterson Estate. Are you the king?”

            “I am. Why do you come here and disturb my rest?”

            “I come here for your help, sir. It seems your daughter-”

            “Where is my daughter?” The king’s voice grew louder.

The ground shook, knocking Emily down. “She is safe, sir. It seems your daughter granted a wish and in return, her wish was granted as well. She traded places with my cousin. The princess was able to come up to the surface, taking my cousin’s body,” Emily told the voice.

“She did what?!”

“Please, sire, we don’t want a war with you, we are a peaceful people. All I want is my cousin’s body back where it belongs.”

“In order for that to happen, the wish must be unwished and then my daughter must be willing to grant it since she was the one who did so in the first place. Your world was not meant to have our people amongst it. Havoc will reign at no control of mine until she returns but I cannot force her to come.”

            “What doesn’t that mean? Please, help me. None of us want a war.”

            “It isn’t a war. Our spirits are too strong to inhabit such a place as your world. We absorb energy when we stay in the light too long. It is why we remain in this dark well.”

            “So how do I get her to come home? Please, help me.”

            “There is nothing I can do. My daughter is very stubborn.”

            “Sire, you have to try. Please, we don’t want this. Erica, say something.”

            “Yes, please. I want my body back. I want to unwish what I have spoken. Please, let me have my body back.”

            “Is this your final request?”

            Erica didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I want my body back, please. If you can do something to make that happen, please do it. I can’t stay here. I’m afraid.”

            “Then, I must try. I may be able to persuade my daughter to return home on her own free will but I will need your body.”

            “Done,” Emily said as she looked around the dark space. “How will this work?”

            “Simple. My mind will trade places with yours. You will remain here while I take your body to the surface and search for Bionka. I will speak with her.”

            “How will I know if you’re being honest with me about this?”

            “You will just have to take my word for it.”

            “I won’t do it then. I will find another way.” Emily began to climb out of the well.

            “Stop. If it makes you feel better, I will keep your mind intact. You won’t be able to speak but you will be there the whole time. You will be able to hear everything and see all as I speak with my daughter.”

            “That might work. All right, let’s do this.”

            “All right. Now what will you do in return for my help?”

            “What? Now you need something in return?” Emily asked.

            “Yes. Many days ago, a woman-”

            “I already heard this story. You were promised freedom. The woman in a white gown, yes your daughter told me about it. If what you’re saying is true, there’s no way that could’ve happened. It was all a trick to destroy us all.”

            “Then you must find another way. We only work in trade. Our wishes for yours. I’m sorry but my mind is tied.”

            “Wait, there may be another way. I may be able to come up with something that will give you the freedom you seek but without the destruction.”

            “Emily, you can’t do it. It might be a trap or something,” Erica suddenly said.

            “If it gets you home, Erica, I don’t care. This is something I have to do. I’m really sorry for the way I treated you. If we wouldn’t have argued, this wouldn’t have happened.”

            As Emily stood there, she felt something taking over her body. It made her tingle all over. At first, she felt nauseous, then terrified. Maybe Erica was right. After all, she knew nothing about these people. She should have never jumped in the way she did. All she could think about was bringing Erica back home, in one piece. She was willing to trade her life for her cousin’s.

            From the moment the tingling stopped, Emily began viewing the world as if she was sitting in the back seat, unable to control anything. It felt weird seeing the world through her own eyes but not being in control of it. It was like there was a tunnel and there was only one way through it.

            Emily climbed out of the well and returned to the castle. When she opened the door, she could hear people screaming and glass breaking. “Emily, where were you? Erica is tearing up the place,” Tabetha said as she ducked. A plate hit the wall behind her. Emily had no control over what the king did with her body. Emily’s head turned and she saw herself in the mirror’s reflection.

            “Pretty, child,” Emily heard the king say. The strong man’s voice coming from Emily’s body caused the room to be silent.

Tabetha just stood there. “Emily?”

            “No, it is not Emily. Bionka, come forward.”

            “Daddy?”

            “Yes, it is your father. Now come forward at once.”

            “She told you didn’t she? I told her not to tell. Why can’t I ever have any fun?” Bionka said as she stomped in the direction of Emily and her father.

            “This is not the way of our life. Why did you come here?”

            “The lady promised us freedom.”

            “What did I tell you about the wishes?”

“That we should listen carefully and only grant the heart felt wishes that are possible to come true?”

“And?”

“And we should never grant our own wishes if they mean harm to someone else,” Bionka said as her head turned down.

            “So why did you defy me?”

            “Please, don’t be mad at me, Daddy? I just wanted to see what it was like here. I wasn’t going to stay here, honest.”

            “Then you will come home with me?” Emily tried to look over at Tabetha but she was out of range. She hoped her sister was okay. She was sure hearing a man’s voice coming from her body was freaking her sister out. She wished she could get a word out in her own voice but the king was much too powerful. Emily hoped she’d made the right choice.

            “Yes, sir. I’m coming home. I can’t believe she told you.” Her voice was whiny.

            “She did the right thing, child. You’re lucky you weren’t here long enough to begin the damage. It would have been great if you would’ve been here longer.” Bionka and the king began to walk back to the wishing well. The king looked back at Tabetha. She was still kneeling down on the floor. “Emily is safe. She will be home in a short while.”

            “All right.” Tabetha smiled as she stood up. Emily was happy to see that. They returned to the well and climbed in. When they landed on solid ground, the king jumped out of Emily’s body. Emily was relieved to have control over herself again.

            “Your turn, Bionka.”

            “Do I have to, Daddy? I really liked having this body.”

            “Princess Bionka, this woman has unwished. By law, you must accept and grant her that wish.”

            “Yes, Father,” she said.

            “You know you’re lucky to be alive, child. We can’t afford foolish mistakes again,” the king said in a firmer voice.

            “Please, sir, don’t be so harsh on her. She didn’t know it would be so wrong to have a little adventure. We like adventure too.”

            “Emily, her adventure almost came with a price so she must learn to face the consequence of her actions. It is the only way she will learn,” the king said.

            “Yeah, almost is the key word here. Listen, I told you I would try to find a way to help you, didn’t I?” Emily began thinking of a way to help the people in the wishing well. She had to think fast and it had to be something that wouldn’t hurt either people, human and non-human.

            “Go on,” he said.

            “What if there was a way your people could come up to the surface without bringing havoc?”

            “I’m listening.”

            “I’m the great witch, the woman told you about. What if I was able to give you your wishes without making mine?”

            “You could do this?” he asked her.

            Erica didn’t say a word so Emily could imagine what was going on in her mind. “I can do anything, sire. All I have to do is focus on the power within me.”

            And then, Erica spoke. “Emily, what are you doing? Don’t help them after what they did to me.”

            “Erica, you heard me promise this man. I can’t go back on my word. I wasn’t created like that,” Emily told her.

            “Daddy, is that possible? Can we be part of that world without hurting it?”

            “Then we could be one of you?” the king asked.

            “Yes, but you would have to take on normal lives; and you’d have to obey man’s laws while you’re on the surface.”

            “How about if we just try it for a little while. Make no promises.”

            “That would be just fine.” Just then, Erica was back in her body again. Emily began the transformation. She had never used so much magic before but felt it was worth it to see so many people happy. Not everyone wanted to have the bodies but those who did were changed right before Erica’s eyes. Emily was happy to be able to show Erica the type of life she really had. She knew it bothered her a little but she also knew she would come to understand it eventually.

When everyone had a new body, Emily joined the others on the surface. Once she was on her solid ground, she scanned each new body to make sure the transformations were complete and were stable.

The king hugged Emily for the first time. “You gave my people hope. How could I repay you for this?”

“Just by being happy,” Emily told him.

The king led the small group down a path through the wooded area. They were never seen or heard from again.

“Emily, that was so beautiful,” Erica said as the tears fell.

“Thank you, Erica. I really am sorry for what I said to you about your father. I never meant to hurt you like I did. I was upset and you-”

“No, Emily, it’s I who should be apologizing. I’ve been a bitch since my father married your aunt. I was jealous of you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I saw something special in your relationship with Jane and it was the same relationship I had with my mother. When she died, I lost who I was. It really got to me when I saw me in you. Hey, let’s go back inside. I am so hungry, I can eat a house right now.”

“Yeah, just don’t eat mine.” They both began laughing. Emily teleported them to the kitchen and fixed something to eat for the two of them. They sat down at the table together.

“Hey, don’t worry about losing this castle. I think the proper owner already has it. As soon as I leave here, I’m going to call my attorney and tell him to drop everything.”

“Are you serious?”

“Who’s serious? What are you two talking about?” Tabetha asked when she entered the kitchen. “Hey you guys, they’re in here.” Everyone followed Tabetha into the room.

“We’re talking about the castle,” Emily said.

“Yeah, I decided to drop the lawsuit and let Emily keep her home. I think it’s the right thing to do. I really don’t think I can handle anymore surprises right now and I bet this place has a lot of them.”

“Yeah, I bet it does. So what happened out there? What made you change your mind, Erica?” Mandy asked.

“Let’s just say, I saw the light,” she said. Erica and Emily began laughing as they looked at each other.

*****