In Shadow - Ch 4 - Living Situation

"Hey... umm... Genie... I hate to ask but rent is due soon," Gabbie said. "You've got your half this time, right?"

Days had gone by without any more word for Miranda or Mariah. Genie had the strange feeling that life was moving on and standing still at the same time. 

"Yeah, we're good," Genie sighed. "I'm sorry about last month. Things just kinda got away from me. No more spending money on frivolous stuff... like food."

"You really don't want to ask your folks for a little money?" Gabbie asked, clearly more curious than anything.

"Very no," Genie said, shaking her head. Yes, her family had giant piles of money, inherited from her grandfather, Jacques Villareal. Their house was really more of a mansion, and they even had a live-in butler. Genie hated all of it. 

"Between my dad's politics and my mom's... everything... I don't want anything to do with them or their money," Genie continued. "Besides, I'm working now, so we should be OK."

"OK, great," Gabbie said.

"Speaking of work, I should get going," Genie said. "That background research isn't going to do itself."

"Another exciting day in the life of an intrepid reporter," Gabbie grinned.

"I'm sure it is... for the actual reporters," Genie laughed. "One of these days, I'll actually get to do a story instead of just research, but for now... well, rent's due. See you tonight."

------------------

"What are we watching?" Gabbie asked.

"City Council election debates," Genie said, a little surprised that she actually was watching. After a day spent doing research on the candidates, she'd honestly planned on coming home and zoning out to a cooking show. Instead, she felt drawn to watch the debate.

"Why?" Gabbie wondered. "Also, is that guy wearing a..."

"A llama suit?" Genie replied. "Yes. Yes, he is." 

"Again, I ask - why?" Gabbie huffed out a little laugh.

A quick knock at the door was immediately followed by Gabbie's boyfriend, Anthony. Genie was long used to the fact that wherever Gabbie was, Anthony was sure to turn up eventually. At least this time, he'd knocked before barging in. At least this time, Genie thought, she was dressed.

"Evening ladies," he said cheerfully.

"Hey," Gabbie replied with a dreamy smile.

"Hi, Anthony," Genie said. 

She still didn't really get why Anthony and Gabbie didn't live together. He spent most of his time at her apartment... but since, if he did, she'd be out on the street, she wasn't going to make an issue of it.

"You watching the Council debate?" Anthony asked, interested. He'd been a Political Science major when they'd all met in college and was now working for the local Representative to the Lower House. He'd even talked about running for office himself in a few years. 

"We are," Genie said. 

"Genie put it on," Gabbie said. Despite her boyfriend's political ambitions, Gabbie had never shown the slightest interest in the subject.

"So, Mr. Holloway, would you care to comment on Councilor Baxter's eccentric performance during tonight's debate?" Genie asked, in her best reporter voice. 

"Representative Ojo's office has no comment," Anthony replied in his own official-sounding tone, then he chuckled and added. "Off the record, the guy's gone bug-nuts crazy."

"Are you two going to talk shop or are we going to..." Gabbie leaned in and whispered something in Anthony's ear.

"And that's my cue to exit," Genie laughed, making quickly for the door. "Have fun you two. Try not to break the bed."

OK, so it wasn't an ideal living situation, Genie thought, but it could be worse. At least this time, she made it to the door before they started making out.

"Hey, Genie," the guy from the apartment across the hall greeted her as she passed the mailboxes.

"Good evening, Mr. Scott," Genie said brightly.

"Going out?" He asked.

"I thought I'd give the lovebirds some privacy," Genie said. 

"Well, you take care," Mr. Scott said seriously. "I saw Representative Friend on the news last night, talking about the crime problem... and you know this isn't the best neighborhood."

"I'll be careful, Mr. Scott," Genie assured him.

Mr. Scott meant well, she knew. She was a little disappointed to learn he was listening to the doom-and-gloom rhetoric Representative Friend and his Axis party was pushing. With her dad - the less-than-Honorable Representative Rohan Elderberry - now aligning himself with Friend's Axis party, she really wasn't a fan. Honestly, crime was actually down since the Landgraab Syndicate had been broken up and Nick Alto was in jail. She still couldn't quite believe that charming Mr. Alto had been a crime boss.

Of course, thinking about that brought her back to thinking about Miranda and Mariah, out there somewhere, on the run...

I have to do something, she thought, but Aadi was right when they said they have no idea what to do.

------------

Author's Note: The characters of Gabriella Moretti and Anthony Holloway were originally created by simmaddness in their Britechester Roommates household and were downloaded from the Gallery.

In Shadow - Ch 3 - Update

To: GenieBerry, FabulousAadi 

From: ProsperosDaughter

Subject: Update

Hey guys, 

We're OK. You know how those reporters exaggerate things. Except you, Genie. I know you're going to be a great reporter. Anyway, I'm going to be fine. It's just a bad situation with M's uncle and his Family. So, we're going to get some distance from them. We'll probably be out of touch for a little while but we're OK. Don't worry. Don't look for us.

M says hi.

All our love, M&M 

---------------------------

"What does it mean, Aadi?" Genie Elderberry cried into her phone.

It had been a week since the story of the attack on Miranda Goth hit the news. A week Genie had spent worrying about her friends and former college roommates, Miranda and Mariah. Aadi Bheeda, the fourth of the Darkwing House roommates, had been the only person she could really talk to, the only one who really understood. 

"I think it means they're OK," Aadi's voice replied soothingly. "That's the important part."

"'... a bad situation with M's uncle and his Family'," Genie read out. "You know what that means, right? Mariah's uncle? Uncle Nick!  As in Nick Alto and the Alto crime family!"

"To be fair, he isn't really her uncle," Aadi put in. "I think he's actually like some kind of a cousin."

"Aadi, they're on the run!" Genie burst out. "From gangsters!"

"Girlfriend, breathe," Aadi said. "They're OK. You've heard Miranda's stories. This isn't even the first time she's been on the run. And Mariah is one tough bee'yotch. They can take care of themselves. She just wanted us to know... so we didn't get into trouble looking for her." 

Like other people did last time, Aadi thought. She still blames herself for people getting killed looking for her after the Mill Lane thing. Which is Not something that's gonna make Genie feel better about this  sitch. 

"But they're in trouble," Genie said. "Shouldn't we do something?"

"Girl, I am a dazzling non-binary urbanite with flawless fashion sense," Aadi said with a grin, "but I am also currently up to my well-toned ass in chicken shit. Actual chicken shit. Country living is an ad-just-ment, let me tell you. My point, my little Blackberry, is that while I am many amazing things, I am not a superhero like our M&Ms."

"Come on... you're Secret Agent Double-O Aadi," Genie laughed, recalling an old joke and another time when the drama of their friend's lives had almost overwhelmed them all. 

"I do look fabulous in a tux," Aadi chuckled.

"Shouldn't we do... something?" Genie sighed, sobering. 

"Yeah," Aadi admitted. "I just don't know what. Yet. Until we do, we just need to do what we do."

"That sentence got away from you, didn't it?" Genie chuckled.

"You know what I mean," Aadi smiled. "When they need us, we'll be there... whether they like it or not... but rushing in blind is a Bad Idea. Right now, we just have to trust that they really are OK."

"OK, OK," Genie agreed. "I'll leave you to deal with that chicken shit situation."

"Thanks," Aadi groaned, rolling their eyes.

"You're not going to let this go, are you?" Aadi asked after a quiet moment.

"No, I'm not," Genie said. "But I promise I'll call you before I do anything really stupid."

"Good, because why should you have all the fun," Aadi chuckled.

"Now, go deal with your chickens," Genie said, "and say hi to Jordan for me."

 "Be safe, Genie," Aadi said.

"You too," Genie replied earnestly.

---------------------------

"They're OK!" Genie announced brightly, emerging from her closet-like bedroom.

"Who's OK?" Gabbie said with a puzzled blink. "Oh, Miranda and Mariah."

After college, Genie had been determined to make it on her own in the City, but making it on her own wasn't all that easy. Luckily, Gabbie Moretti, another fellow UBrite student, had been looking for someone to share rent.

"Yeah, I got an email from Miranda," Genie said. "She says they're OK and..."

"That's great," Gabbie said. "Hey, is it true what the news is saying? That Mariah's, like, a gangster? I always thought she was kinda sketchy back in college... and I heard Miranda's family is mixed up with organized crime too. I mean why else would these things keep happening to her?"

"What? No... I mean..." Genie said, flustered and a little angry. "Mariah's OK, really. She just got into trouble but she's really OK. Miranda too!"

"OK, OK, chill," Gabbie said soothingly. "I didn't mean anything by it. I was just asking. You're the one who hung around with them."

That was the heart of it, Genie thought. They're my best friends and they're in trouble.

In Shadow - Ch 2 - Predators

Outside, Del Sol Valley baked in the summer heat, but inside the Orchid lounge, the laboring air conditioning managed to keep the air comfortable.

Mr. Grey's eyes, cold and calculating, studied the evening's crowd - a mix of tourists and locals eagerly rubbing shoulders with a few minor celebrities and a handful of entertainment industry workers, probably keeping an eye on the talent. 

His practiced gaze spotted the Others. Like lions in high grass, a pair of vampires worked the crowd. Were they simply here hunting, he wondered, or was their presence a subtle message. Either way, Grey thought, it was a good reminder. No matter how high he had risen, how strong he had become, there were still more dangerous predators in the night. 

Carefully aware of those hunters, Mr. Grey turned his attention toward the task at hand. 

Marco Tennari had clearly blocked off an entire section of the lounge for his private use, no doubt reveling in his authority as the new head of the Alto crime family. The men who had been assigned to keep the crowds away nodded acknowledgement as Mr. Grey passed but made no move to block him. They knew better.

"Well, if it isn't the man himself," Marco said cheerfully. "Candi, this is Mr. Grey. Grey, this in Candi."

"Of course she is," Mr. Grey said, coldly considering the young woman.

"Candi's an actress," Marco continued. "We were just talking about a role for her."

"I'm sure," Mr. Grey replied with a brief, chilly smile that never touched his eyes.

"Join us," Marco said. "I'll have one of the boys bring you a chair."

"I need to speak with you," Grey said. "Privately."

"Always business, this guy," Marco said to Candi. "Give us a minute, honey." 

"Sure thing Mr. Tennari," Candi bubbled with false brightness that forced Mr. Grey to reconsider his assessment of her acting skills.

"Hate to see you go, but I love watching you leave," Marco chuckled.

"Oh you," Candi smiled back. 

Seeing the quickly and skillfully hidden disgust in her eyes, Grey raised his assessment of the young woman still further. Useful or dangerous, he thought. Something to be considered when he had the time. 

"Damn, do you see the tits and ass on that girl?" Marco grinned. "We can get her something over at Symphony... after I audition her a bit more."

"I'm sure," Mr. Grey replied.

"Grey, are you sure you're not dead?" Marco chuckled.

"Quite certain," Mr. Grey said coldly. In fact, he thought, glancing over at the vampires, he was entirely alive, human, and mortal. "I simply don't see the need to spend my energy in the pursuit of... actresses. As a married man, yourself, I would think you could find other avenues for your... energies." 

"There are things a man can do with a girl like Candi that he can't do with his wife," Marco said importantly. "Nick would have understood." 

"You should hope so, since it's his daughter you're cheating on," Mr. Grey mused. "Regardless, your interesting views of marital relations are not what I wanted to discuss."

"You sent Carla G to Tartosa," Mr. Grey continued. His completely neutral tone did nothing to make the words less of an accusation.

"We had a rat problem," Marco snarled, suddenly sobering. His immediate shift to focusing on business reminded Mr. Grey that there were good reasons Nick Alto had named the man his successor. "I sent Carla to deal with it."

"I warned Mr. Alto that involving Mariah in the business was a risk," Mr. Grey sighed almost imperceptibly.

"I remember," Marco nodded. "If he'd listened to you, he wouldn't be in prison now."

"Learn from his mistakes, Marco," Mr. Grey said.

"What's the problem?" Marco asked, his face flushing.

"Beyond the obvious, and well publicized, fact that she missed?" Mr. Grey's voice actually betrayed a hint of emotion. "The problem is that Miranda Silveroak-Goth was injured during the attempt."

"What the hell, man? You always act like this Miranda girl shouldn't be touched," Marco snapped. "Nick sent guys after her twice for Ms. H. Fuck, going after this Goth girl for H was a big reason Nick brought Mariah into the family." 

"Actions I advised against on both occasions," Mr. Grey replied.

"What is your hard-on with that girl?" Marco asked. "Is it that she's the kid of that big-time singer or... No, wait... Is it the girl? Did we finally find a bitch that makes some other part of you stiff?"

"No," Mr. Grey said, his usually bland voice dripping with contempt. "Miranda Silveroak-Goth is a key figure in the feud between the witches of the Silveroak family and the vampires of the Dark Court... to say nothing of her importance to the intrigues within the Dark Court itself."

"Fucking witches and vampires," Marco groaned.

"Precisely," Mr. Grey snarled. "I repeatedly advised Mr. Alto not to involve the Family with Lady Hel... or Ms. H as you call her... and her faction of vampire rebels. He felt that she could be a valuable ally, given the close ties between the Landgraab Syndicate and her rival master vampire, Count Straud." 

"Well, the Landgraabs are in jail. Nick's in jail. No one's seen this Count Straud for years. Even Ms. H disappeared," Marco said. 

"My sources say she, at least, has been destroyed," Mr. Grey said, regaining his usual expressionless calm. "Though whether it was her rivals within the Dark Court, or Miranda, or perhaps even Mariah, who did the deed remains unclear." 

"Regardless," Mr. Grey continued, "we had the opportunity to end the Family's participation in Silveroak-Vampire feud... until you sent Carla to Tartosa and she injured Miranda Silveroak-Goth. You have all but announced in the international press our continued involvement in this conflict, at a time when we have no remaining allies among the master vampires."

"Fuck," Marco groaned.

"Crudely but accurately put," Mr. Grey said.

"Alright, you're the Family's consigliere," Marco said. "You got any advice or are you just here to tell me Carla fucked up."

"We know someone who may be able to resolve this for us," Mr. Grey replied. "He has ties to the Dark Court and has worked for the Family before..."

"Yeah," Marco smiled. "Yeah. Call him."

In Shadow - Ch 1 - In the News

 "... and Commissioner Jameson renewed his commitment to maintaining a strong National Police force, while insisting that police statistics show that the crime rate is actually down," anchorwoman Lynda Cho said. "This in stark contrast to public concerns about rising crime."

"Crime is also a growing concern in idyllic Tartosa, where last night celebrity Miranda Goth, daughter of renowned singer and actress Cassie Goth, was rushed to Santa Maria Hospital following a violent assault," anchorman Walter Daniels said in his signature deep, confident voice. "While hospital staff refused to make an official statement, an anonymous source close to Miranda's medical team revealed that she is in critical condition, suffering severe blood loss after the attack.

"Tartosan police say the investigation is ongoing, and that they are seeking to question several persons of interest. However, they refuse to comment on a potential motive behind the attack."

"This is not the first time Miranda, and the Goth family, have been involved in violent incidents and speculation is rampant about a possible organized crime connection to last night's attack," Lynda picked up the story with a hint of excitement. "From the dramatic Mill Lane Incident five years ago - and the subsequent arrest of criminal matriarch Nancy Landgraab and her son Malcolm by Miranda's grandmother, Agency operative Bella Goth - to Miranda Goth's kidnapping by unknown gangsters a year later, the sinister shadow of the Syndicates looms heavily over the Goth family.

"Adding fuel to the fire is Miranda's marriage, mere days ago, to Mariah Huntley, the adopted daughter of actress and producer Londyn Huntley," Lynda continued brightly. "A troubled young woman, Mariah is known to have numerous brushes with the law and is even suspected of having close ties to the Alto crime family. Is Miranda Goth paying the price for marrying the Mob?"

"In a joint statement," Walter Daniels said in his measured tones, "the Goth and Huntley families have asked for privacy during this difficult time. Our hopes and prayers go out to Miranda Goth for her safe and speedy recovery."

"After the break," Daniels concluded, "we will be speaking with Representative Elias Friend, leader of the conservative Axis party, about his calls for a stronger national commitment to law and order. Stay tuned."

--------------------------

Author's Note: If I do this right, you shouldn't need to have read my earlier stories to understand and enjoy In Shadow. However, if you want to get a quick introduction to our main characters, I recommend my short story - A Tartosan Wedding. It's only six chapters long and should fill you in on the highlights. 

(Content Note: Chapters 5 and 6 of A Tartosan Wedding do include some mild nudity.)

Flowers Are Good - Floral Story Challenge (March 2025)

Author's Note: The Sims Creatives forum has started monthly story prompt challenges. This month the challenge is a story inspired by, or featuring, flowers. This is my story.

While this story does take place in the 'Wyrd'verse' it does not directly follow A Tartosan Wedding.

Flowers are Good - A Clay and Missy Adventure

"Missy, if you were out with another guy, just tell me," Clay said, struggling to sound calm.

It was his own fault really, Clay thought. After all, Missy was a beautiful, passionate young woman and he was just an ordinary middle-aged guy, working an ordinary office job. Honestly, he had no idea why she was with him, of all people. It didn't really surprise him that maybe she wanted a little excitement on the side. Still, she always came home to him. So, when she hadn't come home last night, it had hurt.

"I wasn't!" Missy insisted.

"I told you; I was coming home from the bar last night and suddenly there was this weird light," Missy said firmly. "They took me up in their spaceship and did all this... stuff!"

"Stuff? Really," Clay rolled his eyes.

"Not like that!" Missy cried. "They didn't... I mean, they did... but, like, in a doctor way not a sexy way." 

"Missy," Clay started.

"Clay, I'm not lying!" Missy insisted.

"Missy just tell me who you were with," Clay demanded.

"I wasn't with anyone!" Missy cried.

"Like you weren't with Austin from next door?" Clay snapped. "Like you weren't with that weirdo Beardy Bill?" 

"OK, yes! I did it with those guys and I lied to you about it," Missy cried, "but I stopped! I broke it off with Austin. You're the only guy for me now, Clay! And you don't believe me! You think I'm still lying!"

"Missy," Clay said, taking a deep breath. "Just..."

"No!" Missy shouted. "Forget it!"

OK... that went well, Clay thought after she'd stormed off.

--------------------------

Clay slept in the spare room that night. 

The next morning, he got up to an empty apartment. A hastily scrawled note on the fridge read: 

Well, crap, Clay thought. 

I need to think, Clay decided. He considered grabbing his fishing tackle and heading down to the river. Fishing always cleared his head. Then he imagined coming home and Missy being furious because after their big fight... and he wasn't kidding himself, this was a big fight... he'd just gone fishing like it was any other Saturday.

So, no fishing. Guess I'll just go for a walk.

Clay wasn't exactly a deep thinker. He considered himself a simple guy. He liked fishing, watching sports, having a good beer with friends, action movies. Above all, he liked Missy. He was, in fact, soppy, head-over-heels in love with her. 

So, idiot, he thought, how are you going to work this out?

Looking up, he realized that his feet had taken him to the neighborhood community garden. 

OK feet, he thought walking toward the greenhouse, I'm game.

"Hi, I'm Mandy. Can I help you with something?" The nice young woman asked.

"Well... uhhh... I guess," Clay said. "See, I had this big fight with my girl, and I was thinking maybe... flowers?"

"Thinking flowers is good," Mandy smiled. "Giving flowers is better. I could make you up a bouquet if you want." 

"That would be great," Clay smiled.

"So, you want to talk about it?" Mandy asked as she started to arrange flowers. "The big fight?"

"No... no... thanks anyway," Clay said. 

"OK," Mandy smiled.

"It's just she was out all night... and I'm sure she was with another guy," Clay explained.

"Oh," Mandy said.

"I mean, she's been with other guys before," Clay continued, "and I know I should be more upset about that... but I mean... she's younger than me and she's got all this energy and... well, she always comes back. I'm just a pathetic loser I guess."

"I don't think so," Mandy said as the bouquet took shape. "Sounds to me like you're a guy who understands her and trusts her. So, what happened? What makes this time different?" 

"I guess part of it is her not coming home that night," Clay said. "Then there's this crazy story she told... she says she was abducted by aliens. I mean, aliens? Really?"

"You don't think she was?" Mandy asked.

"Come on," Clay scoffed. "Everyone knows there's no such thing as aliens."

"So, you think she's lying to you," Mandy said. "Was she up front about the other guys?"

"Well, no," Clay admitted. "I mean, I found out about it, but she didn't, like, come home and say 'hey honey, I banged our neighbor in the shower this afternoon. How was your day?'"

"Hmmm," Mandy said.

"I guess it's just..." Clay floundered, at a loss to explain his feelings. "I don't know. Like the thing with Austin, the neighbor guy. She told me he'd come over to use the shower 'cause his was broken. She just, didn't mention that she got in the shower with him and they... you know. I mean, I figured it out."

"So, the other times she just left part of the story off and this time you think she's making something up," Mandy offered. "Maybe you think, because she's making up a story, this time is different. More serious somehow."

"Yeah," Clay nodded.

"What if she's not making up a story?" Mandy asked.

"There's no such thing as aliens," Clay insisted.

"OK, maybe not," Mandy said calmly, "but what if it's something else. I mean, it sounds like you trust her. Yeah, you know she doesn't always tell you the whole story, but you trust that she loves you and... like you said... she always comes back. So maybe something weird really happened... maybe not aliens but something else she can't explain any other way."

"... and she just wants me to trust her," Clay said. "Like I always do."

"Flowers are good," Mandy said, looking at the finished bouquet. "Trust is better."

"Thanks," Clay said. "So, what do I owe you... for the flowers?"

"On the house," Mandy said. "I'm new at this. I need the practice."

--------------------------

Walking back to the apartment, Missy wondered what she was going to do. Annie was right, she'd brought this on herself. She hadn't really taken her relationship with Clay seriously at first. He'd been so nice, and she liked hanging out with him, but she'd let herself get swept up with things. 

Like that thing with Bill. That was just... well, crazy... but there had been something so primal about him. It had just pulled her in and, if she was honest with herself, she'd wanted to know what that wild and primal fling would be like.

Austin had been charming, and cute, but it had never been anything serious. Honestly, it had been when he started talking seriously about 'them' as if it was more than just a fling that she'd realized that it was Clay, not Austin, she wanted to be serious about.

So, she'd decided to be serious. She wasn't fooling around with other guys anymore. Clay was her guy... and now he didn't trust her.

OK, so the aliens thing was a little unbelievable... but it was true, damn it. Why wouldn't he believe her? Had she ruined everything before it even started?

"Clay, I..." Missy started.

"Missy, I'm sorry," Clay said, holding out a big, wrapped box.

"No, I'm..." Missy tried to interrupt.

"Let me," Clay insisted. "Missy, I'm sorry. I should have believed you. I mean, I really don't believe in aliens... but I believe in you. So, if you say something weird happened, then something weird happened. Are you OK? I mean..."

"I'm OK," Missy said, her eyes welling up. "I'm fantastic."

"I love you," Missy sighed as they kissed. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

"I love you," Clay smiled.

"The flowers are good, too," Missy grinned.