In Moonlight - Ch 20 - More Information

"Genie, Mariah, get down here!" Jenny called.

Pounding down the narrow staircase, hot on Mariah's heels, Genie's imagination treated her to all kinds of terrible things. Gangsters. Vampires. Alien dark elf men in black kidnapping squads. She was completely unprepared to find an international superstar and a slightly mad witch. 

Blinking, Genie watched as Cassie Goth pulled her daughter, Miranda, into a fierce hug.

"Mom? You're here?" Miranda laughed.

"Hush, let me hug you," Cassie said.

"... so that's what where we are," Genie said.

They had moved to the couch and explained everything they knew about Shannon Charm's murder, the worsening conflict between the witches and vampires, the Crossing project and the possible involvement of the svartalves.

"We were hoping you could tell us more about the svartalves," Miranda said. "All I know about them is what you two told Mariah and me, about your encounters with them when you first met."

"We'll tell you what we know," Gwen said serenely.

"Though really, Bella knows more about them than we do," Cassie said. Bella Goth, Cassie's stepmother, was a retired secret agent who had become regrettably famous after taking down the Landgraab Syndicate several years ago. "Unfortunately, we probably can't ask her since she dropped off the grid years ago and... unlike some people... she knows how to stay hidden," Cassie continued with a teasing smirk. 

"Anything you can tell us would be helpful," Genie said. "According to Etta, the svartalves were magical craftsmen and friends of the original witches, but they disappeared during the Century War. Miranda says you told her that they are aliens..."

"Yes. That seems a good place to begin," Gwen said, her eyes taking on a distant look. "The svartalves came from another Realm, just as my people, the alfar, did. 

"Wait," Jenny said, her eyes wide as they moved quickly between Gwen, Cassie and Miranda. "Witches are aliens too?! You guys are aliens?"

"Cassie and Miranda both have more mortal blood than alfar," Gwen said with a smile. "Even I was born in this Realm, if only on the very edges of it. Only a handful remain, the oldest of the high alfar, who were born in the Otherworld... but, yes, our ancestors came from another Realm. One known by many names - Alfheim, Tir Na Nog, the Realm of Eternal Youth, the Realm of Magic."

"The svartalves," Cassie prompted, reminding her wife of the topic at hand.

"Ah yes, the svartalves," Gwen smiled. "My ancestors were explorers. They sailed the Sea of Stars in  silver ships, and crossed the Void between Realms. In another Realm, like but unlike their own - a Realm we call Myrkheim, Nidavellir, or the Realm of Night - they encountered another people, like and unlike themselves. The svartalves.

"As Etta told you, the svartalves were talented craftsmen, even in those ancient days. Much of what my people accomplish with our Will and Words of Power, they accomplish through Knowledge and Craft."

"In other words, science and technology," Cassie put in.

"Perhaps," Gwen said, "But svartalf  'science and technology' was much closer to magic than it was to your cars and computers. They also have another magic of their own. A magic of the mind that allows them to look into the hearts and memories of others, and to influence them.

"So, when our peoples first met, the svartalves looked into the hearts of alfar and recognized fellow seekers of knowledge. 

"Together, alfar and svartalf learned much from each other, sharing secrets to deepen their understanding of the Universe. Some of them joined my ancestors on their silver ships, and set out to explore the other Realms.

"Eventually in their travels, they found a Realm that was fair and green - this Realm, that we call Midgard. Some of them - alfar and svartalf alike - weary of travel, chose to make a home for themselves here."

"I wonder what the locals thought of that," Mariah muttered.

"Some of the mortal people of Midgard, your ancestors, welcomed them," Gwen said. "They saw my ancestors as gods and heroes. Still, not all mortals did. I will not pretend the alfar and our allies did not take by force what was not given in friendship. Nor will I excuse their actions. 

"By means good and ill, the alfar and svartalves built their castles and cavern-holds. In time, their domains grew into kingdoms."

"As their strength grew, the most powerful of the alfar and the most skilled of the svartalf came together for a great project. Combining alfar magic and svartalf craft, they constructed the Gates - portals connecting Midgard to the other Realms. With these Gates, one could travel between the Realms as easily as crossing a threshold.

"One Gate, connecting Midgard to Alfheim, was raised in the kingdom of the alfar - where the town of Glimmerbrook now stands. Another, connecting to Myrkheim, was built in the hidden cavern-holds of the svartalves.

"Reunited with their home Realms, the kingdoms flourished and eventually joined to form the First Empire."

"Arrogance has ever been the greatest weakness of my people," Gwen sighed. "Even as the First Empire grew, it became decadent and corrupt. In their pride, a cabal of alchemists made homunculi - duplicates of themselves, created by alchemy and nourished by blood - to be their immortal, tireless servants."

"They tried to make perfect slaves," Miranda said coldly. "Instead, they created the first vampires."

"They did," Gwen agreed. "The draugr, the first vampires, turned on their creators. They fed upon the blood that had created them and, in doing so, absorbed the magic within that blood, growing stronger themselves.

"Under the rule of the first of their kind - a draugr known as the Pale King - the vampires attempted to destroy all those with alfar blood, and all of their allies. Mortal history remembers this as the Century War and the Fall of the First Empire."

"The svartalves, dear," Cassie prompted again.

"I'm providing some needed context," Gwen said serenely before continuing. "As I was about to say... the svartalves found themselves caught in a war not of their making. The vampires' hatred for the alfar was foremost in their cold hearts, but the part the svartalves played in the First Empire was not forgotten or forgiven. 

"Above all things the svartalves valued peace, order and stability. They wanted no part of this war. The vampires, however, were unwilling to make peace with them. Their war host marched on the svartalves' cavern-holds, intent on wiping out the alfar's allies. 

"The svartalves' leadership made their choice. While a handful of those brave, foolish, or still loyal to their friends in Midgard, remained behind to hold off the vampire host, the rest of svartalves retreated through their Gate... and destroyed it."

"They would not be seen again in Midgard for more than a thousand years."

"A thousand years is a long time," Cassie said, taking up the story. "The svartalves, the aliens, live longer than humans, but they aren't immortal, and Myrkheim isn't timeless in the way Alfheim is. When they returned to our world, they had changed.

"For one thing, they had developed their own ships for traveling the stars and crossing the Void between Realms. What Gwen calls their Craft, they had turned into what we would consider some very advanced technology."

"The difference between svartalf technology and alfar magic remains, in many ways, a matter of approach and perspective," Gwen commented.

"The aliens' perspective on a lot of things had changed," Cassie said grimly. "When they arrived in the late 1940s, just after the Second Great War, they didn't try to contact the Witches' Council. They made contact with humans."

"Wait, so those stories about aliens crash landing in the Great Western Desert and the government covering it up.... that's true?!" Jenny gasped.

"Pretty much. They came in peace," Cassie continued with a slight chuckle. "Like Gwen said, the aliens value peace, order and stability above all. They offered to share their science and technology with humans, and to help us achieve our own peace, order and stability. You can imagine how that might be appealing, after the Second Great War.

"The aliens learned how to disguise themselves, to appear human and work within human institutions. Bella said she thought they were actually involved in the formation of the Strategic Intelligence and Multinational Security Agency. They were certainly deeply embedded in the Agency when we encountered them, twenty five years ago. They even had their own division within the Agency - Section 6, a covert group dedicated to 'monitoring and containing extraordinary threats to peace and order.'"

"That sounds kind of ominous," Genie mused.

"Well, it seems that they had come to believe that witches - or to use their term, 'psychokinetic actives' - were potentially serious threats to their idea of peace and order," Cassie said. "Section 6 was tasked with keeping these 'threats' under control. They don't much like vampires or werewolves - they call them 'infected' and 'aberrations' - either, but Section 6 was particularly interested in witches.

"You see the leader of Section 6 - a scientist called Dr. Key - had a secret agenda. By capturing and studying witches, Dr. Key was attempting to understand our powers and to recreate the legendary devices that combined alfar magic and svartalf craft... including the Gates.

"There was a faction among the aliens - including Dr. Key and Section 6 - who planned to bring 'peace and order' to this world... by conquering it," Cassie said. "The first step in that plan was to recreate the Gate and bring through an army of so-called Protectors - their warrior caste. We're guessing that their accounts of the First Empire and the Century War have led them to believe that witches are erratic, corrupt and dangerous and that humans are weak and need to be controlled.

"Twenty-five years ago, thinking he was close to a breakthrough, Dr. Key sent his chief enforcer - a Protector called Agent Hand - to abduct Gwen," Cassie continued. "That's how we became involved in all of this. Dr. Key believed that, because Gwen has a connection to the Glimmerbrook Gate, he could use her to finally create his own Gate."

"He failed," Gwen said with a pleased smile. 

"Well fortunately, and this is important, not all of the aliens agreed with Section 6. With the help of those friendly aliens..."

"... and a little help from us," Gwen pointed out.

"... and a little help from us," Cassie agreed with a smile, "Bella was able to put a stop to the invasion plan. In the end, she got the Agency to shut down Section 6. Dr. Key and his faction fell out of favor with the other aliens, and we haven't had any trouble with them since... until now, it seems."

"Your family is so weird," Jenny said, looking at Miranda.

"You don't have to tell me," Miranda chuckled. "So, I guess the question is, are we dealing with Section 6 again... or at least the faction that was behind Section 6?"

"You said the aliens lived longer than we do... humans, I mean," Mariah said, obviously recognizing that 'human' only described half the people in the room. "Could the Mr. Hand we saw at Evergreen Development really be the same as the Agent Hand who worked for Dr. Key twenty-five years ago?"

"It seems likely," Gwen said, considering. 

"But why would aliens, even alien dark elves planning world domination, be interested in a shady land deal?" Jenny asked.

"Etta said it... the Moonwood," Miranda replied. "It's a nexus of natural magical power... like a hot spring would be for geo-thermal power... almost as strong as the nexus at Glimmerbrook. If they're still trying to combine our magic and their technology, it's a perfect location for their research. They might even be trying again to create their own Gate."

That all sounded very important, Genie thought, but her mind was stuck on a thought that had been circling in her mind since something Cassie had said.

"You said the aliens value peace and order, stability and tradition," Genie said.

"That sounds familiar, when you say it like that," Jenny said.

"It should," Genie breathed. "It's the Axis party agenda."

"Wait, are you seriously suggesting the aliens are behind the Axis party?" Mariah scoffed. "That's crazy... isn't it?"

"Actually, it's a possibility," Cassie said. "Just like they infiltrated the Agency decades ago, it's not that much of stretch to imagine they would infiltrate other organizations, even the Lower House. With their powers to read and influence minds, it wouldn't be that difficult for them."

"Are we seriously talking about mind-controlling aliens in government?" Jenny asked, looking around the room.

"Why not? We've already know there are witches and vampires in the Upper House," Miranda shrugged.

"OK well, the crazy history lessons and alien conspiracy theories are... crazy and all, but if we're going to stop Baron Charm from making the whole shadow war worse, put a stop to the Crossing project and bring Shannon's killers to justice, we still need proof," Genie pointed out.

"I bet my mom knows something," Genie continued. "Jenny and I have seen her meeting with Mr. Hand. We know she's dealt with Mr. Grey and laundered money for the Alto family. Throw in the fact that my dad is a member of the Axis party, and she knows... and fundraises... for them," she sighed. "I know she's started to keep files of all her shady deals, like my grand-père Jacques did. If I can get into her files, I can find the evidence we need. I'm sure of it."

"This sounds familiar," Mariah smiled, remembering another time they had attempted to get secret files from Genie's family. "When do we leave?"

"We don't," Genie said firmly, looking at Miranda and Mariah. "You guys stay here. Update Etta and Demarco and see if you can find any more evidence from Evergreen Development or that Cletus guy."

"Meanwhile, Gwen and I can try to keep a lid on things with the shadow war," Cassie said, though she sounded doubtful. "I have a few contacts who might be able to help, and Gwen can talk to the other members of the Council." 

"At the very least, I can try to keep Darrel Charm from doing anything foolish," Gwen said. "I've known him since we were children. He'll listen to me."

"Sounds like we have a plan," Jenny said brightly.

In Moonlight - Ch 19 - Sorting Through Things

"We should get going," Demarco said. "It's a full moon tonight, and if we're going to make it up the mountain, we need to go while I can still focus well enough to drive."

It was early evening. Sorting through Clay's files hadn't produced any more clues, and their attempts to make any more sense of things had started going in circles.  Finally, Miranda had called a halt to things, and Demarco, with a startled glance at her watch, had announced that she and Etta needed to return to Moonwood Mill.

"I can drive," Etta suggested.

"No, you can't," Demarco said firmly. Turning to Genie she added, "The last time I let her drive, she dented two cars and cracked my taillight backing into a tree."

"I didn't know it was in reverse," Etta groaned.

"You see my point," Demarco laughed.

"We'll let you know if mom and Gwen get back to us and are able to tell us anything," Miranda said. After some discussion, they had decided to have Jenny call and leave a message with Cassie's answering service. Everyone had agreed that it was still best that Miranda didn't try calling her mother directly.

"We'll fill Rory and Jake in on what we've found out so far," Demarco said, nodding. "They might have some suggestions."

"We should be back late tomorrow," Etta said. Glancing at Demarco, she added, "She usually sleeps 'til at least noon after running around all night."

"Oh, and you're telling me you've never slept in after you danced naked around a bonfire under the full moon," Demarco joked. 

"I have never danced naked around a bonfire under the full moon," Etta replied primly.

"Be safe," Genie said earnestly.

"We will," Etta nodded as she and Demarco headed out the door.

The house fell strangely quiet as the door closed behind them. 

Watching them leave, Mariah found herself unsure how she felt. After two days staking out Cletus's house, and then fighting side by side with her, she and Demarco had settled into a comfortable... maybe not friendship, but definitely comradeship. Her feelings about Etta were another matter.

"How 'bout I make some dinner," Jenny Poole announced from the kitchen. "Do you guys have any good melt-y cheese?"

"In the 'fridge," Miranda replied distractedly.

"I'm going to go upstairs and see if I can find anything more in Clay's files," Genie said.

Still, for a moment, none of them moved, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Right," Genie said at last. "Sorting through files."

She disappeared up the stairs. From the kitchen, the sounds of Jenny opening cabinets and rattling pans suggested that the actress was, in fact, attempting to make dinner. Who knew she could cook, Mariah thought.

"You OK?" Miranda asked gently.

"Macché. Not at all," Mariah sighed. "Grey is here... in Evergreen Harbor. I was in the same room with him. It was only luck that my head was down, in Clay's cubicle, and he didn't see me. That was... too close."

"Even if he wasn't, it's only a matter of time before the Dark Court learns I visited Stoneridge House," Miranda sighed. "Assuming they don't know already. I guess we kind of broke cover."

"Snow's going to have a fit," Mariah said, referring to the Agency handler who had set up their false identities and overseen their relocation to Evergreen Harbor. "I guess we'll have to move, when all this is over. Assuming she doesn't just throw us to the wolves."

"Well, fortunately, we're on good terms with the local wolves," Miranda grinned.

"Yeah, that makes me feel so much better," Mariah groaned. With a sad sigh, she added, "I liked being Mary."

"I'll tell you a secret," Miranda smiled. "You were always Mary. You just had to give yourself permission."

"Which one of us is the psych major again?" Mariah chuckled.

"I pay attention," Miranda smiled.

"You're going to forgive her, aren't you?" Mariah asked, finally giving voice to the thought that had been bothering her for days. "Claudette... Etta... you're going to forgive her."

"I'm getting there," Miranda admitted. "I never could hate her for it. Even during the worst parts of it, I never could."

"I see," Mariah said sadly. Was this what it feels like, to have everything slip away, she thought.

"I think... I think all this that we're caught up in... this shadow war between the Old Families and the vampires. It's all old grudges. Vendettas and blood feuds that have gone on for so long that even the immortals don't really remember the beginning of it," Miranda mused. "I think... if someone just reached out with an open hand instead of a closed fist. Open eye and open hand and open heart." 

Mariah sighed. She heard the echo,  the same words Miranda had used in her wedding vows. She'd told her that it was part of the ancient oaths of the alfar. Words that were part promise and part spell. 

"So you want to be open... with Etta," Mariah said, her voice thick.

"Well, I... Oh! Oh, you..." Miranda groaned. "I said I wanted to forgive her, not sleep with her!"

"I... I didn't think..." Mariah stammered. Yes, I did, she admitted to herself silently. 

"If you can't tell the difference, I think you've been spending too much time with Missy. Maybe I should be worried about what you two have been getting up to," Miranda teased.

"I... what... no," Mariah laughed. Maybe they would be alright after all. 

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

It was all going to be alright, Missy told herself. It was. It was. It was. Because if it wasn't, she knew she was just going to curl up into a little ball and cry and cry until there was nothing left of her.

Clay was resting. He just needed to rest. That wasn't so strange. He was always slouching around on the couch anyway. Sure, he'd get up before her for work... or to go fishing. Clay loved fishing. Missy didn't really understand why. He'd taken her once. They'd gotten up before dawn and spent the whole morning standing next to a river, trying to catch fish which really just meant holding a stick and waiting for the fish to bite a shiny thing on the end of a piece of string. She didn't get it but Clay loved it. When he was better, they'd go fishing and she'd stand by the river, hold a stick and be happy.

The nice nurse had said there was someone here to see her and that Missy should go see who it was. So, she had. She was surprised to see it was Bess.

"Missy, I'm so sorry," Bess said, in that smart, polished way she had, like a TV presenter. "If there is anything I can do, please let me know."

"Thank you," Missy said mechanically, because she was supposed to say thank you and please and no to drugs and... She just wanted to cry. "I'll... I'll tell Clay you stopped by. I'm sure he'll say thank you too. He's resting now. The doctor says he needs his rest, but he'll be OK. I know he'll be OK real soon."

"Of course, he will," Bess said, all sympathy and shiny white teeth. "Missy, I want you to know... if the hospital needs anything... like billing stuff, you give them my number. I will take care of everything for you. Ok, honey?"

"Sure, I'll do that," Missy said, thinking about the nice man who had asked her questions about money that she didn't understand.

"Missy, can I ask you to do something for me?" Bess asked gently. 

"Sure," Missy said with a sniffle. "What do you need?"

She wondered why Bess looked sad when she said that. Missy liked helping and doing things for people. She liked seeing people smile. Why would Bess be sad that she was willing to help?

"Knox and Clay have a friend, Lux Demarco," Bess said slowly. "Do you know how to get in touch with her... and her friends?"

"Yes," Missy nodded. "I do."

Bess took a really deep breath, like she was about to do something she didn't think she ought to. "Could you give them a message for me?"

I'm a monster, Bess thought. 

Still, she couldn't think of any better way to get in touch with Lux Demarco and her mysterious friends. At least, not without going up on the mountain and trying to talk to Jake and Rory herself. She'd almost rather face off against Cletus or Mallory. Well, Cletus. The very idea of facing off against Mallory made her stomach heave. 

Missy would pass on her message. Demarco would get in touch with her. She could still find a way out of this mess.

Look confident, Bess told herself. Never let them see you sweat.

"Are you alright, Missy Jade," Nurse Garden asked in her calm, even voice, sitting down next to Missy.

"No," Missy admitted. "I should get back to Clay."

"The doctor is with him now," Nurse Garden said. "Mr. French's condition has improved considerably in the past few hours. The doctor is pleased. He believes, if Mr. French continues to improve in this manner, that he will fully recover in time. You should feel encouraged."

"Thank you," Missy said. "You're so nice to me."

"I desire for you to feel a sense of peace in these emotionally difficult circumstances, Missy Jade," Nurse Garden said. "Everyone should enjoy peace and stability. May I ask, what did Ms. Sterling want?"

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

"Genie, are you OK?" Mariah asked. 

"Yeah, I'm just trying to make sense of this," Genie said.

"Si, only, you've been staring at that same file for about10 minutes," Mariah pointed out. "And it's an email about break-room policy."

"I just don't understand what she wants," Genie sighed.

"Well, according that email, Bess wants people to not leave their lunches in the break-room fridge for more than three days," Mariah pointed out.

"I... Who? What?" Genie blinked.

"Ok, off the computer. Come over here and talk to me," Mariah said firmly, guiding her friend over to the bed. Settling in beside her, Mariah just waited quietly. 

Finally, Genie cried, "My mom is a gangster. In fact my whole family, except my sisters and maybe Uncle Hugo, are totally crooked. Someone named Villareal murdered Baron Charm's father. Jenny thinks it was Uncle Max but Miranda isn't so sure because it was more than twenty years ago and Uncle Max would have only been like eighteen or nineteen years old. So, maybe it wasn't him. Maybe it was grand-père Jacques. Is that better? That my grand-père might be a murderer?"

Since Mariah was fairly certain that Jacques Villareal was guilty of murder and probably worse things as well, she remained silent.

"I know that I've known all this for more than a year. You told me. You all told me, and I thought I'd dealt with it, but I haven't," Genie continued, everything spilling out in a rush. "The whole business with the Altos and the ledger and Uncle Max... he shot me. He actually shot me! And then, seeing Mr. Grey again and remembering everything that happened. Remembering that mom was meeting with them... and now she's involved in this whole thing and with the shadow war and... I haven't dealt with it, Mariah. I just haven't. You dealt with it. When you found out your father was a gangster, you dealt with it."

"Genie, I joined a major crime family," Mariah scoffed. "I committed crimes. Extortion. Theft. Proco cane, I hijacked trucks! I used drugs. I ran around with a vampire and put everyone I care about in danger, you included. Maybe don't use me a role model."

"But you testified against the Altos," Genie insisted. "You sent Nick Alto to prison."

"And you took down the rest of the family," Mariah pointed out. "Mr. Grey is the only one left... and since he's part of this Crossing thing, and we're taking that down, he's next. Do you remember what I told you, back in college, when you found out about all this?"

"That our families don't define us," Genie said. "We do."

"Damn right," Mariah nodded. Her face heated as she remembered what else had happened during that conversation. Trying to sound casual, she added, "You're not going to kiss me again, are you?"

"I'm tempted, but no," Genie sighed. "I guess we need to get some more information."

"Maybe Gwen and Mrs. G will know something that can help," Mariah said. "If we can get in touch with them."

In Moonlight - Ch 18 - Meetings

"So, what's a bart elf?" Jenny asked, puzzled.

Gathered back at the house, Genie had explained to the others what had happened at Evergreen Development. Mariah was focused on sorting through the masses of emails and files she'd managed to copy off of Clay's terminal before the arrival of the sinister Mr. Grey and Mr. Hand.

"Svartalf," Etta corrected with a grin. "Dark elf would probably be the closest translation. From what I know, they were ancient allies of the alfar... the original witches. They were skilled magical craftsmen, but most of them disappeared during the Century War. The few who were left are supposed to have died out during the Dark Ages. I don't know what they have to do with the aliens. They didn't even appear until the around the 1950s."

"The way Gwen talked about them, the svartalves and the aliens are the same people," Miranda said. "Mom and Gwen were telling us a story about how they first met..."

"... and that involved alien dark elves?" Genie asked. "Because of course it did." 

"Of course it did," Miranda echoed with a smile. "The svartalves... or aliens, but Gwen mostly called them svartalves... had infiltrated the Agency and were snatching witches. It was all part of some sinister scheme... invasion, world domination, that sort of thing. They snatched Gwen, but mom managed to rescue her, with help from her stepmom, Bella, and a friendly svartalf called Felix. They exposed the whole invasion plan, and Bella and Felix managed to put a stop to it. Gwen said the aliens hadn't caused any problems since." 

"Your family is weird," Demarco said.

"Her family is so very weird," Mariah muttered. "Anyway, in their story one of the svartalves, or aliens or whatever... the one who snatched Gwen... was called Agent Hand. Agent Hand. Mr. Hand. The way she described him even matches. A thin, completely hairless man in a dark suit, hat and shades."

"He does have a serious Man in Black vibe, and not in the fun Will Smith movie way," Genie said.

"I liked that movie," Etta said.

"They're talking remake," Jenny said brightly.

"Of course they are," Etta groaned. "It's like the Del Sol studios have completely given up on original ideas."

"We can bemoan the sorry state of the film industry later," Genie said with a deep breath. Turning to Mariah, she added, "Is there anything in Clay's files?"

"Well, I'm not fluent in Corporate Doublespeak," Mariah said. "A lot of this is meeting reminders, meeting scheduling, meeting agendas... Madonna, this one is an agenda for a meeting to discuss scheduling more meetings. Do these business people do anything but have meetings?"

"From what I know about my mom, no, not really," Genie said. "Is there anything useful in Clay's files?"

"Well, if they had a meeting to plan Shannon's murder, they didn't invite Clay," Mariah replied sardonically. "Nothing about an invasion by alien dark elf men in black either. What I can figure out from the stuff that isn't meetings about other meetings, mostly confirms what I was able to piece together from what Missy said. 

"Crossing is a planned community, to be built on land they're buying up on the mountain. Lots of housing, a shopping center, a school. The whole thing appears to be centered around some kind of research facility. I can tell you they've got some kind of schedule. There's lots of stuff about project phases. Phase 1, phase 2...  like that. It looks like they're hoping to finish Phase 1 soon, but it's not very clear from this what Phase 1 actually is."

"Research facility sounds alien-y," Etta suggested.

"That's not a word," Demarco muttered. Etta just tossed a small grin her way.

"Could they be researching the Moonwood?" Jenny wondered. "I mean, you said it was a magical place of power. Can these aliens, or bart-elves or whatever, use magic?"

"Svartalves were magical craftsmen," Etta said, putting a slight emphasis on the name. "They made devices that used magic. If the aliens really are related somehow..." 

"Mom and Gwen probably know more about them," Miranda mused.

"... and my mom's mixed up in this, because of course she is," Genie groaned.

"Do you really think she knows what she's into?" Demarco asked. 

"Mrs. Elderberry worked closely with the Altos' inner circle," Mariah said. "I've actually personally seen her meeting with a vampire. So, I'm sure she knows about the Dark Court."

"... and she knows about witches, because she and Gwen used to date," Miranda said. To startled looks from Demarco and Jenny, she added, "Gwen and Mrs. Elderberry dated at university... before she was Mrs. Elderberry, I mean. Mom and Mr. Elderberry were a couple too. Actually, the way Gwen explains it, they were kind of all a couple. Or thruple? Polycule? It's a Gwen thing."

"Wow," Jenny chuckled. "I mean, I knew your moms were... open-minded... but wow."

"Culturally, the alfar... witches... aren't really monogamous," Etta muttered, earning a strange look from Demarco.

"If we can move on from our parents' embarrassing sex lives," Genie said with a sigh. "We've got a lot of pieces of this puzzle... Shannon's murder, the assault on Clay and Knox, this Crossing project, Mr. Grey and the gangsters, Mr. Hand and the svartalves, and however my mom is mixed up with all this..."

"... and if we're going to stop Baron Charm from starting, or escalating, a war, we need to not only figure out how they all fit together, we need proof," Mariah said. "We need to find out more."

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

If they look too closely I'm completely screwed, Bess Stirling thought.

Brooding over her beer, she considered the crossroads she found herself at. It wasn't supposed to be like this. The Crossing project was supposed to be the One. The major deal that set her up for life. Now, Bess found herself looking down two paths. At the end of one was everything she'd ever wanted - success, money, maybe a beach house in Sulani. At the end of the other - a cell in Irongate prison.

No, she thought. That just wouldn't do. There had to be a way to make this work. She was smarter than those people. 

Her desperate thoughts went back to today's meeting. There had to be a way.

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

"Cletus, you asked for this meeting," Bess said. "Say what you want to say."

"I wants in on the plan," Cletus huffed, looking at Mr. Hand. "Your man Grey here done chewed my ass off 'cause I went up to the Mill and put a little pressure on Lumber Jackson. He says I messed up some big plan you got for dealin' wit that bitch Rory and her Wildfangs... but ain't nobody told me 'bout no plan."

"Dealing with the aberrations directly was not supposed to occur until late in phase 2," Mr. Hand said in his emotionless voice. "Our projections show that your organization's actions have created an increased risk of confrontation. Those same projections clearly show that we do not have the necessary infrastructure or trained personnel in place to ensure success should such a confrontation occur."

"Aberrations?" Bess said softly, her curiosity and confusion getting the better of her. She knew Rory Oaklow was a strange, tough woman, and rumor had it a nudist, but she'd never heard her called an aberration.

"The theriomorphic aberrations," Mr. Hand clarified unhelpfully.

"Rory Oaklow and the Wildfangs. The Volkov and Moonrunner families. A few others," Mr. Grey said, almost dismissively. 

"Their numbers and strength are sufficient to pose an unacceptable risk to the overall success of the project," Mr. Hand said. "As well as a substantial physical threat to construction and supervisory personnel in the early phases. That is why the project plan included steps to deal with them. In phase 2."

"Well, someone didn't think ta give me the damn project plan, did they?" Cletus snapped.

"You were given specific instructions to follow, Mr. Harris," Mr. Grey said coldly.

"I ain't your damn errand boy, Grey," Cletus said. 

"On the contrary, Mr. Harris, that is precisely what you are," Mr. Grey snapped, anger showing through his usual cold disdain.

"Gentlemen, please," Bess said in her best calming voice. "We all have the same goal here, and squabbling doesn't get us closer to it. Remember - 'Fix the problem, not the blame.' So, what is the problem and how do we fix it?"

"Recent events suggest that the Wildfangs are already actively investigating," Mr. Grey said more calmly. 

"Clarify," Mr. Hand commanded. 

"Ms. Sterling here informed me yesterday that Clay French, a clerk in this office, was asking inappropriate questions. Mr. French is a known associate of both Lux Demarco, a Wildfang, and Knox Greenburg, a local environmental activist," Mr. Grey explained. "I dispatched Mr. Harris and his associates to deal with him. Unfortunately, he was unable to finish the job."

"Ol' Clay ain't gonna be asking any questions anytime soon. Neither is Knox," Cletus snorted. "But, yeah, we wasn't able to finish 'em. Demarco and some other bitch jumped us." 

"This 'other bitch' - I presume to be a young blonde woman with glasses and impressive martial arts skills," Mr. Grey said knowingly.

"Nah, she was a brunette," Cletus said, prompting a look of sudden shock from the usually composed Mr. Grey. "Built but yeah, I ain't shamed to say, she could seriously kick ass. Talked funny though. Like a fur'in'er."

"A foreign accent?" Mr. Grey said softly, his cold eyes practically sparkling with sudden interest. "Could you tell from where?"

"From Not-here," Cletus scoffed. "What do I know 'bout fur'in'ers?"

"Hold on, what do you mean, Clay won't be asking questions but you didn't finish the job?" Bess said, feeling suddenly cold.

"What do you think I mean?" Cletus said. "He's in the hospital but he's still breathin'. We weren't able to finish him, or Knox... little bonus there, hittin' him at the same time... off before Demarco and the fur'in bitch jumped us."

"You mean you tried to k....?" Bess couldn't finish the word.

"Mr. Harris attempted to remove a threat to the project," Mr. Grey said evenly. "On your recommendation, I would point out. Just like Mallory here removed Ms. Charm, also on your recommendation."

"Charm... Shannon Charm... she was k... killed in a... a mugging," Bess stammered, horrified as she heard the lie on her lips. It hadn't really upset her at the time. She'd even had the brief, uncharitable thought that Shannon's death had been a stroke of good luck for the project. She hadn't actually thought... She hadn't wanted to look at it too closely. 

"Really, Ms. Sterling?" Mr. Grey smiled, a cold reptilian smile that never touched his hard eyes. "You were the one who advised us that the Speak for the Trees protests were attracting unwanted attention to the project. You were the one who suggested that if Ms. Charm or Mr. Greenburg could be dealt with, the protests would end."

"Although it was another of our associates who proposed Ms. Charm as the ideal target out of the two," Mr. Hand said in his bland, unfeeling voice. "It was suggested that her removal would increase tensions between the Dark Court and the Council... covert groups that, in their own right, represent risks to the later phases of the project. This has proven correct. We greatly appreciate these insights. Our own psycho-statistical models deal in the interactions of social groups and have proven unreliable at predicting the impact of individuals."

"I thought you'd threaten her. Maybe rough her up a little. I didn't mean for you to kill her!" Bess hissed quietly, horrified that she might be overheard. Horrified by what she'd done. "Or Clay! My God, Clay planned the staff picnic."

"I see," Mr. Grey said with mock concern. "Well, I'm sure the Crown Prosecutor's office would take that into account. Although, enterprise corruption and conspiracy are such a broad-reaching charges." The false sympathy vanished, replaced by ruthless threat. "Make no mistake, Ms. Sterling. You are a part of this and have been almost from the beginning."

"We should deal with Lux Demarco and her associates," the woman in black said. "Their recent confrontation with Mr. Harris will only serve to confirm their suspicions."

"Very true, Mallory," Mr. Hand said. "Locate them. Observe and report. I will expect a full assessment and recommendations." 

"Of course, Protector," Mallory said. 

"As for the other aberrations, we will need to move up our timetable," Mr. Hand continued, as if he wasn't talking about ending lives. "I will make the necessary arrangements, but it will take time to transfer the necessary equipment and personnel discretely. Perhaps two weeks."

"And once we have the equipment and personnel, what would you recommend, Ms. Sterling?" Mr. Grey asked. "What should we do with the Wildfangs, and with the Volkov and Moonrunner families."

Families, Bess thought. Jake Volkov had a kid. So did the Moonrunners. Oh God.

As if she were somewhere far away, Bess heard her own voice say, "Deal with them."

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

So, those were her choices, Bess thought.

She could have everything she'd ever wanted - success, wealth, a beach house in Sulani. She just had to be party to murder. More murders. The murders of children. 

Or she could go to the Crown Prosecutor. Even if they believed her, she'd probably end up spending the best years of her life in Irongate. That, of course, always assuming Mr. Grey and Mr. Hand didn't have Cletus or Mallory murder her and bury her in a shallow grave before she could testify.

If they look at me too closely I'm completely screwed, she thought. 

No, that just wouldn't do. There had to be a way to make this work. She was smarter than those people. 

There had to be another way out of this.

In Moonlight - Ch 17 - A Closer Look

"How are Knox and Clay?" Miranda asked.

It was evening, and Mariah and Demarco had just returned from the hospital.

"The doctors are keeping them overnight for observation," Mariah said. "Knox definitely has a concussion and broken ribs. Clay's really beat up too. The doctors are worried he might have internal injuries. He might be... what did they say? He could be bleeding inside his head."

"Subdural hematoma," Etta supplied. 

"That bastard Cletus could have killed him," Demarco growled. "I said I didn't want him doing anything dangerous!"

"You think this is because Clay was asking around at Evergreen Development?" Genie asked gently.

"I don't think Cletus and Jeb just decided to go beat him up for shits and giggles!" Demarco snarled.

"Hey, she's just asking," Mariah said.

"Sorry. I'm sorry," Demarco said, taking a breath. "I'm on still edge from the fight... and it's almost the full moon."

"It's OK. Sometimes I need to say the dumb, obvious thing just to make everything make sense," Genie said. "So, more dumb, obvious things. We're really thinking that the Dark Court isn't behind this, right?"

"You're sure about that?" Mariah asked.

"Caleb was pretty clear and so was Baron Bludvin, in his way," Etta said. "The Dark Court is in chaos. They can't afford to get into an open war with the Council."

"I thought you guys said the vampires and witches were already at war," Jenny said, puzzled. "That they'd been at war for, like centuries?"

"They are, but... it's complicated," Etta sighed. "Most of the time, it's like a Cold War. They fight but using mortal agents, or through proxies like the crime families. Usually it's a matter of undermining each other, the occasional assassination..."

"Or, you know, trying to slaughter your entire family," Miranda put in softly.

"Which could have spun things out of control," Etta said. "It didn't precisely because both sides are concerned about the war escalating. Among other things, there's a risk of it spilling over into the mortal world. The last time that happened, it ended with the Witch Hunts. The mortal world turned on both sides, killing witches and vampires and a lot of innocent mortals too." 

"The problem is, even if the Dark Court doesn't want open war, Baron Charm does," Miranda said grimly. "He's convinced that they're behind Shannon's death, because they've attacked House Charm before. Apparently, his father was killed by a Dark Court agent about twenty years ago."

"A Dark Court agent named Villareal," Genie muttered sourly. "Which, I guess, explains why he doesn't like me very much..."

"You're not your uncle Max, Genie," Jenny said encouragingly.

"No, you're not," Miranda said firmly. "Unfortunately, given the way Baron Charm feels about things, when it comes to Shannon's murder, he's not going to believe anything based on the words of a couple of Dark Court nobles."

"Or the word of an exiled, self-confessed Dark Court agent, even if you supported me," Etta sighed. "Do you think he can convince the Council?"

"I think he doesn't care," Miranda said. "For him, it's a blood feud. He wants vengeance and he's willing to break with the Council to get it. Worse, he believes there are enough people unhappy with the Council's rule who would follow him, and he might be right."

"He's really persuasive. You didn't hear him," Jenny put in. "I mean, I was ready to follow him. Like almost 'leaping to my feet and heading off to battle' ready to follow him. It was scary."

"Could that be the goal?" Etta mused. "The Dark Court in chaos. The Council broken. The shadow war escalating out of control..."

"Maybe," Mariah said. "But it doesn't explain the beatdown Cletus gave Clay and Knox." 

"Maybe it really is just a coincidence? What if this whole business with the Dark Court and Witches' Council and their secret war is just an unintended consequence?" Genie wondered. "Could this really all be tied back to Evergreen Development?" 

"So, what, we've all been distracted by a red herring and this really is about crooked land developers?" Jenny asked.

"Which would mean Knox was right all along? God, we'd never hear the end of that," Demarco groaned.

"That just doesn't feel right either," Miranda mused.

"Well, again stating the obvious, clearly something is going on that ties back to Evergreen Development," Genie said. "Do we have any idea what Clay was onto that might have led to... what happened to him?"

"Not specifically," Mariah said. "He and Knox were out of it, and Missy was pretty upset. From what I could get out of her, Clay was talking about Evergreen's big project. I guess it's called Crossing. Missy said something about a whole planned community up on the mountain. Houses, shopping, a school, the works. She also said Clay was saying something about investors and a facility but she didn't really understand it." 

"We need to know more," Miranda said. "We need something we can use to convince Baron Charm, to stop him from breaking the Council and escalating the war." 

"Yeah, but whatever this Crossing is and whoever is behind it - whether it's crooked developers or vampires or the Windenburg Bay monster - they're clearly willing to go to extreme lengths to keep their secrets," Genie said. "Sorry, stating the obvious again."

"Keep going," Jenny said with a smile.

"I intend to," Genie said firmly. "I'm going into Evergreen Development to find some answers."

"Um, Genie, remember the part where Clay almost got beaten to death just for asking questions there?" Mariah said.

"I didn't say I was going alone!" Genie said hastily. 

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

They had spent most of the evening discussing ideas of how to get into Evergreen Development and, more importantly, back out again safely.

Jenny had presented a plan that, somewhat predictably, had involved disguises, nudity, precision timing and... a fire extinguisher. Through unspoken agreement, they had listened to every detail and then proceeded to come up with a plan that deliberately avoided all of Jenny's suggestions. 

The actress hadn't been the least bit offended, saying brightly that years of auditions had taught her how to deal with rejection.

Looking up at the converted warehouse that was the Evergreen Development offices, Genie hoped the plan they had come up with would work. At the very least, it didn't involve anyone taking their clothes off. Well, almost anyone, she thought with a glance at Demarco, but that was a worst-case-scenario thing...

"Hi, it's Mary right?" the man at the reception desk said as they entered the lobby. "Clay's friend? If you're looking for him, he's not in yet."

"I know," Mariah... no, Mary... said. Genie was a little surprised by the subtle shifts in her friend's manner, as if Mary had Mariah's strength but lacked her rough edges. "He's in the hospital actually."

"Crap, is he sick? He was just in yesterday and he looked fine," the receptionist said.

"He was mugged," Mary said. They had decided that staying as close to the truth as possible was the best approach.

"That's terrible." The receptionist looked genuinely concerned. "And he's in the hospital? Is he going to be OK?"

"I hope so," Mary said earnestly. "They're keeping him for observation... but he asked me to get some things from his desk. I think he wanted try to do some work."

It wasn't a complicated plan, really, and in the end that's what they'd all liked about it. Why risk getting caught sneaking in when they might be able to just walk in. If Mary couldn't get past reception, they'd reasoned they shouldn't be any worse off and could try something more sneaky.

"That guy works too hard." The receptionist shook his head. "Go ahead and get what he needs, I guess. I'm sure Bess would approve." 

"Thanks," Mary said with a smile.

"Bella li, I can't believe that actually worked," Mariah said quietly, slipping into the chair of Clay's cubicle.

The Evergreen Development offices were a little grim, Genie thought as she looked around. Cubicles. Motivational posters and bland art on basically every wall. An open floor plan conference room. People with fake smiles wearing office casual clothes. She been here less than five minutes and had already overheard a guy in suit use the word synergy. 

"I can't believe you know Clay's password," she replied softly as Mariah effortlessly logged onto his computer.

"I've watched him type it in at his place a few times," Mariah grinned. "People tend to reuse the same passwords. It's just careless, really."

"Yeah, it sure is," Genie said, resolving to change her passwords at the earliest opportunity. "Just copy anything that looks interesting, OK. We'll sort through it later."

"Si, certo, I'm doing that," Mariah muttered.

We might actually pull this off, Genie thought to herself. Later she would wonder if she'd thought it too loudly. In the moment, her only thought was a wordless flash of terrified recognition at the sound of a coldly dispassionate voice. The last time she'd heard that voice, it had been neatly explaining how she and Jenny Poole were going to die unless they returned the Altos' ledger of dirty deeds.

"Thank you, Ms. Sterling," Mr. Grey said, plainly in response to a greeting Genie hadn't really registered.

Genie started, glancing cautiously at the group by the entrance. She hadn't imagined her blood could run colder until she actually saw Mr. Grey's face. She barely registered the chubby, slouched man or the woman in the black hoodie standing with him. She simply couldn't believe this could get any worse, until her horrified eyes fixed on the thin, bald man in black standing next to Mr. Grey.

"Cazzo!" Mariah cursed in a whisper, all traces of Mary vanishing as her eyes fixed on Mr. Grey. "We need to leave. Now."

Genie nodded, trying to remember how to make her limbs work. Beside her, Mariah stood casually, tucking a memory stick into her pocket and laying a firm hand on Genie's arm.

"I believe you already know Mr. Harris and Mr. Hand," Genie heard Grey say over the chatter of the office.

"I do. It is a pleasure to see you both," the woman who Genie thought must be Bess Sterling said. "If you'd like to come with me. We're in the upstairs conference room."

"How do we get out?" Genie hissed. "They're between us and the exit." 

"Side door," Mariah said. 

The part of Genie's mind that wasn't screaming managed to wonder if Mariah had learned to locate every exit from a room during her brief stint with the Agency, her time as a gangster, or her days as a teen runaway. It suddenly seemed like a much more useful skill than knowing which fork to use with which course at a fancy dinner.

Trying to look tough, she let herself be guided toward the exit with what felt like glacial slowness rather than the casual walking pace she was sure Mariah was using. 

"We thought you'd come out this way," Etta said, meeting them by the side door. "We saw them go in. Cletus, with the grey-haired man and the woman in black he was meeting with the other day. I don't know who the man in the black suit was."

"Your 'grey-haired man' is Arvin Grey," Mariah said curtly. "Consigliere of the Alto crime family and the main reason Miranda and I are still in hiding. I don't know the woman or the other man."

"I do," Genie said, taking a deep, shaky breath. "At least, I've seen the man before. His name is Mr. Hand. I saw him three days ago. In my house! Meeting with my mother! About investments! Kassidy said he'd been there before..."

"Madonna," Mariah breathed.

"He's not human," Demarco said flatly. When Genie blinked at her, she added, "Hand. His scent isn't human."

"Vampire?" Etta asked.

"No," Demarco shook her head. "Not a vampire. Not a witch. Not a Wolf. I've never smelled anything like him before."

"Mr. Hand. Hand? Why does that sound familiar? Could it be...!? Madonna santa!" Mariah gasped. "I think I know who he is. What he is. If I'm right... We need to get to Miranda. Right now."

"What?" Genie said.

"I think... I think he's a svartalf," Mariah said. "I think he's an alien."