Chapter 38 - Who Am I Kidding?

What am I going to tell her when she asks me how Winter Break went, Mariah thought. 

It was a question that had been circling in her head the entire flight back from Tartosa. 

I found out my dad was an informant for the Agency. He was murdered by a vampire... the same vampire who, oh hey, I kind of didn't tell you, has been actively trying to seduce me for weeks. Now I'm coming back to school with plans to spy on the Altos, while training to be a vampire hunter and trying to avoid getting seduced and maybe eaten by the murdering puttana... Mariah sighed. Yeah, she's going to think...

Who am I kidding, Mariah grinned. She's Miranda Silveroak-Goth. Fighting gangsters and vampires is pretty much her idea of a normal break.

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"... all while still passing Psych," Mariah concluded. "Oh, and I'm not supposed to tell anyone, especially you, about any of this. So. clearly I'm off to a great start."

"I'm glad Danielle is alright," Miranda said. It was, she thought, the safest response to Mariah's tale. Certainly it was the one topic on which her own feelings where clear.

"Yeah, she's... she's fine," Mariah replied carefully. "She was a little lightheaded for a couple of days but she recovered. Londyn doesn't really seem to remember what happened... just that some stranger was in their bedroom when Danielle collapsed. She thinks it was a crazy fan or something. It wouldn't be the first time, and it was enough for me and Liberty to convince them to be a little more serious with security."

"That's good," Miranda nodded, her tone guarded. "That's really good."

"Is that... I mean, is that all?" Mariah burst out. "That's all you've got to say?"

"What do you want me to say, Mariah?" Miranda said, suddenly heated. "Since I saw you last, you've gone from being a maybe-gangster to a maybe-spy and wanna-be vampire hunter!"

"What do you mean 'wanna-be'?" Mariah bridled.

"Listen tough-girl, do you understand how dangerous this is?" Miranda stormed over her. "This isn't 'Londyn pays your fine' kind of trouble or 'do a little time in juvie' kind of trouble. This is serious! Nick died, Mariah! He was my friend and he was nice and sweet and kinda dumb... and a freaking werewolf... and he died going up against vampires! And the Altos aren't just some street toughs either. They're just as dangerous as the damn vampires... maybe more."

 "Miranda..." Mariah started.

"I want to tell you not to do this," Miranda gasped. "I want to tell you to stop... but I know you. I know you. You won't... you can't."

"Mia amata, I..." Mariah breathed. She'd try, she thought. If Miranda asked her to, she'd try.

"Shhh," Miranda hushed her. "All roads lead to the same place, anyway. You need to see thing through. We both do. I can't tell you to be careful... because there's no careful way to do this." Spent, she leaned against Mariah. "Just... be smart. OK, be smart and be... you." 

"Yeah, I can do that," Mariah sighed. "Te ama... you know that right?

"Yeah, I do," Miranda smiled. "I love you too."

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Later that night, as she hung braids of garlic next to the doors. Mariah though, I can be smart and I'll keep you safe. I'll keep all you guys safe.