Chapter 40 - Queen's Gambit

"You're going out," Miranda said softly.

"I have to," Mariah insisted. "For this to work, they have to believe I'm still in. It won't be like before. Uncle Nick... Dio... I've talked to him and told him I need to focus on school. He agreed and said he'd talk to Marco. They won't question it, but I have to go back sometimes or they'll start to."

"I know," Miranda sighed. "Please, be careful."

"I'm always careful," Mariah lied.

"I'll be waiting for you," Miranda said.

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"Hey 'Riah. I thought you'd have more of a tan," Carla G grinned. Karla didn't look much like an enforcer, but Mariah knew the other woman was violent as a wild dog and cold as a snake. "Winter break in Tartosa. Have you ever even seen snow?"

"Hey G," Mariah forced herself to grin back. "What's so great about snow anyway? I'm freezing mie tette off here as it is."

"Is that why they're so small?" Carla laughed.

"Puttana," Mariah cursed her cheerfully. "Where's Pretty?" Johnny Pretty was the crew's smooth talker, an accomplished con-man and thief, when he could stay sober.

"We're in front of a bar full of drunk co-eds," Carla sneered. "Where do you think Pretty-boy is? Hey, Marco wanted to talk to you."

"Figo. I'll catch you inside," Mariah nodded.

"Ciao, Marco," Mariah greeted the Alto underboss with forced cheer. "You have a good holiday?"

"No rest for the wicked, 'Riah," Marco grinned back. "Nick wanted me to check in with you. He heard about that thing with your moms... the crazy fan."

"Oh," Mariah was momentarily thrown. "Yeah, that was... scary... but Danielle's doing OK."

"That's good," Marco nodded. "I gather she's got a family friend looking out for her now."

Mariah's blood turned to ice. By long practice, she forced her voice to stay level, to stay in control. "Don't dance around, Marco. You got something you want to ask me, ask me!"

"OK," Marco nodded. "You talked with Liberty Lee-Rossi and she's Agency."

"You got people watching me, Marco?" Mariah demanded.

"Mr. Grey watches everyone," Marco replied, "on Nick's orders. So now I'm asking - what did you talk about with Lee-Rossi?"

"Vafancullo!" Mariah let her anger rise. "We had a fucking screaming match and I told the puttana to stay the fuck out of my business. You questioning my loyalty, Marco?"

"No," Marco replied with a grin. "I'm asking, 'cause Nick told me to ask. Now I can tell him what you said and he can tell Grey to shut the fuck up about it already."

"Good," Mariah said taking a steadying breath.

"Head on in," Marco said. "Ms. H is waiting for you. I guess she wants to welcome you back."

"Figo," Mariah said. Merda, she thought, now for the dangerous part.

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"Mariah," Ms. H purred. "It's so good to see you. I hope you had a nice holiday."

"Hey, H. It was interesting," Mariah said. With brutal will, she forced down the urge to throw herself, screaming, at the vampire and drive the leg of a convenient bar-stool through the monster's black heart.

"That's good," Ms. H smiled, a hint of her fangs visible, and leaned in to kiss Mariah's cheek. "Come, sit and tell me everything. It's been years since I've been to Tartosa."

"... so, Danielle's doing alright," Mariah said, concluding the story of the 'crazy fan' and Danielle's collapse. It has seemed to her the safest story to tell. "Londyn got her to agree to putting on some extra security and she was fussing over her when I left. All in all, little more excitement than I'd wanted for the holidays."

"Mariah, Mariah," Ms. H purred. "You're lying to me."

"What, no I'm..." Mariah blinked, genuinely startled. Where had she slipped up, she wondered. What had she given away?

"Don't lie to me," Ms. H snarled, her fangs openly visible. "I know what really happened and so do you. You know the truth."

Merda, Mariah's thoughts ran quickly. Can I fight her? Can I escape? Am I going to die here? Miranda, I'm so sorry.

"I see it in your heart... the anger, the fear," Ms H. continued. "It was no 'crazy fan.' This lady in white... she was vampira, like me. She is one of my rivals... she wants to turn you against me."

"I... no... you... what?" Mariah stammered.

"You knew, didn't you?" Ms. H continued. "You guessed my secret."

"I... I wasn't sure," Mariah replied, grasping at the chance fate was offering her. "I mean... Miranda's told me about... things... so I knew it was possible."

"I knew you would figure it out," Ms. H smiled. "Yes, I am Vampir. Unfortunately, I have enemies... the White Lady... she is a mean, petty creature. She hurt Danielle out of spite... to turn you against me."

"Well, that won't do it," Mariah replied, burying the thought that she had her own reasons to hate the monster across from her.

"You say that, but I see the anger in your heart," Ms. H replied. "I see the fear."

"OK, yes," Mariah admitted honestly. "I mean, it's scary for someone like me... vampires, witches... all of it, but if you see my heart, you see I'm working on handling it."

"Yes, you are," Ms. H smiled. "Oh, this is wonderful."

"I... I just need a little time," Mariah said. "To really get a handle on things. Can you give me that?"

"Of course, dear," Ms. H agreed. "I can be patient... after all, I have lots of time."

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Madonna santa, Mariah thought. I pulled it off.

Standing in the quiet spot not far from the pub, she could admit to herself that she hadn't been sure she was going to. Now, the crew's suspicions allayed for the moment, there was one more thing she had to do.

She dialed the number Liberty had made her memorize.

"Control," the distorted voice answered.

"Pawn to Queen Four," Mariah replied, amazed and a little embarrassed to be using a real spy pass phase.

"Report," Control said curtly.

"I'm in," Mariah said.

"Confirmed," Control's distorted voice betrayed nothing. "Queen's Gambit is a go."