"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."
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