College Years - Chapter 44 - On Plans and Identity

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Miranda asked.

"Seriously?" Mariah replied. "For the past few months, I've been trying to take my classes, commit crimes with Marco's crew while passing information about them to the Agency and convince the vampire puttana who murdered my father that I'm only using you for money and sex... and now you ask me if this is a good idea?"

"Yeah, well, I have a warped sense of normal," Miranda admitted.

"I think this might be a chance to get us back to a less warped normal," Mariah sighed.

"OK, explain that to me," Miranda insisted.

"Like I told you, Marco and H have a meeting with the leader of another crew and with someone high in Alto's organization and, with a little help from Snow, I'm going to bug the meeting and we're going to listen in," Mariah said.

"Again, is this a good idea and how does this help?" Miranda pressed the point.

"Marco and Nick have been keeping me isolated from the Family," Mariah said. "Technically, I'm just an 'associate,' not an actual member... 

"Because you haven't actually killed anyone for them," Miranda said, "which is a Good Thing."

"... but, also, I think they don't really trust me," Mariah continued.

"Which, given that you are actually spying on them, is kinda smart," Miranda pointed out.

"Will you let me finish?" Mariah grumbled.

"Sorry."

"Right now, I've given Liberty enough to take down the Britechester crew, but that's small potatoes," Mariah continued. "Stolen goods, hijacking, gambling and she could maybe break up the prostitution ring... but the Britechester crew's just me, Carla, Pretty and Marco. Marco is the only major player I've got anything on and it's not enough. Even if they can convict him, he'll do the time laughing and be back running a new crew in a few years. 

"I've got nothing on H," she sighed.

"Nothing?" Miranda blinked, surprised.

"She's canny," Mariah sighed again. "She isn't actually involved in anything the Britechester crew is doing. Not directly or in any way I can prove, anyway. I know she's involved with Alto, like I know she was involved in your kidnapping, but I can't prove anything... and just being a vampire puttana isn't fucking illegal.

"This meeting is my chance," Mariah continued. "My chance to get Marco on something more than the Britechester crew. Hopefully, my chance to get something... anything...  on H. It has to be. It has to."

"What is it?" Miranda recognized Mariah's desperate need and worry.

"I don't know how much longer we've got," Mariah admitted. "The term is almost over... Ms. H isn't going to wait forever. She's after you and plans to use me to get you. I think she's going to make her move... soon. I need to make mine first."

"Our little M&M's have their heads together and they're not even making out," Aadi teased, wandering in from the backyard and dropping into a seat at the dining table. "What are you two up to?"

"Plotting world domination," Mariah snarked. 

"Better you than my dad," Genie said, wandering in after Aadi. "Sorry, did you guys want to be alone?"

"No, we're good," Miranda said with a false smile. 

Mariah was sure Miranda had more to say, but was willing to let it go. She knew neither of them was going to change the other's mind anyway.

"So what are you guys... hey, was that the door?" Mariah said, surprised by a knock.

"I'm up. I'll get it," Genie said.

"Mom?!" Genie gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello honey," Luna smiled. "I found myself in the area and I thought I'd drop by."

"Great," Genie couldn't hide her shock. "Um, come in."

"Guys, this is my mom, Luna Elderberry," Genie said. "Mom, you've met Miranda before... and this is Mariah and..."

"Of course," Luna smiled. "Miranda, I was so pleased when Genevieve told me you two had become friends... and Mariah, of course I know your foster mothers from the charity scene. They're such kind and generous ladies."

"Yeah, they are," Mariah said, feeling herself bristling. 

"... and this is Aadi, mom," Genie said.

"A pleasure," Luna said offhandedly, "Genevieve has told me so much about you."

"Charmed," Aadi replied with a smirk.

"Well, since I'm here, I thought I'd take you all to lunch," Luna continued. "I remember appreciating a good free lunch during my college days, especially near the end of term when the budget got tight, even if it did mean dealing with someone's parent."

"That would be lovely," Aadi said with their usual bright, if now somewhat false, cheer.

"Oh Genevieve, you should put something on," Luna added, wrinkling her nose at Genie's sweatshirt and jeans, "and maybe try to fix your hair dear."

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

"So, Aadi, tell me a little bit about yourself," Luna said cheerfully. 

Free lunch aside, the tension among the roommates was almost visible in the air. Mariah was doing her best to keep hold of her temper. The impending dangers of spying on tonight's meeting and the associated worry radiating off Miranda already had her on edge. Adding Luna Elderberry's almost cheerful dismissal of everything that was "Genie" about Genie, and Mariah was ready to punch someone.

"... anyway, my dad teaches yoga now and mom's a full-time bartender, part-time painter," Aadi was saying. "I think I get my love of art from her and spending time the big gallery in the City."

"That's lovely," Luna smiled. "Genevieve said you're studying Art History. I sometimes wish I'd given more time to art. You're a very fortunate young man."

Miranda winced. Mariah snarled. Aadi smiled politely, opening their mouth to correct her. 

It was Genie who snapped.

"Mom, I told you, Aadi identifies as non-binary," Genie said forcefully.

"Well, yes you did but..." Luna started.

"I know it can be confusing to some people," Aadi said gently but firmly. "I don't see myself as a young man, or a young woman for that matter. Neither gender alone really describes Who I Am. I'm a little of both and lot of something else... something that's just me. I use "they" and "them" as pronouns."

"I'm sorry, but it just seems... unnecessary," Luna said.

"It's necessary," Aadi replied, still polite but a little more firm, "because it's who I am. I have the right to define myself, in my terms, and be my truest and most authentic self. 

They smiled, "Mrs. Elderberry, you work in Finance. That's a very male-dominated field. I'm sure some of the men you've worked with tried to impose their idea of What a Woman Should Be on you... and I'm just as sure you didn't allow it. You stood by Who You Are and you expect people to respect that. This isn't so different."

"That's... a very interesting way of looking at it, Aadi," Luna said thoughtfully.

"Respecting someone's chosen gender and pronouns is like," Aadi paused and looking directly at Genie with a slight smile, "using the name they prefer. It's just being respectful of them, as a person."

"Thank you, Aadi... and I'm sorry," Luna said glancing between Aadi and her daughter, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Forgive me, ma'am, but I hope you can explain it to your husband," Aadi continued seriously. "Some of the laws he's been supporting in the Lower House haven't be very respectful of the LGBTQ+ community."

"Well, Rohan is a member of the Conservative coalition, Aadi," Luna said. "He doesn't personally always agree with some of their legislation but he has to consider the interests of his supporters. It's just politics." 

"Ma'am, it's just politics for him," Miranda put in. "For Aadi, for Mariah and for me, it's our lives."

"Well," Luna said thoughtfully, "this has been a more... interesting... lunch than I expected. But, thank you for that. I will think about what you've said."

College Years - Chapter 43 - Ice and Secrets

Laurel Library, Britechester

"So, how do you know Aadi?" Mariah asked.

"Still don't trust me?" Snow smiled.

"No," Mariah said honestly. 

"Good," Snow said easily. "That's smart."

"I could say it's classified, and it actually is, but I'll tell you," she continued. "I really do know them through the karaoke group."

"You seriously expect me to believe it's a coincidence?" Mariah said suspiciously.

"Well, yes and no," Snow admitted. "Here's the classified part... Miko Ojo, the lady with the beret. She's one of the founders of the group. She used to be a staffer for Victor Feng. "

"Wasn't he that politician who got arrested a couple years ago for being involved with one of the Families?" Mariah asked. [1]

"That's right," Snow said. "At the time, the Agency was looking for information on Feng and his ties to Landgraab Family. Getting someone close to Miko was a good way to do it. I was the only one on the ops team who could carry a tune."

"Really?"

"Hey, it worked," Snow grinned, "and, as it happens, I enjoy it. The Agency tolerates me staying with it because I can still get information from Miko, especially now that she has a seat in the Lower House." 

"What does this have to do with Aadi?"

"Not much honestly," Snow allowed, "except that Miko's ex-roommate Darling also identifies as nonbinary. Darling was doing work for a LGBTQ support group, where they met this troubled, bullied, insecure kid. Darling brought the kid to the karaoke group, to try to help them build some confidence."

"Aadi?!" Mariah blinked. "I can't imagine Aadi being insecure."

"They've come a long way," Snow said. 

"Wow," Mariah said.

"The coincidence part is Aadi ending up as your roommate," Snow said. "Unless you believe in fate."

"Miranda talks about that stuff," Mariah said. "She calls it 'wyrd' and, well..."

"Yeah," Snow said, "I've read some of the reports about her. Even I don't know if I believe half of it... and I hunt vampires."

"OK, we need to talk about that," Mariah said.

"If you want to see my scars, you've got to buy me a drink first," Snow grinned, "and I really doubt your girlfriend would approve."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Mariah mutter under her breath, before saying more clearly, "Look, what can you tell me?"

"Short version," Snow said, her face becoming serious, "I lost someone... someone I cared about. I went digging and found things out. Because I was an idiot, I tried to deal with it on my own. Thus, scars. I'm lucky to be alive."

"They're monsters," Mariah snarled.

"Worse," Snow said seriously, "they're people."

Mariah started, shocked.

"If you're going to do this, you have to remember that," Snow pressed on. "Whatever they have become, at the heart of it, a vampire started out as a person. Yeah, they have supernatural powers, and drink blood - sometimes killing to get it - but what makes them really dangerous is the 'person' part."

"So what kind of person is Ms. H?" Mariah asked.

"She was born in Windenburg around the turn of the last century, Marie Isabelle Schmidt," Snow said. "Despite their humble ancestry, her family were fairly well-to-do merchants at the time. Like most upper middle class girls of the time, Marie Belle's job was to be pretty and marry money... in her case a young man named Caleb Vatore."

"Huh, isn't there a writer by that name," Mariah mused. "I wonder if it's the same family."

"Actually... umm... let's stay on track," Snow said. 

"According to records, a strange wasting sickness swept through the bourgeois of Windenburg one particular summer. Marie Belle was about your age when she fell ill and died... as did several others in her circle...  including Caleb's sister Lilith, who died a few weeks earlier, and his cousin Lily's entirely family. Caleb himself died the following year."

"Vampires," Mariah said.

"Vampire," Snow corrected. "That summer, a wealthy country nobleman, Count Vladislaus Straud, arrived in Windenburg."

"I know that name," Mariah snarled. Miranda's nightmare, she thought. We can't escape them.

"Everything I've gathered says that Straud is a master vampire," Snow nodded. "The master vampire of Windenburg, in fact. 

"That summer, he turned Marie Belle and her friend Lilith into vampires. I have reason to believe he wanted to turn Lilith's cousin Lily as well, but ended up killing her family instead. She's probably laying in a shallow grave in the woods outside Forgotten Hollow." [2]

"Why?" Mariah wondered.

"I don't know but I can guess. Same reason any creepy old man wants to surround himself with beautiful young women who are dependent on him," Snow said bitterly. 

"Ick"

"In the end, it didn't work out well for Straud. Marie Belle appears to have rebelled against him almost immediately and escaped his control within a few years. Lilith stayed with him longer, but ultimately she broke his hold too.

"Sometime after she escaped him, Marie Belle started using the name Lady Hel, after an old pagan goddess of the underworld. Over the years that follow, the figure of Lady Hel appears in records from Windenburg to Tartosa, Oasis Spring to Willow Creek - almost always involved in crime, violence and mayhem. Over the years, her name shifts from Lady Hel to Ms. Hell to simply Ms. H. She's gathered followers, including others she turned. She's grown more cunning... but at the heart of it, she's still an angry, rebellious young woman."

"So, under it all, she's just like Carla," Mariah mused. "Just like me. Another damaged person, lashing out to assert control. Why is she involved with the Altos?"

"Well, the vampires have been involved with the Families for generations," Snow said. "They have a lot in common, really... secrecy, violence and power. The vampires use the Families for soldiers, or recruits, and the Families use the vampires for their power. Count Straud had alliances with most of the major Families. Ms. H's alliance with the Altos probably started as a power play against Straud...

"I believe that's what this is all about for her - a power play. Straud has been missing for three years. Not long as vampires count time, but long enough. The Windenburg vampires are looking for a new leader. Currently, they're divided between Ms. H and Lilith Vatore, both of whom can claim to be Straud's rightful heir."

"Why is she interested in me?" Mariah asked. "She seems focused on me and on... well, messing with my relationship with Miranda."

"I don't know," Snow admitted, "not for certain. It could be she just thinks you're cute, but I doubt it."

"Gee thanks," Mariah chuckled.

"She wants something," Snow said, "and it's more than just your hot bod. Your Miranda was involved in the events that caused Count Straud to drop out of sight. [3] They've been after Miranda for a while now... her kidnapping two years ago, for instance." [4]

"Wait," Mariah snapped. "Ms. H was involved in that?!"

"Most likely," Snow nodded. "We know it had something to do with the vampires, and she's the master vampire with ties to the Altos."

"The Altos?!" Mariah suddenly couldn't breathe. "What are you saying?"

"You didn't know," Snow said bitterly, half to herself. "Yes, the Altos were behind Miranda's kidnapping, in league with Ms. H. Like I said, they're after Miranda... and I think Ms. H wants to use you to get to her."

[1] - Victor Feng and the Landgraabs

[2] - Lily Zhu, not buried in a shallow grave

[3] - The Battle Glimmerbrook Watch (part 1, part 2, part 3) 

[4] - Miranda's Abduction (start, end)

College Years - Chapter 42 - Karaoke Knight

"Come on," Genie said, "we've been talking about this forever."

"I'm not going," Mariah insisted.

"Oh, don't be like that," Miranda said, softening her words with a grin. "You might even have fun."

"Guys, I'm not going," Mariah repeated, before adding a patently false, "I've got to work on my Psych paper."

"Boo," Aadi jeered. "Just for that, you're definitely coming."

Mariah's response was interrupted by a chirp from her phone. "Merda... guys, I've got to get this."

"We're not done here," Aadi said in a sing-song voice.

"Yeah, yeah," Mariah laughed. "I'll be right back."

"Control," the distorted voice said.

"Knight," Mariah replied.

"Instructions from White Queen," Control said evenly. "You will coordinate with asset designated Bishop. Meet Bishop at the Planet Honey Pop club in the City, tonight at 20:00 hours. Recognition code 3."

"Wait a minute," Mariah interjected. "Honey Pop!? That's the karaoke club my roommates are going to... tonight! Is this some kind of joke? Did Miranda somehow put you up to this? Are you bugging my house?"

"Instructions from White Queen. Meet Bishop at the Planet Honey Pop club in the City, tonight at 20:00 hours. Recognition code 3," Control repeated, adding, "and Knight... have fun."

"Stronzo," Mariah cursed.

"OK guys," she called out. "Karaoke night is a go."

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

"Lord, somebody, oh somebody, please / Can anybody find me somebody to love?" Aadi crooned.

"Wow, Aadi's really good," Mariah said. 

She was actually having fun, despite herself. The long drive down to the City, courtesy of Miranda's mom's car service, had been relaxing. They'd grabbed a bite to eat at the food stalls (Miranda's disastrous attempt to use chop sticks would be enough for the roommates to keep her humble for a while) and explored the Fashion District a little before heading to the club.

"Aadi is fantastic," Genie laughed.

"I didn't hear you leave / I wonder how am I still here / And I don't want to move a thing / It might change my memory," Miranda serenaded from the stage.

"Now, she's amazing," Genie said

"The Raven Witch's daughter," Aadi smiled. "She's got the magic."

"You have no idea," Mariah breathed softly, entranced.

"Stop callin', stop callin' / I don't wanna think any more / I left my head and my heart on the dance floor," Miranda sang.

"Stop callin', stop callin' / I don't wanna talk any more / I left my head and my heart on the dance floor," Genie crooned.

"Hey, Snow, join us," Aadi called out to a passing woman with short dark hair. "Snow, this is Mariah, one my roommates. Mariah, Snow... Snow's part of the karaoke club when she's not hacking into banks or something."

"Nice to meet you, Mariah," Snow smiled as she took a seat at their table. "What I think Aadi means to say is that I'm a cybersecurity consultant."

"Toe-may-to, toe-mah-to," Aadi grinned.

"I help businesses identify vulnerabilities in their networks," Snow continued, "so people can't hack into the banks... when I'm not singing my heart out with that trio behind us."

"That was fun," Genie said, flushed and excited from her first attempt at karaoke.

"You were great," Aadi grinned.

"Come on, Mariah," Miranda said. "Your turn."

"What," Mariah laughed. "No! I said I'd come. I didn't say I'd sing!"

"Come on!" Miranda insisted, adding a sultry, "I'll make it worth your while."

"That's cheating," Mariah groaned.

"I come home, in the mornin' light / My mother says, 'When you gonna live your life right?'" Miranda bounced.

"Oh momma dear, we're not the fortunate ones / And girls, they wanna have fun," Mariah belted out gamely.

"Oh girls just wanna have fun," they sang together.

"OK, that was fun," Mariah admitted. "I was horrible, but it was fun."

"You did fine," Miranda laughed. "When we get home, I'll make good on that 'worth your while' thing. Right now, I'm parched. I'm hitting the bar. You want a drink?"

"Madonna," Mariah chuckled, "Yes, please."

"Mariah," Snow intercepted her as she made her way back to their table, "that was very good for a first timer."

"It showed, huh?" Mariah sighed.

"Maybe a little around the edges," Snow grinned. "I just wanted to say.... Bishop to Queen's Knight 3."

"What!?" Mariah blinked, completely thrown. "You? No!"

"Let's go sit somewhere quiet and talk," Snow said.

"Does Aadi know?" Mariah asked, sulkily. "Are they Agency too?"

"Aadi doesn't have a clue," Snow shook her head. "Well, now that I think about it, they probably have a clue... but just because they're smart and observant. Aadi's not Agency."

"So my roommate just happens to be friends with the spook Liberty sends to team up with me, at the karaoke club they both hang at?" Mariah said dubiously.

"Looking at the people you hang out with, I'd almost believe in fate," Snow chuckled. 

"And technically, I'm not Agency either. Civilian asset, like you," Snow continued.

"I'm still trying to deal with the coincidence/fate thing," Mariah sighed. "So, are you really a 'cybersecurity consultant'?"

"Aadi may have had it right the first time," Snow grinned. "Like I said, they're observant."

"You're a hacker? Seriously?"

"Hey, when I was your age, and going under another name, I was a the top underground hacker in Windenburg," Snow grinned. "I may have some winkles and a little grey in my hair now, but you know what they say about old age and treachery."

"No offense, but why does Liberty think I need help from a hacker?" Mariah asked.

"Because I'm also the Agency's source for information on the Windenburg vampire community," Snow said. 

"Wait," Mariah stiffened, "you're a..."

"Semi-retired vampire hunter," Snow replied. "I'd show you my scars but your girlfriend might get mad."

"This is unreal," Mariah shook her head.

"Welcome to the Great Game, Knight," Snow grinned. "Look, we have a lot to talk about and this isn't the time or the place. Liberty wanted us to meet here, get a look at each other, and we've done that. Meet me tomorrow, noon, at Laurel Library in Britechester. I'll tell you what I know about Ms. H. You wanted to get a handle on her, right?"

"Alright," Mariah answered, "I'm in."

College Years - Chapter 41 - Status Report

"Control," the distorted voice said.

"Knight," Mariah answered.

"Status report," Control requested coldly.

"Oh, I'm fine thanks," Mariah said glibly. "Classes are going really well and, hey, School Spirit day was off the hook!"

"Status report," Control repeated.

"Has anyone ever told you that you need to lighten up? Take some joy in life?" Mariah asked. 

Control was silent.

"Right, status report," Mariah chuckled. "I was right, Marco is not only taking bets on college footie, he's also fixing matches. I don't know details yet... I'm pretty sure it's tied up with the campus prostitution ring but they're still keeping me out of that."

"Mostly, he's got me running the 'store' right now," she continued. "We're running low on inventory, so he's told Carla to get more. I'll try to get details on that, so we can warn the trucking company."

"Negative," Control said tersely. "Stay on mission."

"Are you not listening to me?" Mariah snapped. "They're going to send Carla out to hijack a truck! I've told you what she's like. Someone could get hurt."

"Stay on mission."

"Madonna santa! If we're not going to try to stop any of this, what is the point?!" Mariah ranted. "Why am I doing this, risking this, if you're not going to do anything with the information I give you?"

"Ms. H is back," Mariah sighed before Control could respond to her rant.

"Are you secure?"

"I... She was... friendly... but I feel like she's keeping me at arms length," Mariah replied. "I don't know if she's still 'giving me space' or what. Merda, she can look straight into my heart but I don't know enough about her to get a good read on her."

"Can you maintain?"

"Yeah," Mariah took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm good. I'm solid."

"Confirmed, Knight. Stay on mission. Make contact by secondary number if you are not secure," Control disconnected the call.

------------------------------ 

"So now I need to take the truck hijacking," Mariah concluded filling Miranda in on her call with Control. "Marco won't argue. He knows I can do it clean."

"Are you going to tell Control?" Miranda asked, already knowing the answer.

"You know what they'd say - Stay On Mission," Mariah mimicked Control's distorted voice, "but I can't risk Carla messing up some poor trucker."

"You know," Mariah continued, "she's a classic case... an abuse victim becoming an abuser, violently lashing out in a misplaced attempted to assert control over her world."

Miranda gave her a Look.

"Madonna santa, don't say it," Mariah said. "I know. She's me or what I would have been if I'd stayed on that road... but I didn't. So I'm not the one who might put extra holes in some trucker in an expression of my own inner suffering."

"No, and you wouldn't have, either," Miranda said. "You would have done something risky and inherently self-destructive in an expression of your self-loathing."

"What, are you reading my textbooks now?" Mariah laughed.

"Well, it's not like I'm going to read mine," Miranda rolled her eyes. "I mean, seriously, I've had Vivaldi down since I was ten."

"You're amazing," Mariah smiled.

"It's just practice," Miranda sighed. "I've been playing violin since I was big enough to hold one. You're the amazing one."

"I'm not," Mariah started.

"You're going against Control, digging yourself in deeper with the Altos and generally putting yourself in harm's way to protect some random trucker," Miranda pointed out.

"That's just doing what needs to be done," Mariah insisted. "You think I shouldn't?"

"I think you're amazing," Miranda said.

"Just doing what needs to be done," Mariah repeated. "You'd do it... but, hey, don't get any ideas! I sleep at night because I know you're not part of this. You and Aadi and Genie... you're not any part of this Alto business."

------------------------------ 

"Hi there," the young man gave Genie his most charming smile. "I'm looking for Mariah. Name's Johnny. They call me Johnny Pretty."