Reckless

Chapter 1 ~ Homecoming

The air was like ice, burning and freezing her lungs when she stepped out of her car. She looked up at the big blue house that she grew up in. The Sturn household hadn’t changed much in the last few years. There were different flowers in the garden out front and a weeping willow sapling that had reached about four feet tall that hadn’t been there when she left.

Lucy never thought that she would be back in her childhood town so soon. In fact, she never wanted to come back at all. She liked being in places where her family name didn’t carry a legacy. She liked not being part of a town’s less than graceful history. Mostly, Lucy just liked everyone not knowing who she was. It was the freedom of not having to be careful of her every move just because whatever she did would flitter through town in a matter of hours. Everything was everyone’s business here, even when it wasn’t.

She took a deep breath before grabbing her bags and walking up to the front door. She didn’t even bother to knock, she just walked right in. She could hear the clatter in the kitchen and walked towards it. She was expecting her grandmother to be cooking some concoction, while her crosswords book lay open on the kitchen table near a fresh cup of coffee. What she found was her cousins throwing silverware at each other. 

“Luna-Rachel! Bane! Macayle! What do you think you three are doing?”

The kids stopped and looked at their elder cousin in shock. They could hardly recognize her. The last time they saw her she had frizzy brown hair, was near eighty pounds over-weight, and wore excessively baggy clothes. The woman in front of them now had long black-red hair with blue in the front. She was wearing Victorian styled steam punk boots, thick black tights, a plaid buckled mini-skirt, and a snug tank top that fit in all the right places. Her arms were lined with bracelets, a fourteen-gage bar in each ear, and four tattoos lining the base of her neck. She was an entirely different person looks wise, but her temper and the sharp edge of her voice was unmistakable. 

“Lucy!” Luna and Bane yelled before tackling the older girl in a hug.

“It’s nice to see you guys too, but what are you guys doing?”

Macayle stepped forward towards her cousin. They weren’t on the best of terms when she left.

“I told them not to throw anything, but they still threw them.”

Lucy rolled her eyes at her fourteen-year-old cousin’s response. Of course Macayle wouldn’t take responsibility 

for her own actions, she never did.

“Where is my mother?”

“Aunt Armeria is in Nanny’s room.”

Lucy dropped her bags and moved to the door on the side of the kitchen. It was the entrance to her grandmother’s room. She didn’t like the idea of her mother alone in there. She turned the knob and the scent of peppermint and perfume hit her like a shock to the past. She missed the feeling of home that only her grandmother could give her.

Instead of her Grandma, she found her mother sitting on the floor by the bed going through stacks of documents. She saw her grandmother’s belongings separated into piles. It made her stomach clench in realization that she would never see her grandmother again. 

“Hey Mama, do you need any help?”

The woman on the floor started. She didn’t hear the door open. Her long blonde hair was pulled back and her eyes were red. She was crying.

“Lucy! I didn’t hear you come in. I didn’t know that you were coming.”

Bullshit. Lucy spent the last eighteen days with her at the hospital. Since the day she found out that the woman who raised her was in critical condition, she spent everyday beside her until visiting hours were over. Her mother knew she was coming back home, and not just staying at some hotel right outside of town.

She should have known that leaving would have caused resentment. There was no escaping who she was and her family legacy.

“Of course I came. I wouldn’t make you go through this alone.”

What she meant was that she couldn’t let her mom face their family alone. Despite the unconventional relationship between them, Lucy wouldn’t make her mother deal with the sociopaths they called their family.

“What are the piles for Momma?”

“I’m separating all of the things that she kept from everyone. There’s a pile for each of your Aunts and Uncles, and for her brothers and her parents. You were the one who went through her jewelry with her, so you know which pieces she wanted everyone to have. Can you do that now?”

“Did you decide which pieces she was going to wear?”

“No. Mina picked some pieces that she should wear, but she didn’t know if you wanted the necklace you made Nanny back, or not.”

“N-no. I think her wearing it would be the best. I made it for her, so she should keep it.”

Silence fell over the room after that. Lucy went through the jewelry and separated it accordingly. She picked up the two rings that she was keeping for herself and put them on. She put aside the ones Mina was supposed to get. She put the pieces that Macayle, Bane, and Luna were getting on the bed.

“Hey, why are the monsters here?”

“They’re living here now.”

This shocked Lucy. She wasn’t informed of this, but she really didn’t keep in touch while she was away.

“When did they move in?”

“A couple months ago. Scott left Dotty and moved in here with his new girlfriend.”

“Well I wish I could say that this shocked me, but they were bound to divorce sometime.”

Lucy shook her head and continued to help her mom go through all of her grandmother’s keepsakes. It wasn’t how she imagined coming back. She thought that when and if she finally did return, she’d have stories, she’d have made a name for herself. She had stories all right, but they aren’t ones she’d like to share, just as she didn’t share her past with her new friends. The only thing that she envisioned that came true was that no one was going to be able to push her around now; she got stronger, and everyone else better watch out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Mina came home from the movies, she could tell that something was off. She couldn’t explain it. She didn’t get the fine-tuned instincts that her sister had; that her mom and grandmother had too. She couldn’t tell if it was going to be good or not, but she knew something was going to be changing very soon.

She walked into the house and saw her cousins throwing spoons at each other. She just rolled her eyes and tripped over the bags in the middle of the floor. She looked at them and then went to her grandmother’s room to ask her mother what’s going on. Instead of seeing just her mother, she saw some Goth/punk chick going through her grandmother’s jewelry.

“What is going on in here? Who is that?”

Without even looking up the stranger answered her.

“Hey Mimi? Have fun at the movies?”

Mina stood there dumbstruck for a few moments before the nickname registered in her mind. Only one person called her Mimi.

“Lucy?”

“Hey baby girl, long time no see.”

Her older sister came over and gave her a hug. She knew somewhere in the back of her mind that Lucy was going to be here for their grandmother’s wake and funeral, but it just never registered that she would actually be seeing her sister again. It wasn’t a bad thing, but it wasn’t the best thing to happen either.

Mina loved her sister very much, but she left Mina in a situation with a lot of questions and no answers. The last time she saw her sister was after Lucy got into a fight with Cain O’Reilly, Hanley Coyne-O’Reilly, Maggie and Glen Dunn, Charlie Lynch, Wren O’Reilly, Miccah Urcioli-Moore, Logan and Elke Cole-Moore, and Dexie Neelson-Moore. Mina doesn’t know what happened; neither do any of the younger siblings. It was between the 12 of them and the older generations.

She doesn’t blame her sister for leaving. There were a lot of rumors started about what went down in the cemetery. Some say that she tried to raise the dead, other’s say that she tried to commit suicide when the other’s walked in, and then there are the ones that say they were all just supposed to hang out but Lucy turned it into an all-out brawl.

The last one is the most believed since Maggie came out with a black eye, Cain had two broken ribs, and Lucy broke her wrist. Everyone else had some bump or bruise, but nothing serious. It wouldn’t have been so strange if 

Lucy didn’t pack up and leave that night. It was all anyone in town could talk about for weeks. After awhile it was just chalked up to the town’s mysteries.

Her sister was a legend just like Great Aunt Sophia, Leslie Butler, and Valery Higgins. They were legends too, and no one had a problem with them. The only difference between them and Lucy was that Lucy came back. They had the same mysterious disappearance after a similar type of cemetery fight rumor.

“I didn’t know you were coming back so soon.”

Lucy looked affronted by her sister’s accusation.

“Why wouldn’t I be back?”

Mina figured she could chalk up her attitude and what she said next up to grief and stress mixed with the shock of seeing her sister, who she never thought she’d see again.

“I don’t know maybe I missed your call that said you’d be staying with us. Oh, wait. You didn’t call! You just left and decided to leave everyone behind!”

“It wasn’t like that. You should consider yourself lucky that you’ve never seen how many faces one person can have. This town is full of liars.”

Mina was going to question what her sister meant, but before she could, their mother spoke up.

“Lucy, don’t.”

A dark look crossed her sisters’ face. Mina had never seen her sister look so sinister, menacing. She was definitely back to settle a score to a game Mina had no clue of. For a brief second, Mina was actually scared of her sister.

“What’s the matter Momma? Afraid I’ll say a few curse words?”

The way she said curse sent shivers down Mina’s spine. It felt like Lucy was hinting at something so much bigger than Mina could imagine. Armeria’s face turned hard. 

“Maybe it would’ve been better if you didn’t come back.”

“Maybe, but I’m not going anywhere this time. Not until all of the sins are atoned for.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After she sent Mina to help Lucy bring her bags up to Lucy’s old room, Armeria called a number that she never thought she’d need. Lucy was so much stronger than she was when she was forced to leave. Her knowledge of the town’s history is complete. She shouldn’t know about the atonement.

After five rings, an elderly voice answered the phone.

“Aunt Sophia, what the hell were you thinking, giving her that information?!”

“She deserved to know the full story. You don’t know the burden of the power she carries; it was enough to nearly break Jezzabell. You know she’s going to win, you all know she knew what she was doing that night. If you gave her one more chance, than everything would have been righted, but you all made her leave. Instinct brought her to me.”

Armeria took a deep breath. This wasn’t what she wanted to hear, she didn’t want to hear about her sisters’ failure, about what her daughter was doing. She needed to know how to make it all go back to the way it was. She didn’t want to have to worry about what were to happen if Lucy failed again, or even worse…if she succeeded. 

“I just want to know how to stop her. Let someone else do your bidding.”

“It isn’t my bidding; it’s my father’s, it’s the founders’. You can’t stop her. If she doesn’t do it, then it’ll break after the next pass. It’s like trading her soul just to keep everyone there stuck with those demons. Let her have her soul back; let everyone learn to live without being bound. What are you all so afraid of?”

“We don’t want her to destroy what was worked so hard for, despite the restraints faced. It’s a delicate balance here, and she can’t ruin that.”

“She’s not going to ruin it. You all complain about how you just want to live like everyone else, to not live your life stuck to a sin you can’t control, but when the answer comes to fix it, you kick her away. Are you all afraid of losing that sick little social hierarchy you all built around it? Afraid of losing the importance of your family names, of your family symbols? It’s time that she woke you all up. The town is a mess, and that little balance depends on all of you not pissing her off.”

“I’m not going to walk on egg shells around her! If she doesn’t abide by what we tell her, then she’s gone again.”

“It gets stronger as time passes. It takes fifty times the power that it originally did to contain it. She has more than enough power to control it and make her own. She’s on the light side, but her moral compass is a bit skewed, but what can you expect when she traded her soul for all of you. If you’re going to warn them about her return, then I suggest you mention her powers are full fledge now. She’ll know what you’re planning before you do; her instincts are infallible.”

“She still needs to get at least seven of the eleven for it to work, and after last time, they surly won’t follow her.”

“Don’t be so sure. Charlie will, and Miccah will go with him. Cain will follow her just to prove something, and Maggie will follow him. That’s four right there, and you know that Glen is easily swayed. If she convinces one twin, then the other will follow. That’s seven. Don’t underestimate her.

She has it born into her from both sides. It was a bestowed gift from the beginning of their timeline. It’s natural, unlike how your side was gained. She won’t lose any of it when she wins. Yours won’t work on Lucy anymore.”

“Goodbye Aunt Sophia. I hope you’ll enjoy the disaster you set into motion.”

“Bye Armeria. This was set into motion the day it started.” 

When she hung up the phone with her Aunt, she knew there was no stopping it. Sophia was right, she was afraid of the social order changing. She was on top; the founders’ descendants had all the power. They were mysterious, inclusive, and they all hated each other. If they weren’t stuck anymore, if they were free to be who they were meant to be, then they might scatter.

She couldn’t imagine their little community gone, new people in those historic homes, family names with no meaning. There wouldn’t be outsiders; everyone would be more comfortable having new people around. She didn’t want to think of the familiarity that everyone else would treat her with. She liked the distance that everyone kept, but if the balance broke, than instead of them chalking up her distance as a town oddity/mystery, she’d be a bitch.

She would miss the comfort of knowing that nothing changes here. The stability would be gone, and time will move forward here, just as it does everywhere else. The only thing she could do was sit back and wait.

She will admit that she wasn’t the best mother in the past. She let her mom raise Lucy because she couldn’t tolerate her own daughter. She couldn’t stand the blank looks that Lucy gave her, that lack of emotion she had. Her daughter was like an empty shell, wise before her years with a strict moral code that she somehow always upheld, even when she hit bottom. Mostly, Armeria couldn’t stand that it was her fault Lucy didn’t have a soul. If she would’ve just been brave enough, Lucy wouldn’t have had to handle it. The least she could do was not warn the others and let Lucy have the head start to whatever it is she has planned.

She was going to need all the help she could get. Tomorrow’s wake was going to be memorable for sure; she just wished she knew whom she was more scared for.

Chapter 2 ~ Let’s Have a Wreck

The morning of the wake, Ian Barnette was prepared for the worst. He learned a long time ago that, that was the best way to deal with his ex-wife’s family.

Contrary to what everyone in town thought, he knew he was considered an outsider. They welcomed him with politeness but they were wary of him, as if he would disturb some delicate balance. He didn’t know why they thought of him this way, but it didn’t bother him; he thought most of them were crazy anyways.

Even if they weren’t together anymore, Ian and Armeria stayed pretty close. They were the epitome of the saying, ‘Better friends than lovers.’ Her mother was one of the few people who didn’t treat him like he didn’t belong; he was going there to support Armeria, honor Susie’s memory, and be there for his daughters. Daughters.

It was weird having his eldest daughter back in town. She disappeared without a word to anyone, didn’t write or call and Armeria adamantly refused to report her as missing. There was gossip, but no one seemed to want to find her or bring her back. Then three weeks after Lucy left, he got a letter telling him that she had to leave, the town was making it hard for to live freely; she said that she was fine, and she’d keep in touch. Since then she sent him letters or trinkets randomly, but he was the only one to hear from his daughter besides her former best friend, Leanne, who works at his deli.

He ran into her a few times at the hospital before realizing it was her. She had changed so much from the jumpy little girl she used to be. He didn’t talk to her much in the hospital; it wasn’t the right time to.

After Susie passed away, he thought that Lucy would just up and leave again or try to blend in and avoid everyone until the wake before vanishing once more. Imagine his surprise when she waltzed into the deli the day before the wake like nothing’s changed and asked if he needed any help.

They were busy, so he tossed her a deli shirt and a hat. She pulled her hair back into a bun, washed her hands and got to work. He introduced her to the other employees, and things went pretty smoothly. Lendall, to his brother’s credit, didn’t make a big deal of it or ask where Lucy had been. He was a little worried when Leanne came in for her shift, but the two of them picked up like they had never been apart.

He knew that she wasn’t going to have it as easy with her mother’s side of the family. Jezzabell would try and be nice because she thinks she ruined Lucy’s life. Nona would be terrible like she’s always been; she’s just a hypocrite though. Ian wasn't sure about Randall, but he’s always had an issue with needing to act like he’s God’s gift to the earth. Scott, well no matter what, he had no room to talk. Ian didn’t know how Lucy's  cousins would act since he didn’t know what their parents told them.

He didn’t know what his daughter was thinking, but she had something planned. He didn’t want to push her in case she ran again, but he did find out that she was planning on staying for awhile. Apparently she left some unfinished business that needed to be taken care of.

When Lucy left, he felt like he didn’t really know his daughter that well if he couldn’t pick up on the fact that she hated it enough in the town to leave. For the first time since then, Ian felt like he didn’t really know his baby girl as well as he thought; there was a lot more to her leaving, and he wished he could have made things better for her then. He couldn't take the past back, but he could try to be a better father now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone who knew Susie was gathering at the funeral parlor. The ones that weren’t there were going to be at the viewing later that night. She was a sweetheart and never made anyone feel like they didn’t belong.

It was everyone’s respect for her that made them stop gossiping about Lucy. She loved that girl more than she did some of her own children. In a way, Lucy was more like a daughter to her than a granddaughter.

Maggie shook her head to clear it of all thoughts concerning the oldest Barnette daughter. Her left eye still throbbed slightly whenever Lucy wormed her way into Maggie Dunn’s mind. She tried thinking of better things when one walked in. 

Cain O’Reilly walked in looking like he owned the place as he lazily made his way towards her. She could feel her heart pick up its pace, but then it stopped as a thought crept in; what if Lucy came back for this?

Maggie knew the rules, and she also knew Lucy; breaking them was just something Lucy did. Lucy was hard to understand and mysterious, yet open at the same time. She was an unsolvable puzzle and maybe that’s why Cain was always so fascinated with her.

Maggie thought she could change that after Lucy left, but she knew that Cain still thought about her. She knew Cain didn’t like Lucy for her looks because she really didn’t have any. She wasn’t a beauty like Maggie.

Maggie always had it all. She was without a doubt one of the prettiest females in town. Her curly blonde hair falling just past her shoulders, her thin physique, green eyes and five foot eight inch frame. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and had everything she could ever want. Everything except for Cain.

She knew it was selfish to want him to only think about her, for her to be his everything. It was okay for her to want everything; she was a Dunn after all and if there’s one thing a Dunn is good at it’s being greedy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucy arrived at the funeral home early so she could talk to her grandmother before everyone else showed up. There were three years of regrets and stories that she had to confess. Most normal people confessed to God, but Lucy always saved it for Susie. In a way her grandmother was like God for her. The only difference was that she actually believed in her grandmother.

When family and other members of the town started to come in, Lucy went to the side. She wasn’t going to start anything here, but she knew some of the others would be tempted to. She dressed inconspicuously in a long black skirt, a lace covered top, and seven inch heels. She had her hair concealing enough of her face so other people would need to be really close to recognize her.

As everyone was arriving, she decided to people watch. It was fun trying to see who she remembered and how much they changed. It was easier to tell what they were thinking and who they really are now than it was three years ago.

Maggie was the same looks-wise, but her personality was calmer, more relaxed and she still had that hang up on Cain. The thought of Cain made Lucy’s heart speed up. She was glad she hadn’t seen him yet.

Glen looked a little taller, and he was definitely more girl crazy. He had a little goatee now, but oddly enough, it suited him. Lucy shook her head when she realized his mind still primarily focused around video games and RPG’s. Good to see he was still the same silly little boy he always was.

The twins seemed to still be stuck at the hip. Elke and Logan should have grown out of that years ago, but they had a codependency issue that no one was willing to bring up. They were still small, maybe five foot three each. Elke’s hair was longer now, just barely brushing her shoulders, and it had more of a wave to it also. Logan’s hair was also longer, just passed the ears and curling; it looked better that way. They still had the same light brown hair and dark blue eyes. The only major difference was that their thoughts weren’t in sync anymore. Elke’s thoughts were more political and musically oriented, while Logan’s were more about art and love. They were growing up, but afraid of what that meant for them.

Charlie was pretty much the same, though he seemed more open about his sexuality if the way he had his arm curled around Miccah was any indication. He was still his tall six foot two inch self, with just enough muscle to not look lanky, and be intimidating. When he moved his dark brown hair fell into his hazel eyes, hiding them from veirw. His thoughts of ravaging his boyfriend were quelled out of respect for Susie. He gained control of his sins now. 

Miccah hadn’t changed much either. He still had shaggy black hair that was spiked with gel, and he still just barely made eye level with Charlie’s lips. He was happy with what he had for once. He was head over heels for his boyfriend. Lucy was glad that he was actually happy now.

She almost looked right past Dexie. She was of medium height now, and her dark brown hear was pin straight and made it to her mid-back. She looked frail in the slightly too big dress and flowing cardigan. She seemed to blend in with everyone else. She kept her head down and wasn’t as outspoken and energetic as she once was. Her thoughts were a jumbled mass of confusion, anger, and resignation. Lucy was going to fix that. 

Wren, Cain's first cousin, seemed to be the most changed. Her once pixie cut black hair was now just past her chin with long, sleek, face-framing bangs, and choppy in the back. It was completely purple with some bits of pink here and there. She was almost as tall as Miccah, and her thoughts were solely on photography, and how she would love to capture how fake everyone was on film. She was more cynical now.

Cain himself was taller, broader then she remembered. He had put on some weight, but you could tell it was all muscle. He was still stunning with those hazel eyes that looked almost gold. He still made her pulse quicken, and to her surprise, she still took up a lot of space in his mind. He really was hoping to see her here. Everything still came so easy to him.

Hanley is Cain and Wren’s second cousin. He was about the same height as Cain, and had slightly long brown hair. He had the same golden colored eyes as Cain, but was thinner. He had wiry muscles cording his arms, but it wasn't enough to seem bulky. His mind was still on music and animation, but Lucy was in the back of his mind. The sight of him caused an ache in Lucy’s chest that she just couldn’t explain.

Everyone grew up, but no one’s really moved on. They were all stuck until she could move them forward again.

Lucy snapped out of her reverie when she heard her Uncle Randall start trying to take over everything. She started walking towards her mother and Uncle.

“Anything wrong over here?”

Lucy’s question startled both of them. Her uncle looked down at her with confusion written clear across his face.

“I’m sorry, but do I know you?”

“Yes and no. I’m surprised you don’t remember your own niece.”

Randall’s eyes lit up in recognition. Armeria just stood and watched. She knew Lucy had too much respect for her grandmother to make a scene now, but she also knew Lucy wasn’t going to let her Uncle start anything either. As much as she didn’t want anyone else knowing Lucy was back yet, it would be worth it to get Randall to fall off his high horse.

“Oh, Lucy. I hardly recognized you! When did you get back?”

“About three weeks ago.”

“Ah, I must not have seen you around then.”

Lucy just shook her head; he was so full of it.

“Must not have. I came back to spend time with Nanny before she passed away.”

Randall shook his head in fake understanding. Such a pity Lucy could see right through it. She held back an empty laugh.

“I probably missed you at the hospital.”

Lucy actually did let out a little chuckle at this. She looked up to meet his eyes before replying, “I’ve not a doubt about that; you never even came in. I believe your exact words were, ‘I’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it.’”

He paled at her words. His charm didn’t seem to work on her anymore. Randall realized that his little niece was now stronger than him.

“Be very careful of what you say next Uncle Randall, your brain to mouth filter might just not agree with you tonight otherwise.” 

He looked at her in disbelief.

“Are you threatening me?”

“How did I threaten you? It’s not like a little girl like me could control what you do and don’t say. Though now that I have your attention, I will say this just once;Momma knows what she is doing here. Nanny left everything in Momma’s care, not yours. You wouldn’t even come see her when you knew she was dying. Even after I left, I kept more contact with her than you did. You have no say here at all, understand?”

She waited for him to nod.

“Good. Now you can go and charm anyone here, tell them your sob story of how you were so close to her when the truth is, you couldn’t even be bothered to say goodbye to her. Do what you want, but just know that it isn’t going to work on us. Leave this to someone who’s actually been here.”

With that said, Lucy walked away, still able to hear the disbelief radiating off her uncle. As long as he listened to her and stayed quiet, then everything would be just fine. If not, then he might just slip and tell everyone how much better he thinks he is than them.

Lucy was going to go back into her secluded spot when Maggie caught her attention. She’s a grown woman still pining after her childhood crush like a silly little school girl. She couldn’t really blame the girl; Cain was something captivating, a mystery of his own.

She walked up right behind the blonde, stood on her tiptoes, and spoke, “I’d have figured you would know better by now.”

The girl jumped before turning to see no one was there, she shook her head and when she turned back around, Lucy was sitting on the seat in front of her.

“You should sit down. You seem a little jumpy.”

Maggie just stood there staring at the teen in front of her. She knew Lucy was coming back, but she didn’t expect this. She didn’t expect Lucy to have grown into herself. She looked comfortable in her skin, so different. The only thing the same about her was the blank face and stoic eyes. She looked like a life sized porcelain doll. Empty eyes, too pale skin, painted on smile, immaculately put together, but if you look close enough you could see little flaws in the glass, the lack of life to be seen. Lucy was a real life doll, being played with by adults acting like children. Lucy’s voice startled her out of her musings.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Well you certainly look like one.”

Lucy let out a small laugh. It seemed almost friendly.

“I usually get called a vampire, but ghost is cool too. So how’s Cain?”

Maggie just shook her head and sat down next to her once-upon-a-time friend.

“I really should know better by now. I just can’t help but want him. I love him, but he loves you.”

“He thinks about you too, ya know? I mean, I’m still consuming most of his thought process, but you’re there in the back; you don’t leave either.”

Maggie quelled the hope rising in her chest. She was not going to take Lucy’s word just yet.

“You’re attracted to him too. Why don’t you just go sweep him off his feet already? Did you come here for him?”

Lucy shook her head at the older girl’s insecurity.

“I came back here for Nanny. As to why I won’t make a move on Cain, is that I don’t know how I feel about him. He makes my pulse race, and always made me smile. Thinking of him still makes me smile. I just don’t have the desire to start anything with him; I couldn’t imagine actually dating him.”

“How don’t you know? Isn’t this kinda simple?”

Lucy just shook her head again.

“It’s a lot harder when you don’t have emotions. I honestly don’t know what to feel.”

It was Maggie’s turn to shake her head. She let out a small laugh.

“I guess I can see the problem there.”

Lucy let out a small but genuine laugh. Maggie felt a spike of greed rise up in her. She turned to her current companion.

“You actually felt something!” Maggie whisper-yelled.

Maggie was trying to hide her giggles, as Lucy fought to compose herself. The two quickly got up and went to the little alcove Lucy was in earlier. Lucy quickly composed herself and Maggie quieted her giggles.

“I hope that doesn’t freak the oldies out too much. I wouldn’t mind feeling that emotion again.”

“You were happy….at a wake!”

“I’m so going to Hell!”

“We all are!” 

Lucy took a few deep breaths and made sure she had everything under control before speaking again.

“It was nice to lose control for a second. I just hope that it didn’t cause Charlie to jump Miccah.” 

“Now that really would freak the oldies out.”

“Most definitely, but it would be quite a hot show, just not here.” 

“Miccah wouldn’t enjoy himself though; he’d be too jealous of everyone thinking about Charlie!”

They had to stop talking before the conversation caused that to actually happening. Lucy had to keep it together. It was so much easier when she was away. After a few minutes of silence she had herself in check. Emotions all locked up, and unable to come through anymore.

She turned to look at Maggie. Maggie would have felt it too.

“How are you?”

Maggie leaned against the wall behind them and slid down to the floor. Lucy took her example and followed suit.

“I’m good. I mostly thought about grabbing Cain and telling everyone that he was all mine. I can just imagine how that would have gone.”

“He’d have been too lazy to argue. Most likely, he’d be asleep.” 

Both girls shook their heads.

“At least Abbott didn’t get into it with your Aunt Jezzabell. That would have been bad.”

“Oh yeah. You’d think he would have gotten over it by now. That fight started nineteen years ago.”

Maggie looked at Lucy like she was stupid.

“He’s an O’Carroll; of course he’d still be mad. They don’t stop until they have their revenge. Fucking God of Wrath he is.”

“I know that, but you’d figure a thirty-six year old adult would have grown past teenage grudges by now. Pity they don’t really grow up here.” 

Maggie just shrugged as if she thought about this all the time. In truth, she did.

“It’s growing up without moving on.”

Lucy pulled her knees up to her chest before resting her arms on top of them.

“Well it looks like I’m gonna have to make them. High school is over and they need to realize that this is no way to live,” she turned her head to face Maggie, “Want to help?”

Lucy was a porcelain doll alright. They were playing her, but when you’re too tough on such a fragile thing, it breaks. While pretty, those dolls aren’t harmless; hurt them, and then you’re going to get sliced by the glass; they’ll make you bleed. Porcelain dolls can be put back together, imperfections more pronounced, but you’ll always remember what happens when you’re not careful. Sometimes though, the glass will embed itself into your skin. Lucy broke a long time ago, and while she’s been put back together, stronger than ever, her broken pieces have embedded themselves into this town. She’s a porcelain doll that’s tired of childish adults thinking they run the game. 

Maggie was tired of letting them try to play her too. She was more a chess piece than a doll though. She was done being their pawn.

“Whatever you need my help with, I’m there. Let’s do it right this time.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Right outside the alcove Armeria heard every word they said. A part of her was glad that her daughter had a little happiness. It was just a small spike, but they all felt it. The surge of power, the spike of sin.

Luckily they all thought that it was the mass grief that caused it. Randall won’t say anything out of fear of what might happen if he does. Mina, Luna, Bane, and Macayle don’t know anything about it, and no one else knew that Lucy was back.

Any thought of Maggie telling everyone flew out the window the moment she agreed to join Lucy in her crusade.

It made Armeria put faith in Sophia’s words. Lucy was going to win, and things would be righted. For the first time since she was a little girl, she believed that it just might be.