Past Returns

Well I've told one of you reviewers what I had…but that was just to make sure that I don't forget it. Well...onto some shopping and an interesting visit.

"Why are we here?" Reid asked.

"Because." Maddie answered, not looking at him.

"Well I know why you're here." Reid said. "But why are we here." He pointed at himself and Tyler.

"Uh…because I want my birthday to be a costume party…duh." Maddie said.

"But you've done that so many times." Reid said.

"Yeah…because it's Halloween." Maddie said.

"Why aren't Caleb and Pogue with us?" Tyler asked, looking at some costumes.

"Because they already have stuff." Maddie said. "Besides…Caleb's my brother and Pogue is practically another brother so god knows they'll freak if I even suggest something remotely revealing."

"Revealing is good." Tyler said. Reid chuckled.

"No wings." He said.

"Deal." Maddie said.

"Or tights." Reid said. Maddie nodded. "Hey look…Superman."

"Thought you said no tights." Tyler said. Maddie laughed and pushed her hair out of her face. She pushed through a bunch of costumes. Tyler's phone went off and the other two looked at him. "Damn."

"What?" Maddie asked.

"Dad wants me home for some reason." Tyler said. Maddie pouted. Tyler put his arm around her waist and kissed her lightly. "Look on the plus side…you can surprise me with an outfit."

"Hmm…good idea." Maddie said. Tyler left. "Now if only I could figure out what I want."

"Well…usually you do some sort of animal." Reid said. "Or like…you've been a fairy a few times."

"I don't want an average Halloween costume." Maddie said. "I want something…different."

"You've been Cinderella before." Reid said.

"I have?" Maddie asked.

"Yeah…when you were like…six." Reid said.

"Hmm…maybe I should repeat myself." Maddie said, suddenly spotting a gorgeous dress.

"Huh? How?" Reid asked. Maddie didn't look at him. She just reached up and grabbed his chin, turning his head towards the dress. "Whoa…"

"Yeah." Maddie said, nodding. She walked towards it. Reid followed.

"I can't believe you bought it." He said, pulling up in front of the Danvers house later.

"How could I not? It's amazing!" Maddie said. They got out and Maddie carried the box containing her new dress and a few bags. They walked into the house and Maddie stopped for a minute. "It feels so weird coming in here…remembering stuff…and not having mom or Caleb here."

"Yeah." Reid said. "Probably the same way it felt for us when you weren't around."

"I can't believe I thought I was Chase's sister." Maddie said. Reid laughed. "Hey…not funny. That is a level of twisted I didn't even know existed."

"Poor you." Reid said.

"Hey don't piss off the powerful witch." Maddie said. "I can make you do some twisted shit."

"Oh I'm scared." Reid said. Maddie rolled her eyes. "Hey I gotta go. Have work to do you know."

"Yeah." Maddie said.

"You'll be ok by yourself?" Reid asked. Maddie nodded. "Ok…I think Pogue's done work soon so he'll probably be over in like an hour or something."

"I don't need to be constantly watched." Maddie said. "I never have been."

"Yeah you have." Reid said. "When we found out you were hanging out with Chase."

"Really?" Maddie asked. "God, why can't I remember that stuff? It's like…all but maybe three or four things involving Chase are completely shut out from my mind."

"Hey don't worry, you'll figure it out." Reid said. He hugged her then left. Maddie put her stuff away in her room then wandered the house. She got down the stairs and froze. There was music…not just any music, piano music. As far as she knew, she was the only one in the house. Even Gorman was out. Slightly scared, she headed towards the room with the piano. The door was already slightly open. Maddie frowned and opened it a little more before looking inside. She couldn't see anything.

"What the hell?" Maddie muttered, walking into the room. She then froze. Sitting at the piano was a young girl who looked scarily like herself except her hair was darker and her complexion was more tanned. Maddie stared. She had to think quickly. Maybe if she just slowly backed out then waited until Pogue…

"I may be dead but I'm not stupid." The girl at the piano said. Maddie couldn't move. The girl finished off the song then rose. She was dressed in an old styled deep blue coloured dress. "Well it's about time you got back."

"What?" Maddie asked.

"Honestly, did you think you were the only one this has happened to?" The girl asked. "Good lord child you just about wiped away any remaining hope I ever had of the girls being smart."

"Hey!" Maddie said. "Don't be calling me dumb you…"

"Don't be snarky with me!" The girl said. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have your power." Maddie stopped and stared at her. "Oh come on now, you should know who I am now."

"You're the first daughter." Maddie said. "You were originally from the fifth line."

"Well I guess from your point of view that's right." The girl said. "The only reason my brother's line is known as the fifth line is because he sought more."

"Your brother's line?" Maddie asked.

"If I hadn't married one of the other four boys, there would be six lines now wouldn't there." The girl said.

"Gee, don't need to be snippy." Maddie said.

"I hated them." The girl said. Maddie blinked.

"Umm…ok." She said, looking confused.

"Listen, I'm telling you this to prepare you for everything." The girl snapped. "Maybe you'll rethink it all. Now come here." Maddie rolled her eyes as she obediently crossed the room and sat on the couch next to the girl.

"With all due respect…I have no idea why you're here…umm…" Maddie said.

"Madelyn." The girl said.

"Ok…Madelyn." Maddie said. "You hate them…meaning…"

"All of them." Madelyn said. "My brother, Perry, Simms, Garwin, my husband."

"Why?" Maddie asked.

"I was forced to marry into your line." Madelyn said. "I had to marry into a family within the Covenant. Why? Because I was the girl. It's all fine and dandy for the boys to just pick someone outside of the families and…"

"I get it." Maddie said. "God…now I know where my attitude comes from." Madelyn frowned. "Why do you only look a bit older then me? Is it supposed to be some way of appealing to me or…?"

"I died when I was eighteen." Madelyn said. "I ascended at seventeen, like you, had your….god only knows how many greats…grandfather…and then I died. And unlike you…I didn't come back."

"I'm sorry, I'm still not getting where you're going with this." Maddie said. Madelyn rolled her eyes and huffed before smacking Maddie. "OW!! What the hell!! Bitch!"

"Will you use the brain that you better have in your head and think!" Madelyn said.

"God…bitter much?" Maddie said.

"Oh you have no idea." Madelyn said.

"Ok so you hate everyone because you were forced to marry." Maddie said. "Why are you telling me this shit when there have been maybe like…a dozen other girls with the power?"

"Because you're the only one who actually killed herself." Madelyn said. Maddie blinked and stared at her. "The other girls, if they ever came across the 'fifth' son…he would kill them. You…sacrificed yourself to keep the other boys safe."

"Well…yeah." Maddie said.

"You blocked off any hope that my brother's line could have had of ever continuing on now." Madelyn said. "That Chase boy can't even do what my brother did and impregnate someone as an incubus."

"So…way to go me?" Maddie asked.

"Yes ok, have your moment of glory." Madelyn said.

"Geez…take the fun out of it." Maddie said. "So I'm guessing you're not here on a congratulatory mission."

"Not even close." Madelyn said. A door slammed shut somewhere in the house. Both of them looked to the door of the room which was still open.

"Hey Maddie…where are you?" Pogue called. He came into view. "There you are."

"Yep…here I am…" Maddie said. She turned to look at Madelyn…only to find the other girl gone.

She didn't tell Pogue about it, mainly because she didn't want Caleb to know until she figured out more. Tyler, on the other hand, she felt as if he deserved to know. But when was the best time to tell him?? The more she thought about it, the more Maddie was sure that Madelyn's plan was to do some intervention that had to do with the relationship between the youngest Covenant members.

BOLS…Bitter Old Lady Syndrome. Well…I guess Madelyn would have Bitter Old YOUNG Lady Syndrome. But why??? Apart from being forced into a marriage…