"Hear now the words of the witches, the secrets we hid in the night. The oldest of gods are invoked here...."

Hailey's two daughters recited hand in hand out on the balcony at Half Light. Daria was tucked in the shadows, sneaking a cigarette before going to rehearse back up vocals for one of Molly's new songs.

"You're doing it wrong!"the oldest, Emily said.

Daria texted Fi to come outside. Fi popped her head out the door and looked around for Daria before walking up to her.

"What's going on?"Fi asked.

"Shh,"Daria whispered, "Look."

"What does it matter anyways?"the youngest, Clair, said, "Its not going to work."

"What are you girls doing?" Fi asked.

"Nothing,"Emily said, quickly snatching her hands from her sister.

"You two watch Charmed huh?"Daria said with a smile.

"Yeah. Granny Penny bought it for us on DVD. Mommy doesn't like magic and stuff though,"Claire said.

"But Granny said that our family is special. That there's more to the world then when can see,"Emily said.

Fi bit her lip. Some how she was flashed back to when she was a kid their age.

"You know,"Daria said, "Your granny is right. We are different from other people."

"Really?"Claire asked.

"Really,"Fi answered.

Fi held out her hand and a butterfly from the near by flowering bush flew over and landed on it. Both of the girls gasped in awe.

"And you know,"Daria said, "Our mommies didn't like it either. But you girls have to remember that no matter what, you are never ever alone."

The candle on the table flickered and the passing breeze snuffed it. Daria touched her finger to the wick and lit it back.

"We have secrets that we must keep though. There are people out there that wouldn't understand that might want to do bad things," Daria continued.

"Can we do things like that?"Emily.

"Maybe one day," Fi answered.

The door cracked open and a few band members, including Carey, came out. Fi stood up from her crouched position by the girls. She walked over to Carey. He took her into an embrace.

"What ya doin'?"Carey asked.

"Talking to the girls. They've been exploring the fun side of our family,"Fi said.

"Oh, well they're in good hands."

Carey looked over at Daria with adoration. She was smiling at the girls sweetly. He couldn't help but be over taken by the feeling of sadness.

"What's wrong?"Fi asked.

"She would have made such a good mom,"he said softly.

"I know,"Fi said, "But who knows in the mean time. She might be one still."

The door again opened. This time it was Daria's mom who came out. She approached Fi and Carey, putting her arm around Carey's waist.

"How's my boy?"Lynn asked.

"Oh,fine,"Carey said, trying to be polite but was clearly uncomfortable with his friend's mother being so flirty with him.

"Jesus Christ!"Daria said, "Why do you insist on doing that?"

Daria lit a cigarette and quickly approached the others.

"What's wrong with you?"Lynn asked.

"Look at you!"Daria snapped, "For once, could you not hit on my friends? For fuck's sake, you've known him since he was a baby. Its disgusting!"

Carey stepped in front of his best friend. He attempted to pull her away to calm her down.

"Daria, stop it,"Carey said.

Lynn furrowed her brow at her daughter as Carey continued to block Daria. The blonde scurried to try to get around his towering frame.

"No, Carey,"Daria said, "She has got to stop trying to make herself the center of attention. The whole day I'm hearing her bitch and moan about poor her. Today isn't about you!"

From inside, Ned and Clu heard her screaming. They looked at each other for a minute, trying to figure out what was going on.

"Is that Daria?"Ned asked.

"I think so,"Clu said.

"Come on,"Ned said.

The two of them rushed to the door. Daria was still screaming all sorts of incoherent insults at her mother.

"You treated me like I was garbage and a burden my whole life!"

"You don't know what it was like for me!"Lynn fired back.

"Why? Because dad left you? You were cheating on him for five years. You have never been a victim! When I got the shit beat out of me and some hell spawn killed my daughter, you still made it about you!"

The flames in the fire pits leapt. The gathered crowd all jumped at this. Ned looked at the girl that would have been his daughter in law. He knew the behavior.

He had seen it happen in the years following Rick's death. The post traumatic stress coping mechanism that Molly had turned to was the bottle.

"Son,"Ned said to Carey, "Get her out of here."

Daria looked at Carey and then at Fi. Fiona was at a loss of words.

"Touch me, and you'll regret it," Daria said.

Clu moved to help his brother. Ned grabbed his arm. Clu looked at his dad.

"Dad,"Clu said, "I can take care of it,"

Clu walked up to his ex like he would a wounded animal. She inhaled the cigarette at her full lips deeply and blew the smoke out in a similar fashion.

"What are you on, Daria?"Clu asked in a low tone.

"Screw you asshole. I'm not on anything,"Daria said.

"Come with me back stage and we can talk,"he said.

"I don't want to talk to you," she hissed.

"Then come with me and I'll calm you down in another way."

"No."

Clu didn't fight with her anymore. He was bigger then her, stronger. He grabbed her up and threw her over his shoulder. She cursed and fought with him the whole time.

Lynn was standing there, face red, glaring at whoever crossed her path.

"Do you think this is funny?"she said, looking directly at Fi.

"No,"Fi said, "I don't."

"Come on," Ned said, "Lets go inside and get you a glass of wine. Molly ordered an nice merlot just for tonight."

Lynn went with Ned. She'd never been one to pass on a drink offered by a man. Didn't matter who they were.

Fiona excused herself without a word. She sat down in a chair by one of the fire pits. She tucked her knees up to her chest, trying to fight the tears. Care came and sat beside her.

"You okay?"

"It scares me,"she said, "I thought she was getting better."

"So did I."

Fi shifted in her seat. She locked eyes with Carey.

"Its selfish,"she said, "but I'm sitting here thinking 'Thank God that's not me,' and worrying how close I am to it."

Carey wrapped an arm around her. Fi's lip quivered.

"I don't want to loose her. She's going to die if this keeps on, but all I care about is not turning into my mother."

"Its not selfish. Its human. But I think, right now, Clu has to take care of her,"Carey said, "Now, its okay. And hey, I love you."

"Carey?"Fi said.

"Yeah?"

"Do you still have that letter?"

"Of course I do. Why?"

"Have you read it?"

"No," Carey replied.

He had question plastered all over his face. Fi kissed him softly.

"When you go home, read it,"she said, "I think its time for you to do that."

Meanwhile, in the dressing room area of the club, Daria still ranted.

"Put me down Clu!"

Clu plopped her down on the counter. He held hold of her hips. She glared at him and picked up her hands.

"Don't you dare," Clu said and took hold of her hands.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him in close.

"I'm sorry baby,"she said.

She placed her forehead against his and teased his lips with hers.

"Let me make it up to you?"

"Seriously, Daria, what are you on?"

"Nothing,"she said, "Just some xanex and whiskey. Maybe a little weed. Mostly whiskey. My skin feels real good."

He laid his head on her shoulder and leaned against her cheek. He kissed her skin.

"That doesn't work on me,"Clu said.

She smiled at him seductively and wrinkled her nose.

"That's not what I'm picking up from you,"she said.

"Your head is too cloudy for that to work. I know you. What happened to you?"

She laughed.

"Is this funny?"

"You did this to me. I am what you and that monster made me. Now, I want you to make me hurt. I want you to make me scream."

She clawed at his back under his shirt. He breathed out hard in the pleasure from the pain. He ran his hands up her thighs and hiked up her dress.

"That's my boy,"she said.

He went with what his body was telling him. He knew that it wasn't right. That last few times felt like she was a stranger. But at the same time, familiar.

For the longest, they had only known each other. He knew that there had been others. Things were different. She was ruthless. Goddess embodied.

They desperately tried to muffle their cries with violent kisses. Clu pulled away for a moment to look Daria in the eye.

"I love you,"he said.

"Shut the fuck up," she said.

She arched her back and placed her hands on the mirror behind her. He buried his face in her chest as she reached climatic heights. Her skin flushed and she moved to ling to him.

The faucets near by turned on and erupted into steam. The mirror behind her creaked before it cracked, coinciding with the peak of her excitement.

"Shit!"Clu said.

Breathless, they looked at each other. The sound of the mirror attracted attention. Wasn't long before there was pounding on the door.

"Son, are you okay?"

the voice belonged to Ned. The two scrambled to gather themselves. Clothes were barely in place before Ned opened the door.

"What happened?"Ned asked.

The shock and their stammering words spoke volumes.

"Its my fault,"Daria said, "I'll pay for it."

Clu quickly shut off the water and looked at his dad with guilty eyes.

"Well, you two gather yourselves. Molly starts sound check in five,"Ned said.

Ned shut the door and the two breathed a sigh of relief.

"When did we go back to high school?"Daria asked.

"Come on,"Clu said, "Lets get some water and try to sober you up."