A week. An entire seven-day week and nothing. A threat with no follow-up. How lame was that? And here Beth had gone and thought she'd made an enemy. While she wasn't jumping at the opportunity to face off against the strange robed men, she'd like to think she was a little bit more of a priority. After all, her mother was a slayer. Did that scare no one now? This was just sloppy work! Threatening her and then not following through. Lazy and plain irresponsible, really; had they no integrity?
Of course, there was always the possibility that they had only sent the message to scare her into being quiet and therefore actually had no plans to come after her. Gee, that was one way to make a girl feel special.
"You look all thinky," Nadja told Beth as she sat down next to her in Brit Lit. "What are you thinking about?"
"Lots of stuff," Beth told her, returning to thinking, the same troubled look on her face. Was it so hard to maybe find someone watching you? Would the suspense ever end? Could they get this over with so Beth could move on with her life and occupy her time thinking about other things?
"Thanks for the great insight," Nadja snorted, pulling out her notebook. "So, can I ask you something?"
She stopped thinking about her flaky, threat-bearing robed men and turned to face Nadja. "Shoot."
"Okay, so you remember how I once mentioned how my family has these little gathering things?" Nadja began.
"Vaguely," she admitted honestly. Gods, she hoped this wasn't some sort of friend test. Hey, do you remember all these things I once talked about in passing?
"They're like family reunion-type things? You know what I mean?"
Beth thought of every time her Uncle Xander and Aunt Dawn came a visited. There was usually drunken shenanigans on the male's side and sisterly bickering on the female's side. And she didn't even want to get into the mess that was Angel's visits. Talk about history.
"Yes," she replied.
"So, normally we don't let outsiders in, you know? As in, non-family members. It was difficult to even get one of my cousin's fiancé in and they were getting married in less than a month! But anyway, I mentioned your mom was the slayer and how you know all of these cool things in the mystical world or whatever and I guess someone who heard me told our grandfather, and to make a long story short, they kinda let me extend an invitation to you."
"So, let me make sure I understand you: I'm invited to your family's exclusive bar-b-que?" she asked.
Nadja gave her a dry smile. "It's not a bar-b-que. Well, there is food cooking, but there's more than that! It's mainly to do with family history and some of my cousins and uncles mess around with magic and there may or may not be some chanting that comes off as a bit demented with their deep voices. But anyway, you think you'd want to go?"
Beth smiled, elated to be invited to such a private event. Normally she got excluded from those things. "Sure, when is it?"
"This weekend, actually. It'll be nice to have someone closer to my age there."
"What about Zack?" she inquired.
"He hangs out with all my older cousins who are in college," Nadja explained. "And then all my girl cousins are at least seven years older than me with kids or something."
"Oh wow," Beth said. "So you're the youngest?"
"In this generation? Yes. The next generation averages out to about three."
"I'll have to ask my parents, but I'm sure they'll let me go. I'll just say it's like some sort of party," Beth said.
"Well, that's not not true. It's like a party, but without cake."
"And more magic," she murmured, thinking about what her father would say if she went (he'd start taking bets on how quickly she set something on fire probably).
"Exactly," Nadja agreed. "Totally a party."
"So, why exactly does your family do this? And what kind of history lesson are we talking?" she asked.
Nadja shrugged. "My family's always been pretty close knit. I don't know if it's because of the business or because we're Romany."
"Romany?" Beth repeated, unfamiliar with the word.
"Yeah you know, from Europe? Romany families lived pretty close together before so we kind of continue it now. Plus, my family is steeped in magic and the supernatural so it's only normal to expect my family to have a lot of history."
"So it'll be a fun history lesson then?" she joked.
Nadja rolled her eyes. "Yeah, if you haven't heard the same story over and over again. I swear, I think it's just told to scare the children into submission or something. 'Don't stay up too late or the Shimulo will get you!' It's all very ridiculous."
"No, I think it sounds nice," Beth told her. "It'll be fun to hear some old family tales. My mum does it all the time and I love to hear about all her little adventures in Sunnydale."
"Yeah, but that happened a few decades ago. The story I hear takes place over a century ago and it never gets interesting. Ever. It's a tale to frighten children. Even Zack, as old as he is, still freaks out about it."
"Okay, that sounds funny," she giggled.
Nadja smiled. "Oh, wait until you see his wide-eyed look. He looks like some scared deer."
Beth and Nadja dissolved into a fit of giggles until the bell rang, signaling the start of class.
-.-
The family get-together/bar-b-que/magical party took place on Nadja's grandfather's property. He owned a big house up on a winding hill near the edge of the woods. Beth commented on the safety of the event, since more action happened after sunset and a group of people was no doubt going to be a loud matter, but Nadja assured her that all was safe. Her grandfather was a very skilled warlock and knew old magic to keep the demons at bay. The Slayer Academy had similar wards, as a castle full of slayers was no doubt a target for demons to aim at.
The house itself was quite beautiful, built like a winter lodge in the snowy mountains. It was three stories high with large windows and an expansive balcony on the second floor. In the setting sun, the warm lights emitted from the house were very friendly and Beth could see people moving about indoors as they drove up in the car. Spike had dropped her off at Nadja's house, telling her to keep safe, threw a greeting at Vera, all before driving off to join Buffy in patrol.
From behind the house rose a large column of smoke—for the bonfire, Nadja had mentioned. Beth wasn't sure how fond of bonfires she was. She was no more flammable than any other human (well, at least she hoped. That wasn't exactly something she had been willing to try out), but the idea of being near a large, open flame made her a little edgy.
Nadja's father, a tall quiet man with a mustache who had only introduced himself as Mr. Kalder, parked next to the line of other cars. The mud splatters on the side of the truck were finally explained to her, as part of the journey here had been made on a dirt road.
"Most of the boys will be outside," Nadja told her. "The women-folk do all the cooking in the kitchen. It's so old fashion, I swear."
"I thought you said there was a bar-b-que?" she asked.
"No, you said bar-b-que. I said cooking. It's mainly traditional foods, so I don't know how you'll feel about that."
"I lived in a castle with the most-diverse group of girls you will ever meet, many of which who cooked and did so regularly. Trust me, I have no qualms with food. I might even be familiar with some of the dishes."
Nadja grinned. "Well, let's head on in then."
The inside of the house was just as spectacular as the outside. The high ceiling in the living room went all the way up to the third floor, with a beautiful wrought iron chandelier hanging above. The large, back wall windows had a breathtaking view of the woods and, far off in the distance, Lake Washington. The huge stone fireplace was not currently in use, though no less magnificent in its size. Beth saw a few people chatting as they sat on the couch, though she made no move to join them. Nadja, though, had other ideas.
"Beebee Anita, this is my friend Beth," Nadja introduced to the woman. Anita looked to be about in her fifties with greying hair and large brown eyes with wrinkles around the edge. She looked over at Beth with a cool look before her face broke out into a wide smile.
"So this is the girl you've been talking about!" Anita said. "It is nice to finally meet you!"
Anita stood up to pull Beth into a hug. She shot a perturbed look over at Nadja who only shrugged.
"Oh, so you're the slayers daughter then, right?" Another, much younger girl asked. Beth figured she was one of Nadja's cousins, as she looked to be in her mid-twenties. It also helped that she was holding a small baby, though Beth had no way to judge if the kid was hers. "I'm Marguerite, but the way. I'd shake your hand, but child."
Marguerite was a pretty girl with short, black hair and dark skin. She wore loose-fittinf clothing as she held the swaddled infant. If Beth was to take a guess, she seemed short like Nadja.
"That's little Javier," Nadja told her. "He's only a few months old."
"And he's finally able to sleep a whole night without crying, dios mio it's a wonderful thing!" Marguerite cried happily. A few of the other women giggled.
"Wait until he's two, like my Cassidy," one woman told Marguerite. "Then you'll be wishing he was that small again."
Beth was quickly introduced to the rest of the women. Cassidy's mother was called Theresa and she was in her late twenties. She was finishing her doctorate at the University of Seattle to become a pediatrician. Esmeralda was the second daughter of Nadja's grandfather, coming in as the fourth born. Anita was the oldest. Esmeralda had no children and was currently unwed with no intentions of ever doing so. She was more preoccupied with running her vet clinic and working at the animal shelter. Sylvia was the youngest daughter at thirty-three, newly married to her wife Jasmin and looking to adopt soon. She worked one of the theatres in her father's business after getting her degree in business. Carmen was another one of Nadja's cousins who was the one who had had trouble getting her fiancé to be allowed to go to the family meet-up. There was also Ruth, Zack's older sister, who was attending Berkeley on a degree in chemical engineering. So far, Beth liked Nadja's family, though she had yet to be introduced to any of the men. Theresa said something about them "goofing around" outside and any lulls in the conversation allowed Beth to hear their loud whoops from outside.
"No doubt Zack's fooling around," Ruth muttered. "He'll be so happy next year when he turns eighteen and can finally join in on the groups' little monthly meetings."
"Meetings?" Beth inquired.
"The little sausage fest our uncles have where they help train all boy cousins in magic if they're willing," Ruth explained with such an exasperated tone. "When I wanted to join, my cousins all got on me about how I was a girl and couldn't join. Goddesses know after I joined a coven I could kick all their asses any day."
"A coven?" Beth asked. "Is that around here?"
"Unfortunately no," Ruth replied. "It's near Berkeley. Why, you want to join one?"
"No, but I have an aunt who's looking for one. She likes to have other witches with her."
"Well, good luck finding one. Outside of our family clan, there's few magic practioners in the area. Anyone needs something, they come to our grandfather."
Nadja nodded. "It's true, and sad. Maybe she could join up with some of my aunts and get something started."
"I'm all for that," Esmeralda announced with a grin. "Point me in the direction of your witchy aunt."
Once the sun set, Beth and Nadja made their way outside while the rest of her aunts and cousins went to bring out the food.
"Tell those boys to come in here and help," Anita instructed Nadja. "They're playing around thinking they're all big and above helping in the kitchen. I swear, my George was never this bad."
Nadja snorted in agreement, heading toward the sliding glass doors. Beth, having nowhere else to be, trailed beside her. "You have a large family," she noted as they walked outside. "How many exactly?"
"Well, this is just my dad's side but, three aunts and three uncles, and about twenty cousins? I've got a lot of great aunts, uncles, and distant cousins, but they have their own thing like this. It's really just all my grandfather's kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren."
In the backyard, Beth saw more of Nadja's family. The uncles Nadja spoke about hung out around on the back porch drinking. It was easy to tell who was related to Nadja by blood and who married into the family. All of Nadja's family had dark brown hair and the same smoothly tanned skin, making them easy to match up in the group.
There was also a playground in the backyard where Beth could see numerous young children playing, no doubt all of Nadja's younger cousins. Two of Nadja's older cousins watched the children with smiles on their faces, making sure the kids didn't hurt themselves.
Around the bonfire were all of Nadja's boy cousins and from all their hooting and laughing, Beth understood the determined look on Nadja's face. No doubt they hardly ever listened to her.
"Hey!" Nadja barked, interrupting whatever story they were talking about, "Beebee Anita wants you lazy dogs to go inside and actually do something productive with your lives!"
"Why aren't you doing anything then, Nadja?" one asked laughing.
"Honestly, just do what I say or she'll come and get you, maybe even send her son after you!"
"He's deployed! He can't bring his big marine guns over here!"
Beth was used to being around boys, but not in such large quantities. Were they always this mean and obnoxious? She couldn't ever imagine Jackie hanging out with these kind of guys, let alone her own father. The idea of Mr. Wells talking and joking with these guys was a joke itself! She didn't get involved though, certain they'd pay her less mind than Nadja when it came to obeying her commands.
But of course, whenever did Beth get what she wanted? One of the younger boys (as in, one of the louder ones. The more mature looking ones seemed to be able to modify their voice's volume) took notice of her.
"Hey, who's your friend?"
"This is Beth," Nadja answered, though her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
The resounding oohs that went through the crowd made her eyes narrow and a scowl overcome her features. She was an invited guest and therefore it was not within proper etiquette for her to punch anyone of them. Her first clenched anyway because hey, who'd you think raised her? You're not some spectacle for them, her father had once told her. They don't respect you, you don't respect them.
So I can hit them? Beth had asked.
He had grinned. 'Course, you can, pet. Do it just like your mum.
"So this is les chavi!" One of the boys cackled, shoving Zack who was sitting next to him. For some reason, Zack looked embarrassed and ducked his head. Nadja made a low sound of annoyance, her eyes locked on him.
"He wasn't kidding!" another added. "She really is a pakvora rakli!"
Beth had no clue what they were saying about her, but she didn't like them talking about her like she was on display. "Yeah, well, this 'pakvora rakli' can kick your arse so I suggest you go run along and be good boys and help your aunt Anita," she snapped, irritation flooding her features.
That only earned her another laugh. Oh, she hated it when people underestimated her.
"She's not messing with you," Zack told them with a grin, looking a little cocky rather than embarrassed now. "She's pretty wicked with her fists."
"She's not much. maybe if she ate a little more," one of the boy's commented, giving her a side-eye. Well, that was just about it then, wasn't it?
Beth didn't know the boy's name. She didn't care. Faster than what had to be human, she was beside him, pulling him up out of his seat and twisting his arm behind his back. It wouldn't hurt him, but it sure kept him from moving. And—bonus!—it shut his mouth. To his credit, he did struggle, though Beth sure wasn't going to let him escape that easily. Oh, hell no. She'd put up with enough criticism in her life and so she certainly wasn't going to take more from a mouth-breather like him.
"Trust me, this is much," she told him with a smirk. "Now, I'd like to keep this little get-together of yours relatively violence-free, but my dad never taught me the finer points of 'being a lady.' Besides, my mother's always been a bit 'hit now, ask questions later' kind of person."
"Her mom's the slayer," Zack told the poor boy in Beth's grip. He finally stopped struggling and she let him go.
"Now, how's about that helping Beebee Anita deal?" Nadja asked with a grin, looking like a queen standing there with her chin tilted up, a superior look in her eyes.
Several of the younger boys stood up and left to help, Zack included, giving no more fight about it.
"That's probably the best thing I've ever seen!" one of the older boys laughed. "I've never seen anyone shut Damion up so quickly. Damn girl, you're good."
Beth only shrugged and sat down.
"It's cool to have you as a friend," Nadja told her.
"So, your mom's the slayer of the town?" the guy continued. "It's about time we got someone down here to help with the whole monster infestation. Those self-defense classes were a joke anyway."
"It's definitely a lot of work on my mum's part, that's for sure," she told him. "She's pretty happy to be out of Scotland though. I think she really missed the west coast, even if this isn't California."
Beth and Nadja stayed by the bonfire and talked to the three guys who were sitting there. The oldest one was named Jasper and he was married to Theresa. The other two were Nadja's blood-related cousins, Kyle and Ezekiel. All three of them complimented Beth on her strength and asked about what kind of martial arts she knew. To say they were impressed when she said "all of them" would be an understatement.
"I grew up at the Slayer Academy," she explained. "If all the other girls knew it, why couldn't I?"
About an hour later, once everyone had finished eating and only a few were picking around at what was left over did everyone then begin to gather around the bonfire. Zack smiled at Beth a few seats down, sitting next to the boys he had been with earlier. Despite how much she detested the company he kept, family was family, and so she smiled back at him and one of the other boys snickered. Damion though finally showed enough brain cells of his by keeping his mouth shut.
At what Beth figured was the head of the bonfire (considering it was a circle of chairs, it was hard to decide) sat an old man, obviously Nadja's grandfather. He looked old, though no doubt strong. He wasn't some frail old man and his eyes seemed very wise. Under his gaze, she stilled. He seemed to being taking some mental note of her and even though she was under his scrutiny, she did not squirm. She didn't feel criticized, only observed. He wasn't looking at her like he was looking for something, like all the potentials and other slayers had, trying to find that one thing that proved she was only pretending to be human. He looked at her like he was actually seeing her. She didn't think he knew—how could he?—but the confidence he carried could cause even the most irrational of doubt.
"My grandfather will start talking soon," Nadja informed Beth. "After, we can make s'mores!"
Beth smirked at her. "Your favorite part?"
"You know it."
The youngest kids seemed the most excited, hopping around in their chairs and parents' laps, begging for the story to start. Nadja's grandfather smiled at them and their antics in such a loving manner it made her heart hurt. Beth lacked the elder figures in her family, with most of them dead and Buffy's father hardly one to deserve the title grandfather. After he learned about Spike, he seemed to keep his distance. The closest thing she had was Giles, whom she appreciated, but he was never one keen for shows of affection. He loved her in an almost studious manner.
"I am glad to see all of these faces gathered here at my home today," Nadja's grandfather began in a loud, clear voice. "New and old. Now, as normal, it is once again time to look back at our heritage and lost family. Today, we keep in our thoughts George, who could not join us today due to his deployment. Others, long lost, we also remember, their lives forfeited in Romania in the year 1898. That is where our story began. 'O Shilmulo y les Mule,' or the Vampire and his Soul."
And if someone had asked at that moment, Beth would have sworn the temperature dropped several degrees despite the roaring bonfire. Because, really? The chances of her finding her way to the very descendants her father murdered all those years ago? No fucking way. Like nuh-uh, couldn't happen even if someone wanted it to. She knew the story. Angel had once told her how he had gained his soul and Spike had of course filled in some of the blanks. There was no way in all the known hell dimensions that Beth was right now surrounded by the Kalderash clan. No, no, that would be too coincidental. She wasn't that unlucky. It wasn't possible. The world did not work that way.
"They called him the One with the Angelic Face," he continued in a low voice, "part of the Scourge of Europe, one of the most notorious vampire groups in all the land."
And well, that just about took the cake and then some. Somehow, in almost such an ironic fashion Beth wanted to laugh (and she would have if it weren't for the growing panic in her stomach), the only friends she had made were Kalderash. Her father killed Kalderash. They shouldn't even touch, the two. She scooted a slight bit away from Nadja, feeling like some sort of betrayer. She had never caused them any harm or pain, but she was the direct descendant of someone who had joyfully slaughtered the lot of them. That didn't normally go over well with people. Goddesses, Nadja had even talked to Spike!
"They rampaged across Europe, leaving disaster and blood wherever they went. Monsters, they were, basking in the torment they caused. But out of them all, Angelus was by far the worst. He excelled in torture and pain. The screams and cries of virgins were music to his ears."
Okay, was this story even appropriate for children? Gods, until she was about seven, Beth had always thought Angel and Spike had been good vampires. She would have believed so longer if Xander hadn't corrected her.
"It was in 1898 that they found themselves in Romania. Darla, Angelus' counterpart, caught sight of Jani, the Elder of the Clan's daughter. She was a beautiful girl, much like my own late wife. She was said to catch the eye of every man she passed, Romany or not. She was by far her father's pride and joy."
Beth only half-listened to the rest of the story, already knowing how it went. She tried not to cringe when he talked about the massacre Drusilla and Spike caused among the rest of the clan. She didn't like hearing how her father enjoyed it. Sure, she kept no pretenses about how merciless and blood-thirsty her father had once been. She was sure if she ever met old Spike, that'd be a fight she wouldn't come out of alive. But to hear someone else speak like that, it made her feel wrong. She felt like she didn't belong. Again.
She sat very still as everyone around her seemed to listen intently to the story, save Nadja who really did look bored. The kids were hugging their parents tightly and their parents held them back. Zack, his face alit by the fire, seemed very stern and unmoved, but his eyes revealed how he actually felt. He looked angry. Righteous anger, she would say. He had every right to be angry. And if he knew about her, he'd hate her. Nadja probably would too, no matter how much she looked like she'd rather be anywhere but here right not.
"It was my own father who told me this tale," Nadja's grandfather finished. "He told me this story and asked that I never forget the atrocious acts committed onto my own familia. And now I call upon you to do the same. Do not let this story die. Do not forget where you come from."
"Finally," Nadja grumbled under her breath. "That story gets longer each year, I swear. Hey, you okay? You look pale. I mean, you're pretty pale as it is, but even more so. Are you okay?"
"Honestly, I don't feel so hot," Beth admitted. It wasn't a lie. She really did feel like she was going to throw up. This had to be some huge cosmic joke. God forbid she ever make any friends and if she did, make sure they'd hate her if they ever knew the truth about her and her family.
"Do you want to lay down or something?" Nadja asked kindly, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I could get someone to get you a cold press or like a ginger ale or something?"
She shook her head. "I think I need to go home," she told Nadja. Nadja nodded and told Beth to stay where she was and breath slowly while she went off to find someone to drive her home. Ruth agreed to do so, looking at Beth with sympathy.
"Was it the story?" Ruth asked her. "Phuro can get pretty gross with all the details. Like, do we really need to know how William the Bloody strung that guy's intestines up—oh god, I'm sorry! I'll stop talking about it, okay?"
She shook her head. "It's not that. It's just, well, you know, imagery mixed with nausea. I think it might've been something I ate earlier. I wasn't feeling all that good this morning, but I really wanted to come so I just ignored it." Despite how weak her story sounded, Ruth seemed to believe it, nodding sympathetically.
"Is somebody at home for you?" Nadja asked, knowing Beth's parents would be out patrolling. "Can you call them or something?"
"My aunt's home," Beth told her.
Ruth drove her home without any further words, only wishing the girl good health when she dropped her off at her house. Nadja told Beth to get better and she hoped to see her on school on Monday. They drove away once they knew Beth was safely in her home.
She collapsed against the door once she was standing inside the foyer of her home. She heard noise from the kitchen.
"Oh, look, you're home!" Willow announced, head peeping out from the dining room door. "I thought you'd be back later."
"I started to feel kinda sick," Beth told her.
Willow immediately rushed over, face laced with concern. "Oh, you feel all ookie? Do you wanna lay down? I was making cookies, if you want some. You need anything? Water? Crackers?"
Beth shook her head. "Can we talk? I need to tell you something."
"Of course!" she said, ushering Beth into the kitchen. She sat down at the counter, fiddling with her fingers in her lap.
"Did something happen at the bonfire?" Willow asked, sounding very motherly in that moment. Beth briefly allowed her panicked mind a moment to wonder why Willow had never bothered to have a kid. She seemed like the giving kind to adopt too.
"Yeah, but not what you're probably thinking. Trust me when I say there is no way you could possibly guess what happened."
"Bethie," Willow began, concern easing into her voice.
"I'm fine!" Beth assured her. "Everyone there was really nice and I like Nadja's family. Except Damion, but he's irrelevant to what I'm going to tell you."
"So what is it then?"
"Well, how to I start this?" Beth said, thinking of what to tell Willow exactly. The truth sounded like a great idea. "Okay, well first, Nadja's family is all Romany. Gypsies, you know? They're a big old family and their grandfather's children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren all basically live around here."
"And what does this have to do with you feeling ill?" Willow inquired.
"They're Romany, Willow. They're fecking Kalderash."
If possible, Willow's pale complexion paled even further. "Oh goddesses," she breathed.
"I know! And there I was, sitting with them and their grandfather starts telling the story of the vampire and his soul and I lost it. I fecking lost it, Willow. I just sat there, listening to all of this!"
"You mean they know all about Angel and his soul? Oh goddesses," Willow murmured. "And Spike…"
"I know!" Beth interrupted. "I didn't tell them, though. They have no clue! Nadja just thinks my dad is like some badass demon hunter. How am I supposed to tell them he once killed their ancestors? Is there a book on that? Is this something normal people worry about?"
"Did they say anything about a woman named Jenny Calendar?" Willow asked.
"You mean that woman Angel killed when he went all murder-happy again? No, but I'm sure they know of her. How am I supposed to go to school on Monday and look at Nadja, let alone talk to her?"
"How is this even possible? Of all the places you moved to," Willow muttered, sounding frantic. She looked frantic too.
"The Powers that Laugh are doing just that," Beth told her. "They like to make things difficult."
"We're going to have to tell Buffy," Willow said.
"Really? Does she have to know?" she asked. "She's only ever met Nadja's mom, and she married into the family! Do we have to tell her?"
"She deserves to know," Willow replied firmly. "I just don't know how we explain this to her. How will Spike react? He has a soul now, he's not liable to take it well."
She groaned, thumping her forehead against the counter. "I don't know," she moaned. "I'll have to say something at some point. Just let me do it, okay? I'm the one who heard it first so I should be the one to tell her and see what she says about Dad. She can tell him, I don't want to be the one to let him know that I'm friends with family members of people he brutally slaughtered. I don't know how to have a conversation like that."
"Alright, if you want to tell your mom, you tell her. I'll be there if you need me, but I don't think she'll take it wrong or anything. I just think she'll be worried about having Spike around."
"But I don't wanna move!" Beth whined.
"I don't think she'll do anything like that," Willow assured. "It's just going to be…interesting. Yes, very interesting."
She groaned again. Now she had another thing to deal with on top of all the other things currently vying for her attention. Yes, those attackers really needed to get on with carrying out their threat. She didn't have enough time in the day to keep worrying about them too.