So, this was her family. Laura had not wanted to come here, but had had no choice. She was now banned from the Crane mansion, and had nowhere to live, no job, no money that had not been repossessed by Alistair, and no way to pay her tuition come fall. In short, she had been thrown out of the hospital with nothing but a few suitcases filled with her belongings from school. Just asking to be taken in required her to swallow all of the pride that she had, but it was either the Bennett house or the streets for her. Arriving at the house, the quaintness of the whole thing made her sick, but at least they didn't look like white trash or anything.
Before she knew it, she had been ushered in by an insufferably perky girl, who said that she was her sister, Jessica. She was then bidden to take a seat on a couch adorned with a tacky patriotic throw. The man and woman she assumed were her parents then made a big show of welcome, telling her that of course, she was family, and they wanted nothing more than to have her there. Laura immediately became suspicious. In her experience, people this warm and friendly invariably had a hidden agenda, and she would make sure to be on her guard.
Grace, this mother of hers, began introducing the others in the room. "As we said, we're your parents, you just met your sister Jessica, and we have a son, Noah, who's off at college. This is your cousin, Charity, and her boyfriend Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald, and this is my son, John, your half-brother."
Laura frowned. "Half-brother?"
Grace looked a little embarrassed. "Well, you see, I have amnesia, and don't remember anything over twenty years ago. It turns out, I was married to a man named David Hastings, and had a child, before that, which means that Sam and I aren't legally married, but I'm getting an annulment so we will be soon."
Oh, wonderful, Laura thought to herself. I'm also illegitimate. Tactfully, though, she stayed silent.
"Well, um, now that you've met everyone here, can we get something for you?" Grace frowned, apparently not knowing what to do. Suddenly, she brightened up. "I know what'll do the trick! Would you like some tomato soup cake?"
Laura was sure that she had heard wrong. "Um, did you say tomato soup cake?"
Grace beamed with pride. "I certainly did! I'm somewhat famous for it, if I do say so myself."
No surprise there, though "infamous" or "notorious" is more likely, Laura could not help but think. Still not wanting to offend these people, Laura actually said that she'd love some.
Grace dashed off, and John began talking to her. "I know how you must feel; I only found out Grace is my mom a few months ago. Before then, I didn't even know who my mother was. But trust me, you're super lucky, because our mom is the best mom in the whole wide world!"
All Laura could do was agree with him politely. Was this guy for real, and if he was, why'd she have to have such an utter loser for a brother? Somehow, she sincerely doubted that he understood how she felt, but once again refrained from saying so. Trying to find something, anything, to talk to these people about, she turned to Miguel.
"Say, isn't your mother the housekeeper at the mansion?"
"Why, yes, she is," Miguel said defensively. After all, this girl HAD been raised a Crane, and he didn't wish to hear any disparaging comments about the "help."
"I figured. I mean, I don't know too many different 'Lopez-Fitzgeralds' running around. I always liked your mom. Before I went away to school, I remember she used to try and play with me whenever she could…," Laura almost kept going, but stopped herself when she was getting into waaay too personal territory.
Before anyone else could speak, Grace came back in with a huge slice of tomato soup cake, which she placed in front of Laura. "Here, I hope you like it."
Closing here eyes, Laura took a small bite. Immediately, she became thankful for all those etiquette classes that she had hated, since otherwise she would have spat it out immediately. What the hell was her new mother trying to do to her?! This was, without a doubt, the most horrible putrescence she had ever tasted! However, though her eyes were watering from the pain, she forced out, "Mmmmm! This is like nothing I've ever tasted before!"
"Well, I'm glad you enjoy it, because it's something of a staple around here," Grace chuckled.
Just as Laura was about to scream, she was saved from another bite when her cousin suddenly fell to the floor, shrieking and writhing in anguish. Everyone crowded around Charity, and Laura stared at her in disbelief. Charity eventually got back to her feet with Miguel's help, and cried, "A new evil is coming to Harmony, and it won't stop until it has conquered everything in its path. There's so much pain and suffering, we're doomed!"
Grace's brow was furrowed with worry. "Is this true? Has someone really invited evil back into Harmony?"
Jessica joined in with, "What else is going to happen to our family?!"
Laura, on the other hand, felt as if she had suddenly entered the Twilight Zone. Charity had just collapsed and then started ranting like an idiot! Did no one notice that? "Uh, what just happened here?"
Grace tried to find the right words to explain. "I know this is hard to believe, but your cousin gets premonitions of danger and evil. It sounds crazy, but they usually turn out to be partly right. I know what it's like: I get them too, either that or an Angel Girl comes down to warn me."
"Oh," Laura answered, thinking that the streets were starting to sound better and better. She had a dorky half-brother whose existence made her a technical bastard, a sister obviously living in some weird state of perky denial, an insane (and whiny) cousin, and a mother who has amnesia AND thinks she talks to angels! Her father seemed halfway normal, until she remembered the whole Ethan situation, and if she had to eat tomato soup cake one more time…
There was only one explanation. Everyone here is crazy, the whole lot of them. Granted, her old family was pretty nutty, but at least she'd had all the money she wanted, and a good deal of independence. Laura gulped, wondering how in Heaven's name she was going to live with these people while maintaining any degree of sanity.
*****
Sheridan, Luis, and Pilar were present when Antonio was released from the hospital. Pilar's feelings on this day were mixed: on one hand, it was wonderful to have Antonio home and healthy, but then again, her heart broke for poor Luis. Although she wished Sheridan and Antonio great happiness, it didn't seem right that Sheridan was really going to marry Antonio. As one woman to another, she could sense that, deep down, the young woman's heart wasn't really with her oldest son, but as she couldn't favor one son over another, she kept that opinion to herself. Whatever happened, Pilar feared that her family would eventually be torn apart by her sons' rivalry.
Luis wasn't quite sure why he was even there. He supposed he was glad that his brother was okay after all, but seeing him with Sheridan made Luis want to send him right back into intensive care. He controlled himself, though, as the three of them left the hospital and arrived at Grace's Bed and Breakfast, where Pilar was staying for the time being.
After the four of them nervously made small talk for awhile, Pilar noticed the time and got up to leave. "I'm sorry, but Theresa and I are supposed to take Little Ethan to the zoo. I told her that he isn't old enough to appreciate it, but she insisted. I think she's just desperate for a chance to get out of that evil house for a few hours."
All of them looked down for a minute. Luis barely stopped himself from putting his fist through the coffee table, and Antonio stared ahead guiltily. "Damn it, if I'd been around, maybe I could've stopped this from happening to her."
To everyone's surprise, Luis actually defended Antonio. "No, you couldn't have. Don't get me wrong, a lot of things that have happened are your fault, but this isn't one of them. You don't know Theresa, she's as stubborn as they come. When she has an idea, the only way to reason with her is to tie her up and bolt her to the ground. If Mama, Whitney, me, and how many other people didn't make any difference, your presence wouldn't have."
Pilar smiled sadly, happy to see Luis with some decent words for Antonio, but pained to think of her daughter's horrible fate. Her prayers had been answered when Theresa had turned out to be alive, but would she now have to sit by, virtually helpless, and watch her child die a little bit more every day? Would it have been more merciful for God to have taken her daughter all at once? "Yes, Luis, you're right. Nobody could have stopped all of this, except for maybe the Cranes. Well, I have to go now, or I'll be late. If you want to meet up with us later, I'm sure Theresa would love to see you all. You know where it is."
After Pilar had left, the three of them sat there awkwardly. Antonio and Sheridan avoided any overt displays of affection out of respect for Luis; and Luis, having already pleaded his case, did not bring it up again. If Sheridan was going to decide she wanted him back, he'd take her in a second, but he was not going to force her into anything. He had learned his lesson in this matter, and knew that would only hurt whatever chances he might yet have with her.
Despite, or perhaps because of, everyone's consideration and caution, the strain between the three was palpable. Finally, Sheridan, unable to take it any longer, said, "You know what, why don't we take Pilar up on the offer and go to the zoo? I haven't really had a chance to talk with Theresa much since I came back, and I'd like to see how she's holding up. Plus, I'd like to see more of my nephew Ethan." Sheridan thought about what she'd just said. "It's weird, being able to say that again," she mused.
Eager to escape the silence, both men agreed. They left the hotel and got to Luis' car. However, just as they were getting in, a group of men wearing ski masks snuck up behind them and placed a chloroform cloth over each of their faces, and they knew no more.
*****
Timmy had to admit that since his brush with death, he had had things pretty good. He had always known that Tabitha cared about him, but since his near death, she had been pampering him to distraction. He had been home for several days now, and there had been no talk of another evil plan. For a little time at least, he would not be torn between his devotion to his princess and his desire to do good.
The best thing that had happened to him though, was definitely when Charity thanked him for saving his life. She had told him that she couldn't remember most of what had happened, but she did know somehow that she wouldn't have made it without him. Then, she gave him a quick kiss! He had of course blushed all the way down to his toes, and had modestly said he was only doing what he had to do. Oh, he would always remember the moment that his sweet Charity had actually kissed him!
Nothing could have tarnished that moment. Even when Tabitha had reminded him that the fact that she was still alive would cause them no end of trouble before long, he had just smiled and said it was all worth it. However, he WAS beginning to get scared: nothing had happened to them thus far, and their life was beginning to take on the aspect of the calm before the storm. He had been through enough near fatal disasters, though, to know that he couldn't dwell too much on possibilities and instead had to live in the moment.
It was in this spirit that Timmy had whipped up a batch of Martimmies for the evening, of which Tabitha was more than willing to partake.
Tabitha sighed, enjoying the drink's perfect flavor. "Oh Timmy, this is almost good enough to make me forget how much trouble we're both going to be in sooner or later."
"Timmy thinks that Tabitha should just be happy about how nice things are going now. Sure, it might get bad later, but why can't you just be happy with the time we have now?"
The witch frowned seriously. "I'll tell you why, Timmy. When I thought I had lost you, it was like the end of the world, only not nearly as much fun. I love you, and I won't let anything happen to you. Not again. If something gets me, then fine, but not you."
"Timmy promises he'll be careful. And anyway, maybe we're wrong, and we're free and clear now."
At that moment, they both heard a knocking on the door. Who could be calling on them in the evening like this? Curiously, they went to answer the door. Standing on the other side of the threshold was a pale young red-haired woman that Timmy did not recognize, but whose presence for some reason somehow made Tabby turn white. Smirking oddly, she asked, "Hello Tabitha. Do you mind if I come in?"
Tabitha looked her over in astonishment. "Your kind doesn't need an invitation from a witch. An-and you're dead!"
Not waiting for an answer, the woman entered, saying, "Oh, I know, I was just being polite. About the invite, I mean. As for being dead, Tabitha, I think you need to get new sources, since I'm obviously here."
Wait a second! Young, pale, supposed to be dead, and knows all about Tabitha? And Timmy knew from watching Buffy that vampires usually needed to be invited in—it had to be that Cassandra that Tabby had talked about! Oh, no, what did this now mean for the two of them?
Tabitha quickly put up a brave front. "Well, you managed not to get yourself killed. What do you want here now?"
"Well, Tabitha, I'd like to make a truce."
Tabitha forgot her instinctual fear and scoffed. "A truce with you? Not likely! Not after you got your son to go through with burning me at the stake!"
"So that's why Tabby hates Cassandra!" Timmy exclaimed.
"Oh Timmy, do be quiet," Tabitha replied harshly, not wanting Timmy to get involved in whatever was about to go down.
Cassandra laughed casually. "Oh Tabitha, that was over three hundred years ago. And you had moved into my territory, and had begun to mess with my family. You know I can tolerate just about anything but threats to my family. I had warned you to back off, but you were already a powerful witch, and wouldn't listen to such a young vampire. At that point, what other choice did I have?"
"Yes, and ever since then, I've kept a curse on your family!" Tabitha countered.
"About that, Tabitha: I'd appreciate it immensely if you would be so kind as to lift it," Cassandra intoned with practiced courtesy.
"And why should I? That curse is what insures that the Cranes will never fully rise to power!"
"Exactly. Tabitha, let me put it this way: you've got some of your powers back, but you're not at full strength. At this point, you really don't want me as an enemy, especially if you have problems with the dark forces. I really don't want to fight you; I was young and foolish when I made enemies with you, but I will fight you if I have to. And, Tabitha," she continued with a devilish smirk, "It won't just be you. Think of poor Timmy, now that he's human, and so small and defenseless. Why, a vampire, for example, could drain him in no time at all!"
Instinctively, Timmy hid behind Tabitha, scared of what would happen next. He heard Tabitha, defeat heavy in her voice, finally say, "All right, Cassandra, you win. I'll lift the curse."
"Thank you, Tabitha. You know, I don't know why we must continue to be enemies. What happened is ancient history, and we might be wise to strike up a partnership of sorts."
Timmy heard the door shut, and knew that Cassandra had left. Tabitha turned resignedly, and muttered, "Oh, how I hate vampires!"
"What did she mean when she said that you couldn't afford her as an enemy? Why would a witch be so afraid of a vampire?"
"Vampires aren't at all the way they're portrayed on that silly television show you like, where they're created by the dozens and staked nearly as quickly. No, Timmy, in reality they are very powerful, quite rare creatures. A vampire does not sire a child lightly; rather, it is done only to an almost infinitesimally number of said vampire's victims. They take the possibility of eternal life very seriously, and are extremely selective with the gift. A person has to be 'worthy,' in their opinion, though the criteria for that worthiness is a complete mystery to all non-vampires. Even so, most vampires don't last, and the majority are killed within the first fifty to one hundred years of their existence. When I clashed with Cassandra, she was still unproven, and not relatively powerful. However, she has now been around since 1650, and has become a highly elite creature. Furthermore, as a vampire ages, their magical abilities increase, which, though completely unlike any other kind of magic, are highly powerful and not to be messed with. Also, although vampires are undeniably evil, they are not 'pawns' like I am, meaning that they do not work for the 'friends in the basement' like me, and this total freedom makes them unpredictable. So you see, Timmy, Cassandra would be a deadly enemy even if I were at my full powers, and, as it is, it would be insane for me to fight when I don't have to."
Timmy gulped, fearing that the trouble they had been worrying about was now at hand. "Princess, what do you think Cassandra's up to right now?"
"I have my ideas, though I don't believe she's entirely certain herself right now. She's just keeping herself ready for her move as soon as she decides what it will be."