Mia stood on the sidewalk, smoking a cigarette as she watched the Grimm park in front of his house. His face had been all over the news for rescuing the missing children taken on Halloween. Everyone called him a hero, but she knew what he was: a murderer, an oathbreaker. Her mother had upheld the alliance their kind had with Grimms, and he'd killed her for it. For too long that betrayal had gone unanswered.
Tonight, the Grimm was going to die.
He left his car and entered his house, looking tired from rescuing the children. That was good. It would make him easier to kill. Three of her hive walked over to her. They looked uneasy; Mellifers never usually sought to kill others, unless they were disgusting Hexenbiests. Their kind were peaceful, gentle. Mia knew how her hive felt, and she sensed their unease. This was her decision, though, and they had to obey.
Hilary handed her the Mellifer Stinger, the traditional weapon of their people. It was the same one Mia's mother used to kill two Hexenbiests the year before. She would have used it on a third, but the Grimm interfered. "You all know what to do," she said, tossing the cigarette butt on the ground and putting it out with her heel. "We don't stop until he dies."
She saw them share apprehensive glances, but they nodded nonetheless. Charles moved towards the front of the house, while Thomas and Hilary joined Mia as she swung around back. After hopping the fence, they snuck under a window. It sounded like someone was washing dishes. "That was a really great thing you did today," a woman said.
"Well, we wouldn't have gotten far without your help." Mia clenched her jaw, recognizing the Grimm's voice.
"Thanks." After a long pause, the woman added, "Well, it's late, and I'm going to bed."
"Okay. I'm just gonna finish these, then I'll turn in. I'll see you tomorrow."
Mia heard footsteps. The Grimm's girlfriend or wife must have gone upstairs. A minute later, she commanded a bee to fly in front of Charles, signalling him. A dull thunk came from the front of the house. The sink stopped, and the Grimm hurried towards the distraction. Mia crept over to the back door. More thunks came as Charles threw rocks at the front wall, making just enough noise to cover the sound of her smashing glass to unlock the door.
A pile of dishes rested in the sink, half washed, and only a single light shone from the hall. Mia gestured to Thomas and Hilary; they went right while she went left, into the living room. The Grimm stood in the doorway, flashlight in one hand and his gun in the other. He whirled around and aimed his gun at Thomas and Hilary. "Whoever you are, get down on your knees and put your hands behind your head. Now!"
Mia, letting the rage from her mother's death over the last year boil over, Woged. She rushed from cover and tackled him into a wall. With emotion guiding her, she tried to jam the Mellifer Stinger in his neck. He caught her wrist, keeping the stinger back, then drove his knee into her gut. Mia grunted, and her vision flashed as the Grimm punched her in the face.
She fell onto her back, discombobulated. Thomas and Hilary rushed in to attack the Grimm, but they had a much harder time than she did. Still, it gave Mia the time to recover. Still Woged, she mentally summoned her swarm. The first bee landed on top of a lamp. That was the only warning. Like a roiling thundercloud, the swarm poured in through the open back door. Mia guided them towards the Grimm. He cried out as several bees stung him in the arms.
Getting back to her feet, Mia grabbed him by the shirt and threw him into the living room. The table splintered as he fell on it. "Murderer!" she spat, approaching with the stinger. Even distracted as he was by the swarm, the Grimm still managed to kick her in the leg, knocking her down. The floor rushed to meet her, and she smashed her face on the hardwood.
The barrel of a gun pressed against the back of her head. "Call off the bees, or I'll have to do something I regret." Mia sighed, complying. The swarm, at least those who hadn't died stinging the Grimm, flew out of the house. "Now, we're going to—"
"Nick, what's going on?!" the woman from earlier called.
Mia looked over her shoulder. The woman, a pretty redhead in a nightgown, peered from the top of the stairs. The Grimm turned to look at her, concern carved on his face. "Juliette, get back upstairs!" Retracting into human form, Mia lunged, wrestling him to the ground.
"Grab her!" she barked as she and the Grimm traded blow for blow. Focused on her mother's murderer, she only vaguely heard a commotion behind her. It ended with two gunshots. Mia felt her heart leap in her chest, fearing the worst. She'd lead Thomas and Hilary to their deaths, she was sure of it. When she turned, she saw them both alive and on their knees. The redhead held a gun in her hands, having fired warning shots into the floor.
The Grimm flipped Mia onto her back, pinning her in place with his knee between her shoulder blades. She felt cold metal on her wrists as he handcuffed her. "You're under arrest," he said with insufferable smugness.
Mia struggled, trying to get him off but to no avail. "It's not supposed to end like this," she said. "You need to pay for what you did!"
He rolled her onto her back, then stood. "You're Melissa Wincroft's daughter, aren't you?"
"Do you even regret what you did? Does it weigh on your conscience? I've had to live with it every day for a year. You killed her! You just shot her like some common criminal!"
"She killed two people."
"She was trying to help you!" As the searing rage began to wear off, Mia's grief and loss seeped into every part of her body. She felt tears welling in her eyes as her jaw quivered. "She was all I had," Mia croaked. "She tried to do the right thing, just like she taught me, and it took her away from me. You took her away from me."
The Grimm at least had the decency to act remorseful. "I'm sorry. Knowing what I do now, I might've acted differently…but that's all in the past. It doesn't give you the excuse to take another life, maybe even yours. Is that what she would have wanted?"
The question hit Mia like a brick. She glanced at Thomas and Hilary. The look on their faces told her they felt the same way. She'd seen that look ever since she first planned to kill the Grimm, but in her desire for revenge she ignored it at every turn. Her connection with the hive told her everything she needed to know, but all that mattered was her obsession. The crushing weight of failure settled on her as police sirens grew louder and louder.
"What about this?" Jacob asked, pointing to a collection of potted petunias.
Louise walked over, examining the flowers with a critical eye. Eventually, she said "Non. I'm looking for something warm and inviting. When people look at our house, I want the garden to…attirer l'attention?"
"Catch the eye," Jacob translated.
"Oui, I want it to catch the eye!" She smiled, which made him smile in turn. They'd been perusing the greenhouse wares for the better part of two hours. Jacob was pushing a flat cart with an increasingly heavy load. His wife was dead-set on building the largest, most beautiful garden in suburban history. He didn't begrudge her anything; as something to spruce up their home, it made her happy. Louise took his arm as they walked, admiring this plant or that bush as they walked through the aisles.
Jacob took a moment to flex his left arm. His injury was almost completely healed, and he was grateful to leave the sling behind. Detective Burkhardt's handling of the Wesen that attacked him had given him peace of mind. Having a truce with a Grimm was almost unthinkable, and yet it had happened.
"Any more pain, mon amour?" Louise asked.
"No. In fact, it's nearly gone. Those herbs I purchased did a wonderful job speeding the healing process."
"We will have to keep that shop in mind, then." They finally, mercifully, approached the register, with enough plants for the whole neighbourhood.
"So, what shall we have for dinner tonight?" he asked.
"I'm glad you asked, because I had a wonderful thought!" Louise said. The way her face lit up, her smile highlighting the dimples in her cheeks, told Jacob it made her excited. "Why don't we invite Joris and Camila to dine with us?"
He paused. "Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious. It's just that…with your job, I'm home all alone. I love our house, but it's starting to get rather lonely. It would be nice to have friends we could talk to. And since Joris and Camila are like us, they must not have many Wesen friends."
Jacob nodded. Joris had told him as much. "Joris would probably be amenable, but his wife might express some dislike of the notion. She's rather…well, how should I put this? She's—"
"Confrontational? Impulsive? Fierce?" Louise asked, a knowing eyebrow raised.
"Essentially, yes."
She kissed him on the cheek. "Then at least we would have one thing in common, her and I." Jacob offered to pay for the plants, and Louise went ahead to the car. Strong as he was, Jacob still had difficulty pushing the cart. As he approached the car, he saw Louise talking with a strange man. The man was portly, with thick-rimmed glasses and a nose ring. Louise laughed, seemingly captivated by his every word. He briefly touched her arm, and Jacob thought he saw a flash of colour emanating from his fingers. The man smiled, and Woged. He grew fur all over his face, a beard on his chin, and small horns above his forehead. A Ziegevolk.
Jacob narrowed his eyes.
He pushed the cart with renewed effort, soon reaching the car. "Darling, would you mind starting to load these in the car? I just need to grab something from the glove box."
"Of course," she said, oblivious to his anger. The goat-man's pheromones had her under a spell.
While she was distracted, Jacob grabbed the man by the arm and shoved him between a pair of SUVs, out of sight. "If you do not turn around and walk away, I will kill you." The man started to speak, but Jacob Woged, aiming his tail's stinger at his face. The Ziegevolk Woged in fright, yelping. He nodded vigorously, then turned and ran in the opposite direction.
When Jacob rejoined Louise, she asked "What happened?"
"Il était un Ziegevolk," Jacob replied.
"A filthy goat?" Louise clapped a hand to her forehead. "Oh Jacob, pardonne-moi. I had no idea."
"It's alright," Jacob said, cupping her cheeks. "The problem is gone. Now, let us bring these delightful flowers with us so we can turn our house into a proper home." After helping Louise unload all the flowers, soil, pots, and fencing, he drove to Joris' bookstore. As expected, Joris agreed to dinner. Camila took some convincing. For some reason, she'd developed an intense distrust of Jacob; he suspected she took issue with anyone not sharing her last name. Thankfully, Joris was able to talk her into coming. She didn't want to leave Anna alone, so he sweetened the pot by promising to bring their daughter with them.
Hours later, Jacob and Louise were hard at work in the kitchen. When they first moved into their new home, Louise had taken charge, telling him where to place furniture. Now, he was in charge, telling her how to help him cook dinner. She only ever ate raw meat, so her culinary experience was lacking.
At one point, Louise stopped and exhaled. "I feel nervous. Do I look nervous? Do you think they will think we're trying too hard? What if Anna doesn't like it here? What if—"
Jacob draped a dish cloth over his shoulder, then took her hands in his. "Calm, mon amour. You'll worry yourself into oblivion."
"I know, but…I want to make a good impression. How many cities have we lived in?"
"Too many," he replied.
"Precisely! And how many of those places had mixed-species couples like us? Hardly any. Now, we finally meet a couple like us who are willing to have dinner. I want to have friends in my life, Jacob. I don't want to ruin this for us."
"You won't," he said, kissing her. "Just take some deep breaths and enjoy tonight. Can you do that?"
She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, then opened them. "I can."
"Good. Now help me finish this sauce."
Everything was prepared by the time a knock sounded at the door. Jacob opened it, revealing the De Vries family. Joris wore a sweater vest over a dark shirt which complemented his brown eyes. Camila wore a blue blouse and black pants, a silver star medallion around her neck. Anna stood between them, a reserved smile on her young face.
"Please, come in," Jacob said, shaking Joris' hand. "Let me take your coats."
Louise stepped out from the kitchen, a warm smile on her face. "It is so nice to finally meet you. Jacob has told me so much."
"A pleasure," Joris greeted, kissing her hand. "May I introduce my lovely wife, Camila, and our beautiful daughter, Anna." Anna glanced at Louise, then went back to staring at the floor. Louise crouched in front of her, still smiling.
"Bonjour, Anna."
"Hello," the girl said quietly.
Camila wrapped an arm around her daughter's shoulders. "She doesn't go out too often. I'm afraid we might run into those who don't approve of our family situation." Her expression was hard, unforgiving. Jacob knew it wasn't directed at them; it was a response to the hatred and bigotry they faced from most of the Wesen community. A topic they could all relate to.
"Would anyone care for some wine?" Jacob asked.
"Ja, graag. Wine sounds perfect."
Jacob looked down at Anna. "Would you like a glass of water?"
"Yes, please."
Drinks in hand, they sat at the dinner table, which was decorated with a freshly bought tablecloth. Jacob cast a tentative gaze around the room; so far it seemed to be going well, but he could sense a certain hesitance. He and Joris were business associates, but that was the extent of the relationship. They were all so used to hatred and ignorance from the community. Everyone had learned to remain guarded at all times.
Joris sipped his wine, then gave a small smile. "This is the first instance in a long, long time that other Wesen have sat down for a meal with us."
"We know the feeling," Louise said. "That is why it was such a relief when Jacob told me about you two. Everyone clings to the old ways, but I have to believe that people like us can show them a better way."
Joris gestured to his wife and said "Camila used to hunt with her brother every year. That is, until we were married."
"He stopped taking my calls," Camila muttered into her wineglass.
"At least you still have family," Louise reminded her. "There's still a chance for you to reconcile. Be thankful for that."
The Rißfleisch looked at her with surprise. "So…the stories about you are true? You have no family?"
Louise's expression turned melancholy, and Jacob took her hand in his. "Non. My father was killed when I was a baby, and my mother died when I was twelve. Jacob is all I have now."
"I'm sorry. That must have been awful."
Jacob took his wineglass and raised it. "A toast, to those we have loved and those we have lost. May we treasure the ones who give our lives meaning as we sail the waters of life together."
"Here, here," Joris said, clinking his glass to Jacob's. Camila, for the first time Jacob had ever seen, cracked a reluctant smile. She clinked her glass to Louise's.
"Now, who's ready to eat?" Jacob asked. He received a chorus of eager responses, and brought the painstakingly prepared dinner to the table. They all tore into the food, and Joris and Camila complemented it several times. Louise politely cut small cubes of her raw venison, likely in an effort not to get too much blood on her lips.
Anna, quiet throughout the evening, piped up and asked "Why is your meat raw?"
"That's because we did not cook this," Louise replied.
"Why?"
Louise chuckled. She leaned in conspiratorially, a twinkle in her eyes. "I'll tell you a secret: I have a very special diet. Cooked meat gives me an upset stomach, so I have to eat it raw. I like to pretend I'm a hungry, hungry bear living in a cave." She made an exaggerated growl, which made Anna giggle.
Jacob smiled, overjoyed at how everything was coming together. Louise had few ambitions in life, and he thanked the fates for her success. Joris caught his eye. The Pflichttreue raised his glass, almost as if to say 'well done'.
Mia stared blankly ahead while the police drove her away. She said nothing as they brought her into the precinct, fingerprinted and took mugshots of her, then brought her to a cell. The dull grey brick walls threatened to swallow her, the air was too cold, and the bed felt rough and uncomfortable. Despite this, Mia barely registered any of it.
Leaning against the wall, she pulled her knees against her chest and remained in the fetal position. Minutes, hours, time became an abyss. All that she could think about was her complete failure. She'd failed to kill the Grimm, and in so doing failed in her responsibility to the hive.
"As queen, you will be responsible for our hive. Our family. It's a heavy burden we bear. But we bear it, nonetheless, for our family." Her mother told her that when she was ten years old. Being queen was something she'd been preparing for all her life. And she almost threw it all away for petty vengeance. Thomas and Hilary were in the next cell, but she couldn't bear to look at them. They were in this situation because of her.
Mia didn't know how long she stayed in the cell. Minutes, hours, it felt like days. The Grimm entered the holding area, and she looked up at him. "Are you here to kill me?"
He pursed his lips. "No, I'm not."
"Why not? That's what Grimms do, isn't it? You never hesitated when you killed my mother."
"I'm sorry. I really am. At the time, I chose being a cop over being a Grimm."
"And because you did, my mother died so a Hexenbiest could live. How can you justify that? Mellifers and Grimms have been allies for centuries. We both share an interest in removing dangerous Wesen for the good of the community."
The Grimm glanced at Thomas and Hilary in the other cell, then said, "Look, I understand why you did what you did, but grief isn't an excuse for attempted murder."
"So you're not going to kill me, just throw me in prison."
"I've decided not to press charges."
Mia blinked as her brain tried to process what he said. "What?"
"You'll be held overnight, but tomorrow morning you'll be released. This is a second chance I'm giving you. Don't screw it up." He leaned in so his face nearly touched the bars, his eyes darkening. "And if you come after me or my girlfriend again, I will kill you."
A cold shiver of terror washed over Mia, who nodded.
The Grimm left, leaving her alone with her thoughts once more. She envisioned her mother sitting beside her, rubbing her back and singing to her like she always did. The name Melissa Wincroft had garnered respect in Portland, for Kehrseite and for Wesen alike. She'd been a pillar of the community, a vital resource. To Mia, she was a titan, an unstoppable force that protected her hive and fought against any enemy.
Avenging her death had been her focus for the last year. Every day she thought of how much she hated the Grimm, how she was going to tear him apart. Left alone in her cold cell, Mia came to realize that it had all been an excuse. Planning revenge was a convenient way to avoid focusing on her grief and loss. With her mother gone, the responsibility of the hive was now hers. Mia would have to replace her, and that single thought was more terrifying than fighting a dozen Grimms.
She didn't sleep at all that night. But by the time morning came, Mia had a much clearer understanding. Losing to the Grimm and staying in jail all night gave her the opportunity to take stock of herself. To face the feelings she'd been avoiding all this time. When the officer opened the door and let her and Thomas and Hilary out, Mia almost felt like a new person.
As she was escorted out of the building, she caught the Grimm's eye. He gave her a stern glare, and she pursed her lips. Outside, the hive waited for her across the street. Mia took a deep breath, reminding herself to be strong. Her life wasn't about just her anymore; it would be for all of them. Time to start acting like it.
"We were so worried!" Sam said.
"We didn't know what would happen," Mike added.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Charles asked.
Mia smiled, touched by their concern. "I'm fine. Really. The Grimm could have killed me, but he chose not to." She was met by a chorus of confused faces and furrowed brows. "Believe me, no one was more surprised than I was. I just want to say…I want to say I'm sorry. I've been selfish. I put my needs above yours, and that is unforgiveable. As your queen, I promise that I will always make the best decision for this hive and for the Wesen community. It's what mom would have wanted."
Thomas, Hilary, Charles, and all the others embraced her. She allowed herself to cry, safe and supported in the arms of her family.
Jacob yawned as he and Louise strolled across the sidewalk. It was a cool, crisp morning, the ground still wet from last night's rain. "So beautiful," Louise noted, taking a deep breath. "Smell that fresh air."
Her joy made Jacob smile. "Can I just say that you look more beautiful every day?"
Louise gave him a coy smile. "And what, pray tell, is this flattery meant to achieve?"
"Nothing," Jacob replied, kissing her.
They walked hand in hand for a while, content to enjoy their morning. After the violence and chaos of the last few weeks, it was time for peace and quiet. After crossing the street, they decided to enter a quaint coffee shop. Louise noticed a blonde woman sitting by a window enjoying an expensive latte. "Adalind?" she asked with surprise.
The blonde looked at her for a moment, then smiled with recognition. "Louise, right?"
"Oui, oui! Jacob, this is the woman I told you about. We met when I took Marius in for his checkup. Adalind, this is my husband, Jacob."
"Lovely to meet you," he greeted with a smile. He remembered Louise mentioning this woman before. She was a very attractive woman with fine clothes and stunning jewelry. Whatever her profession, it obviously paid well.
"How is Majique?" Louise asked.
"Unfortunately, I had to give her up for adoption when I left Portland."
"That's terrible. By the way, what brings you back?"
Adalind's smile was bright, but Jacob got the sense she wore it the same way people put on masks for a play. "I'm here on business, actually. I'm on legal retainer for a company in Europe, and they're thinking of expanding into this side of the pond."
A ponytailed man in a black leather jacket walked up to her. He had the bearing of a soldier, with no trace of humour or warmth. "Ms. Schade, the car is ready."
"I'll be right along," Adalind told him. Jacob surreptitiously looked the man over. He was likely some sort of assistant or bodyguard. Her employer must have been…
His heart began thundering in his chest when he saw the tattoo on the man's hand. This could not be! "I'm very sorry," he said, interrupting the conversation, "but Louise and I have a prior engagement we must attend to. It was a pleasure." With a smile, he gently but forcefully guided Louise out of the coffee shop. He glanced at the black, unmarked car parked in front of the shop. A man and a woman, dressed in leather, waited by it.
"Jacob, what is going on?" Louise demanded.
"The man with Adalind was Verrat," he replied, keeping his voice down to a whisper.
"What?!" Louise Woged, growling in preparation for a kill.
Life in Portland just became much more complicated.
