Chapter 41

Seth was nowhere to be found, but around 3 AM, Claira received a text message from him. OMW home, will call you soon. Love you.

Brooklynn sighed heavily, reading it and looked out the window, jumping when Mark landed on the ledge a second later. Claira was fast asleep in her bed, which was in the connecting room, the door open. No chances were taken and Mickie had warded the room, preventing the window from opening or Claira leaving without someone being warned.

"Seth texted Claira and he's on his way back to Dallas." She handed the phone over to him with a heavy sigh, rubbing her eyes since the text had woken her up.

"How the fuck did he manage to find a way home?" Because last he knew, Seth's Mom wasn't overly rich or even middle class. Hell, he wasn't even 18 yet, so it wasn't like he was able to legally buy a lot either. Rubbing the back of his neck, Mark sighed heavily. "You do realize, if Jennifer feels spiteful, Trish and Steve are on the hook for him running off, right?"

"That's not our problem. Trish and Steve decided to take responsibility for him and I can't worry about someone else's kid right now, not when ours is in danger. I know that sounds terrible and cold, but…Claira is my only priority right now. And…" Brooklynn drew her knees up to rest her chin on them, taking a deep breath. "Do you remember when Claira first started dating Seth? I told you I had a funny feeling about him, but I couldn't pinpoint what it was. Julia told me tonight to trust my instincts, trust myself and my gut…and all three right now are telling me to keep Claira away from Seth. I don't know why, but maybe Randy's right. Maybe he IS the offspring of that evil son of a bitch and it's been under our noses the whole time. Or do you honestly believe he's an innocent 17-year-old that ran away back home because he felt awkward and embarrassed?"

"Hell if I know anymore, either way, running off and going back to Dallas from here," He tossed his hands up in the air. "I always assumed evil wasn't stupid." Taker wasn't stupid and he was evil, mostly. "If I were going to use Claira, I sure wouldn't be running from her." So, if Seth was the problem, had he really gone back to Dallas or was he just trying to throw them off? Either way, a broke kid with a broke mother saying they were on their way back… no, something didn't add up.

A graveyard.

Brooklynn was in a graveyard with smoke billowing around her and she was in regular clothes. Jeans and a long-sleeved burnt orange top, her eyes were peeled, guarded, ready for anything. It was a dream, it had to be, but what the hell was her subconscious trying to show her now? Brooklynn remembered falling asleep against Mark, both exhausted from the day and night events, only for her to wake up here. Frowning, Brooklynn began walking further into the graveyard, the sky black as night and not a single light except for the moon guided her. She had to be careful where she walked and stepped, looking behind her every couple seconds to make sure nobody was following her.

Eventually, Brooklynn came to an almost clearing the graveyard, the fog thinning as the moon's rays brightened and then shined directly on a single gravestone. It was old, but not so old as to be faded and weather-worn. Untended, a single name and a date, no flowers or other markers to show loved ones visited. Just a solitary, lonely grave. A woman was leaning against the gravestone, a soft glow emanating from her. The name on the gravestone read GENEVIEVE and the date was…July 13, 2001. What the hell? Brooklynn hesitantly made her way toward the spirit, the glow giving away it wasn't a regular person.

"Do you need some help?" She asked softly, watching the head turn as deep grey eyes met hers.

They were full of sadness and torment; her stomach was covered in blood as well. She had black hair, curly, and it hung down her back and over her shoulders, tears streaming down her deathly white cheeks. The spirit looked at her and then back at the headstone, gesturing towards it. She wanted Brooklynn to read it, but didn't say a word, waiting patiently.

"I-I know what it says. Can you tell me your name? Are you Genevieve?" The spirit nodded, once again remaining silent. "Did you die on July 13th?" Another nod. This was getting somewhat tedious and frustrating. "Do you have a loved one you want me to pass a message along to?"

"Stop…him…" The spirit spoke in a shaky, crackled voice, her body trembling once again.

"Stop who?"

She shook her head, fear creeping into her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself, backing away from the headstone. "Can't. Stop…him…"

"Okay…but can you tell me WHO I'm supposed to stop?"

A shaky, bony finger gestured to the headstone again before her eyes met perplexed amber. "Stop…HIM!"

"Okay…okay I will, I'll stop him, whoever he is. Will you be able to crossover if I do?" The spirit nodded and Brooklynn realized this was Genevieve's unfinished business.

Whoever Genevieve was, she was linked to the same date as her daughter's birthday and whoever wanted to use Claira to free Nemesis. Was this all connected somehow? "Does the name Nemesis sound familiar to you?" The spirit suddenly shrieked out, hurting Brooklynn's ears as she dropped to her knees, clapping her hands over her ears. She jumped when a hand landed on her shoulder and snapped her head to the side, locking with acidic orbs. "Taker?"

"She won't be able to tell you any more, Lynn." He said flatly, watching the spirit with disdain in his eyes. "She hasn't crossed over one way or the other, so she's tied to stricter rules." Kind of like Julia, except… Julia had a lot more leeway. "I wouldn't be surprised if Nemesis is pulling her strings, even in death." Not surprising, another shriek that made his ears feel like they were bleeding. His response was to let his mouth fall open and roared, the ground rumbling with it, until the shrieking stopped. "Ask her about other names. Questions she can answer with a yes or a no."

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be dormant, so the others can't sense you, remember?" Brooklynn grunted when he turned her around to face the spirit, his hands on her shoulders. "Seth Rollins?" The spirit shrieked again, making them both cringe and vanished into thin air. "Great. That worked out really well." Still, she had found some vital information and decided it was time to break out her laptop once she left dream world. Turning, Brooklynn looked up into those acidic eyes again and was hesitant to touch him, knowing their falling out had angered him.

"Nobody is going to sense me in a dream. The only reason I'm even awake is that of Claira's surge. It was enough to almost break the bindings. Lynn, listen to me, do NOT break or allow them to be broken, not just yet. Not until you know what exactly she has to agree to for this portal." Besides the obvious. "She has no time to train and-" He hesitated, frowning as he looked over her head. "Mark is waking up." Taker bent down, cupping her cheeks in his palms and brushed his lips against hers before melting into the fog.

"Taker, wait!"

Brooklynn snapped her eyes open, staring up at the ceiling and felt a shift in the bed beside her, turning her head to look at her husband. Indeed, Mark was awakening. Taker didn't want Claira's binds on her magic to be broken, not yet, so she would do what she could to make sure that happened. She trusted Taker, knowing he would never do or say anything to harm their daughter. Her thoughts reverted to the spirit she had encountered in the graveyard setting. Genevieve. Her name was Genevieve and she died on July 13, 2001…exactly one year before Claira was born. The same year his offspring was born. Brooklynn felt a hand brush her cheek and turned her head again, locking eyes with soft emerald gems and placed her hand over his, lacing their fingers together.

"What time is it?" She asked quietly, nodding when he said a little after 8 AM. Brooklynn had a lot of research to do today regarding Genevieve, hoping she could find out the last name to this woman.

Mark was in hell. With a capital H. The fight from last night had been forgotten in light of the new information and the tension… it was high. Trish and Steve had gone out to try to locate Seth, including calling his Mom, even after that text. The boy had been entrusted in their care and this had happened… crazy days. The boy had picked the worst time to run away and Mark honestly didn't know what to think.

"Calm down James, you're bouncing everywhere." Her magic and aura, it was giving him a migraine.

Brooklynn was busy on her laptop, fingers flying over the keys, zoned out much like she had been at home a few weeks ago. There were A LOT more Genevieves in the world than she thought, which would make the search worse. Rubbing her temples with her fingers, she had notes scattered about her of different names with the cities they were buried in. How the hell were they supposed to narrow down 250 dead women?

"I need a break." She closed her laptop and stood up, accepting the glass of water and aspirin Glenn handed her. "Thanks."

"Find anything?"

"Two hundred and fifty dead women all with the same name and died on the same date."

"That's…a tough order…"

"Tell me about it."

"Why not talk to Jennifer about Seth?" Randy was STILL adamant about checking the boy out, all eyes turning to him. "Julia said this boy can cloak himself and shield himself from other magic."

"And why would you think my boyfriend, who has NO magic, by the way, would be involved in this?" Claira planted her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes at Randy with pursed tightened lips. "Seth is INNOCENT and left because of what happened between me and my Mom. Leave him alone."

"At the very least, Claira, we have to investigate everything, lil darlin', including him," Mark said patiently, not surprised at all by her outburst. "It sucks but that's how it is and you buttin' heads with everyone over it isn't doing any good."

"Claira, why don't you come with me and help me with the kids?" David suggested softly. "You're not going to do anything but go stir crazy in here."

"Okay…" Claira knew there was no point in talking to any of these crazy asses about Seth, hoping they did their investigation on him quickly and moved along.

"Thank you, David." Brooklynn murmured, rubbing the back of her neck and jumped back when Randy went to touch her arm, swallowing hard. "Sorry. Instinct." His glove wasn't on and she had noticed it out of the corner of her eye. "Anyway, talking to Jennifer is worth a shot. Since Seth is dating our daughter, that could be our opening as worried parents talking to the boyfriend's mother."

"Has Jennifer ever met Mark before?"

"No, why?"

"Well…Randy has the power of touch, so why not pretend you're married and call him Mark? He could touch Jennifer with a handshake and he'll be able to feel everything she does."

Brooklynn gaped at Melina's suggestion, immediately shaking her head. "That is a TERRIBLE idea! We JUST got married and I won't do that to Mark! Not to mention, Randy!" Her past with Randy was extremely rocky since he was in love with her at one time.

"I actually… and I hate saying this, think that's a brilliant idea."

"Who the hell said I wanted to go back to Texas? That place is my idea of hell. You only have one season," Randy grumbled, more than taken aback by Mark thinking anything involving HIM was a good idea. "It's like living next to Satan's ball sack."

"Yeah, terrible idea. Fuck him."

"I'll do it."

Brooklynn gaped while looking back and forth between the two men, shaking her head. "No, absolutely not!"

Taker would be PISSED if she agreed to this! Or maybe…maybe it was him that was agreeing instead of Mark. His eyes were emerald, but that didn't mean Taker had gone back to being dormant again.

"Brooklynn, how else do you expect to find out once and for all if the threat is Seth?" Melina demanded, folding her arms in front of her chest. "The only way to find out is talking to his mother directly. Mark doesn't have the same kind of powers that would do wonders in this situation. Randy does."

"But…"

"I'm sorry Brook, but I agree with Mel on this one."

"Same here." Mickie nodded, placing a hand on Brooklynn's shoulder.

Was Beth the only one who thought this was a really BAD idea besides Brooklynn? "Given your history together, I don't think this is wise…"

"Thank you!"

"We could always take a vote?"

"What?!"

"Fantastic idea! I'll be right back with the pens and paper!"

"After she tosses her cookies."

Somehow, Mark was not surprised when the majority vote was YES. It looked like Orton was going back to Satan's ball sack.

"If I wind up in another coma…" Not that this was that same situation… Randy didn't think, his eyes narrowing at Mark. Without even thinking twice, he reached out and touched him.

Beth cocked an eyebrow when it looked like Brooklynn was now holding her breath.

"You are… disgusting… how can you be that happy? You're evil."

"No… I'm the relatively good one."

"Whatever."

"Brooklynn, are you okay?"

"She's pale."

"I-I'm fine…" Randy touching Mark had scared the HELL out of her, her heart rate picking up speed.

"Are you sure?" Mickie looked at her suspiciously, folding her arms in front of her chest.

"Come sit down, Brooklynn." She'd been jumpy since last night and Glenn chalked it up to the séance with Julia keeping her on edge.

Nodding, Brooklynn walked past Randy and brushed against him, but luckily it was clothes on clothes, so there was no actual skin contact to use his magic on. "Thanks."

This idea of making Randy pretend to be her husband was not a good one. Mark seemed to be alright with it and even said it was a brilliant idea, but her past with Randy is what worried her. Not to mention, she didn't want him touching her due to her secret with Taker.

Taker had gone dormant for a reason. Mickie and Orton, he was not being picked up by either of them. Mickie would see to it that he was destroyed.