Nico was re-watching Dracula. She glimpsed a car approaching the house out of the corner of her eye. Silas had gone to get food so Nico was alone but strangers had never bothered her. She confidently went to the door then paused as she heard it being unlocked from the outside. That clearly hadn't been Silas' car and only one person had a key that wasn't a piece of wire. Nico suddenly felt less confident. She made a split-second decision, darted into the living room and hid behind the sofa.
"So, this was your dad's place," Warren said as he followed Sienna into the house. Nico watched them silently. Part of her wanted to run to her mother, part of her wanted to stay hidden and another part wanted to freak Sienna and Warren out.
"Yes," Sienna said, "I haven't been here in ages."
"Someone's cleaned up nicely," Warren noted as they entered the kitchen. Nico darted past the room and Warren turned to the doorway, "Oi. Who's there?"
"The house was locked," Sienna said, "Even Nico didn't have a key." Nonetheless, she followed Warren into the hallway. Warren started up the stairs while Sienna went into the living room. She frowned at the television which was reaching the end of the movie. Suddenly, Nico grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth. Sienna was about to struggle but froze when Nico spoke.
"Hi mum," she whispered in her mother's ear, "Don't scream." Sienna nodded and the hand was removed but she didn't turn around at first. She was scared that her ears were deceiving her.
"Nico?" she asked quietly. Nico didn't reply but released her so she felt it was safe to turn around. Sienna felt a combination of elation, fear, and heartbreak as she stared at her daughter who stared back expressionlessly. "You are alive."
"Sorry to disappoint you," Nico said coldly.
Sienna stepped forwards. She wanted to gather her little girl into her arms and never let her go but she also knew from experience how dangerous a hug with Nico could be. Instead she took in Nico's appearance. Back when she was living in Hollyoaks, Nico had been a pretty girl and while her beauty hadn't completely disappeared, it had been marred by burn scars on her face. Her hair had grown back to its former length and fell down her back. She looked surprisingly healthy, despite the scars but her eyes were empty. There was no love in them but, to Sienna's relief, no hatred either.
"Warren and I have been looking for you ever since…" Sienna hesitated and looked at Nico's scarred face. She felt tears in her eyes, "I'm so sorry."
"Are you going to hand me over to the police?" Nico asked, still speaking coldly.
"No," Sienna shook her head, "I've been worried about you. Warren and I were driving ourselves crazy looking for you."
"Well, I'm fine," Nico said, "Now get out."
Sienna felt as though Nico had punched her, but this was still a step up from being stabbed or poisoned. She looked at Nico's empty hands, then her eyes darted around looking for anything within her daughter's reach that could be used as a weapon. Finding nothing, she stepped forwards and hugged her. Nico stiffened.
"I've missed you, sweetheart," Sienna whispered.
"Don't call me sweetheart," Nico growled and started struggling. Sienna held her tightly.
"Nico please," she begged, "Don't push me away. I love you."
"I hate you," Nico snarled. Suddenly Sienna was back in the maze, saying what she feared would be the last words she would ever say to her daughter. Nico's leg was trapped but she was glaring at her and telling her that she hated her.
"Sienna?" Warren arrived in the room to find his girlfriend hugging Nico whilst sobbing. Nico was struggling like a wild animal, "Nico?" Nico tore herself out of Sienna's arms and whirled around. There were angry tears in her eyes but she hastily wiped them away.
"I don't want you two here," she hissed, "I'm living with someone else. Someone who loves me for me."
"Nico I…" Sienna began.
"You only love me because I'm your daughter!" Nico screamed and tears were falling again, "I'm not who you want me to be, mum! I'm a murderous freak! I know I should be ashamed but I'm not! Not anymore! This is who I am!"
"And you shouldn't be ashamed of who you are," said a voice and everyone looked at the doorway. Silas entered the room, placed a couple of shopping bags on the table and looked at his visitors, "I assume that you're Nico's mother. Sienna, isn't it? Delighted to finally meet you. And you must be… Warren Fox, if I'm not mistaken."
"Let me guess," Warren said, "You're Nico's "grandfather"."
"Well, she looks up to me like one," Silas said, "May I offer you a drink?"
"How stupid do you think I am?" Warren asked, "I know who you are."
"Then you should know that poison isn't my style," Silas said, "My memory's not what it once was but I'm fairly sure we've never actually met."
"Who are you?" Sienna asked, instinctively stepping between Silas and Nico, only for Nico to push her out of the way and cross over to the old man.
"Silas Blissett," Silas replied, "Perhaps you've heard of me?"
"Yes," Sienna said.
"Then you'll know that I despise whores," Silas said, narrowing his eyes. Warren stepped protectively in front of Sienna, "But fortunately for you, Nico is no longer interested in killing you and I must confess I've developed an attachment to her. I suggest you both leave."
"You really think an old snake like you can tell us what to do?" Warren asked coldly. Silas glared at him. Warren was bigger, stronger, and younger than he was so Silas knew that getting into a fight with him would not end well. The old man relaxed and his glare turned into a polite smile.
"Well, I suppose we can sit down and talk," he said. He went to the sofa and sat before gesturing to the other chairs. Nico sat beside Silas and Sienna and Warren sat together on another sofa.
"I want my daughter back," Sienna said simply.
"That's not up to me," Silas said.
"I'm happy with Silas," Nico said, "You know I'm alive now, so just leave us alone."
"We can't. You're both serial killers," Warren said coldly.
"I believe you've killed people too, Mr Fox," Silas said, "Or what was it Brendan Brady used to call you? Foxy." Warren glared at him. "I don't like that. Perhaps, I'm just too old for nicknames."
"Whose Brendan Brady?" Nico asked.
"An old friend of Warren's and a man I framed for murder before I was caught," Silas said casually, "He was innocent of that particular murder but got arrested for several others."
"Brendan and I were not friends," Warren muttered.
Sienna was feeling increasingly uncomfortable about the situation. Every single person in the room apart from herself had killed people in the past. While she knew that Warren had changed, it seemed that Silas and Nico had not. However, Silas had a look of genuine fondness in his eyes whenever he glanced at Nico while she was completely comfortable around him, not looking in the slightest bit intimidated by the woman strangling maniac at her side. If Sienna didn't know better, she'd think they really were grandfather and granddaughter.
"What have you been doing, Nico?" she asked.
"Learning," Nico said, "Silas taught me that there's an art to killing. So, don't worry; I haven't killed anyone since Trevor. If I decide to kill you it won't be as clumsy as the other times." Sienna winced and instinctively touched the scar Nico had left in her side. Nico noticed and a grim smile crossed her burned features, "Still hurt?"
"Nico, Sienna's your mother," Warren said, "And god knows why but she still loves you. Why else would she be screaming at me to get you out of the maze?"
"Because she wants me locked up," Nico said coldly.
"That's not true," Sienna said, "I don't want you to be locked up but you're dangerous to everyone around you. You need help."
"Of course, you would think that," Silas said, rolling his eyes, "Sometimes, I think Nico and I have evolved to a higher plane. Someone must get rid of the filth in the world. The common crowd can't see that because they're wading through it." He shot a disgusted look at Sienna, "Nico told me you slept with your own brother. Disgusting."
"Well if I hadn't, Nico wouldn't have been born," Sienna reminded him.
"Fair point," Silas agreed, "Despite the sinful way you conceived her, I am grateful that you gave birth to such a special young woman. Normally a woman like you would be on my list."
"If you touch her, I'll kill you," Warren said looking Silas straight in the eye.
"I have no doubt," Silas responded, "I'm not stupid, Mr Fox. Or may I call you Warren?" Warren glared at him and Silas smiled benignly, taking his silence as a yes, "Now, if we all stay here tonight, chances are at least one of us will be dead tomorrow so I suggest you two leave."
"This is still my house," Sienna told him, "And I can't let you just run off with Nico."
"You can't force me to come with you, either," Nico said defiantly. Warren raised an eyebrow at her and Nico tensed, half expecting him to carry her kicking and screaming out of the house. Silas was the only one in the room who seemed completely relaxed but even so, he was keeping a close eye on Warren. If the younger man did decide to forcefully remove Nico from the house, there wasn't much Silas would be able to do to stop him.
Sienna hesitated, trying to decide how to make Nico stay with her without goading her crazy daughter into making another attempt on her life and most likely Warren's in the process. She really didn't want to resort to using violence but it seemed that the only other option was letting Nico stay with Silas. Then she had an idea.
"What if Warren and I keep your location a secret and in return, you live here and let me come and visit Nico?" she suggested to Silas, "I'll give you my phone number and you give me yours."
"You're suggesting perverting the course of justice just to be with your daughter?" Silas said, "How touching."
"I can't lose her again," Sienna said simply, "I'll do anything just to be able to see her."
"Your devotion is admirable," Silas admitted. He looked at Nico, "What do you think, my dear?"
Nico looked at her mother who stared at her with a pleading expression. Nico knew that Sienna loved her. She couldn't really understand why but Sienna had proven repeatedly that she would do anything for her. And while Nico didn't want to admit it, part of her had missed her mother during the time they were separated. But if she had to choose between Sienna and Silas, she would choose Silas without a second thought. Sienna knew this so she was trying to find the middle ground.
"Fine," Nico said curtly, "If you don't tell the police, we'll stay here and let you visit. If you betray us, I swear I'll kill you."
"Then it's settled," Silas said cheerfully, "Thank you for welcoming me into your family." Warren shot him a disgusted look but Sienna ignored him completely and just looked at Nico.
"Thank you," Sienna said and for a split second, she thought she saw a spark of affection light up her daughter's empty eyes.
This one was difficult to write and I'm kind of running out of motivation. More reviews would be appreciated.