(A/N): We're back with Elaine, Mia, Remus, and Dahrya. I typed this chapter up right after I found out that we were going to have to put my dog down the next day, which was now almost four months ago.

Trigger Warnings: References to/mentions of child abuse. Fairly brief discussion of Sebastien and Daimen's abominable treatment of women (so, sexual assault/abuse of power, etc). Mention of self-harm, though in a different capacity to what we're used to at this point in the story, and for a different purpose (AKA, not because the person is depressed/self-destructive - at least, we assume).

Elaine

"What do you mean, 'what you woke up to'?" I asked, wishing that her answer could be something that wasn't absolutely horrifically heartbreaking for once- the way it always inevitably was whenever Leo, and now apparently Mia, as well, told us anything about their childhood. Their past, since technically we were all still children. "What- What did you... wake up to?" She shrugged loosely, though her brow furrowed and her mouth twisted to one side as though she was reliving a particularly uncomfortable memory.

"Technically, I woke up to an empty bedroom. What happened after that, however, was..." She visibly shuddered, which was worrying. "Well, my parents made it extremely obvious that while I was out, they were... otherwise occupied."

Remus frowned. "What do you mean, 'otherwise occupied'?" He asked, and Dahrya rolled her eyes at him.

"I believe," She snarked. "She means that they were having sex." Oh. Oh, no wonder Mia had looked so uncomfortable! Remus eyebrows shot up, and Mia winced.

"Unfortunately," She said- almost sighed. "She's correct." Well. That's something I didn't want to think about- let alone have to hear about in such a way where it was clear to Mia what had happened. "I've managed to block out most of the terrible flirting- needling, really- while still maintaining most of the information they revealed in the process. When they instilled in me the importance of not telling anyone 'family secrets', I bet they didn't see this little band of misfits coming." No one ever did- not even Leo. Not even us.

"What sort of information?" I asked, because it was obvious that Mia wanted me to ask... and because anything that would ruin Cipicia and Sebastien Joannis's best laid plans was a positive in my eyes.

The corner of Mia's lips quirked up, as if she was pleased by my willingness to follow her lead. "All sorts of juicy things, about my parents and their parents, which... actually, I don't think I've told Leo most of those things. Oh, man, I can't wait to see the look on his face when he hears about father and Isolde!" Uh... who? Mia seemed to take notice of my confusion and curiosity, since she took pity on me soon after and elaborated. "Isolde is my grandfather, Daimen Joannis's second- much younger- wife, which means that she's my father's stepmother. They also slept together, at least once." I blinked hard at that, and heard Remus splutter quietly from beside me.

"Erm... before or- or after?" She tilted her head at him, and he flushed slightly. "Before she became his stepmother, or after?" She gave him a small, almost smug smile; it was knowing in a way where it was readily apparent that she truly believed that knowledge really was power.

"At least once after she married my grandfather, but possibly also before. And because I know you're going to ask, no." Ask what? "He doesn't care that his wife slept with his son- in fact, according to what mother and father said, it sounds like he was rather pleased about it." Um... what? "There were some... quite vulgar comments made, about Isolde- which is sad, because she's a nice women, who just so happens to have absolutely atrocious taste in men." I felt my eyebrow twitch, and she gave me a look of pained exasperation. "Obviously, I'm not saying anyone deserves that, but my father is- well, just plain awful. Especially when it comes to women. Especially when it comes to women he has any sort of power over- which is most women."

Oh. I mean, I had suspected Sebastien Joannis was awful- knew he was awful, considering everything I knew about his treatment of Leo- but I hadn't expected... that. I suppose maybe it shouldn't have been all that surprising, but- But. "Would you say you're a bit numb to it, by now?"

Mia winced, shoulders lifting into a shrug. "I don't know if I'd go that far, but I'm certainly- accustomed. I did my best to shield the people I could, but it wasn't always... possible. Sometimes, my mother even helped me." She- she did? "'course, I sort of blackmailed her into it, but y'know." Remus snorted, and when I glanced at him, I saw the open pride- and a little awe- on his face.

"You're truly astonishing, you know that?" She blinked, then flushed. "You're utterly- Fearless isn't the right word, because I'm sure you've got plenty of things you're afraid of-" She nodded almost unconsciously. "-but it's just... You're wild as hell." Her reaction to this was clearly conflicted- joyous, and pained. "You say Leo is more concerned with honesty than you were- and that he's helplessly attracted to all things unapologetically unashamed- but I don't think that's strictly true... because I can't think of anyone or any thing that's more honest, unapologetic, or unashamed than you, Mia. But hey, maybe that's why Leo seeks those things out- because he missed you." She looked to be struggling to hold back tears.

"I don't doubt that he still looks for you in every little thing he comes across, Mia. I know he cares about you more than any other thing on this Earth-" She gave me a pointed look that made me flush, but I shook my head. "It's true. If you don't believe me, ask him- If I believe there's anyone that can overcome Leo's inability to talk about his feelings, I'm betting it's you." The look got so pointed that I could have sworn I felt it cutting me- I turned my head to the side and caught Remus and Dahrya giving me equally pointed looks. Ah. That explains it. "I mean... Y'know what? I don't have to explain myself. Leo loves us both, so both things can be true at the same time."

She shrugged, not seeming surprised by this but instead almost... smug? "The last time Leo and I had a deep conversation about our feelings, we made a blood pact." I- what? "We're not big talking people, really. I suppose that's a symptom of the way we grew up. Leo was quieter than I was- at least, when he was allowed to be. When we were alone, he let me do all the talking, but when we were with our parents, it was speak only when spoken to- and our parents almost always chose to speak to Leo, when we were both present." There was silence for a long moment.

"I'm sorry," Dahrya said, sounding somewhat incredulous. "Did you just say you and Leo made a blood pact?"

Mia shrugged again, still appearing completely unbothered. "Not, like, an official one. We just cut our palms- well, Leo did, anyway- and made a vow. Nothing big." Remus's brow furrowed, and he shook his head as though mystified.

"'Nothing big'? Mia, you-" My brain stuck on the thought of Leo and Mia, seven and five years old- or younger- slicing open their palms and making some sort of vow to each other. But... Leo was a vampire- or, half-vampire, meaning he'd been born that way- hadn't he struggled being so close to such a wound? Or was it not- Did I not understand how this whole thing worked? And when she said 'Leo did, anyway', did that mean that Leo was the only one who cut his palm, or that he cut both of their palms? I'm not sure I would believe that Leo had intentionally hurt Mia in any capacity, let alone for something as gratuitous as making a blood pact. "What- What did you vow?"

She watched him for a long second with a peculiar look, before the ghost of a smile graced her lips. "The only thing two young siblings would consider important enough to promise to each other through blood and pain," She said cryptically, which I could practically see Leo leaning over her shoulder and giving her a high-five for. "Love. Unending, unabating... love."

(A/N): We'll learn a bit more about Leo and Mia's 'blood pact' in the next chapter in this arc, but then it'll be a while until we learn more, since I know it was one of the last chapters I wrote... and I'm writing more than a year in advance, now.