Juliet
The figure who emerged out of Charlene's house was the last one I had ever thought I would see in the place that was my safety… A refuge… My haven of freedom and protection. He strolled so leisurely up the gravel driveway—it seemed like he belonged there. More loud 'bang' sounds came from down the road. It was gunshots coming from Charlene's house. That moment felt like a dream… A horrible one where you were stuck, and the fear covered you, pushed you down, and you couldn't wake up. I disappeared and jumped down all the stairs running.
"Juliet!" The voice was loud and menacing in the cold night air. I slowed down, having passed him already. "All I want… is Marcus back at the compound." I wanted to burst out crying or scream. There were no tears and no sounds. How could I take him back there? He wouldn't make it if he had to go back to that way of living. I quickly had to count the cost. Did Miné have a watcher who could protect her from Qadir... No… She didn't. Carl would run, but did Qadir put people up there? Would Carl's father intervene? Would they give Miné to Rodrigo? "Getting out of this one is going cost you… Again. Much like last time…." Qadir knew I was trying to figure this out. My nose burned and immediately closed up. I swallowed hard. I wasn't so quick on my feet as Marcus, and I couldn't yell his name… I couldn't call out to him. "I just want to talk… If you make this difficult, someone will get hurt. At this point, it's only Sita with Charlene in the house… And I don't really care who makes it out alive. But little Miné—"
All he had to say was her name with the threat attached. I came back immediately. He turned around, "That's a good girl… Now shall we," he gestured with his arm towards the house.
I stood frozen—my eyes locked on the three people on the porch… Louis watched me, reading me. His sullen countenance was back. It broke my heart… Louis's eyes closed slowly, and he gestured with his head toward the house. I didn't want to move. He came down, took my hand, and had to pull me the rest of the way.
***
Charlene
I was crawling on the floor and had seen Qadir leaving. I didn't know what would happen in the next few minutes. There was only one option—fight. I was glad about the months of practice and training on how to handle a gun. There was one under the sink in the kitchen. That was where I was headed.
I opened the cupboard and the panel in the back of the wall. I cocked the chamber and took off the safety. The lights in the house went on. I shot in the direction of where I was standing earlier. The return fire was sudden. I kept myself behind the counter in the kitchen.
"I've never killed anyone, Charlene. I don't want my first time to be some teenager with a baby."
I aimed at the roof, shooting out the globe. It was dark again. I crawled down the hall toward my room. The door was closed. I got to my feet, went in, and locked the door. I sighed when I saw the open window; Carl had gotten away. I followed Carl out into the dark, with no idea what would happen to Juliet. I was terrified that they were there for Miné. She was the only thing on my mind.
***
Sita
The house was quiet for a long time before I got up. I had never been so scared. Actually, being in a gunfight was different than shooting one at a target or getting used to the sound when you're out hunting. I put on some more lights. I cleared the house and saw the window open in the back room.
I left, taking in the scenery. The massive house had been Juliet's home for so long. Two husbands. A mother and a father. Friends. Money and… Chris. A baby with Chris. Seeing the way her story turned out... was like salt in my wounds and fueled me to push forward.
Louis had furnished and finished the house in style. He had money… I had some money, but it meant nothing when I would be going back to Palmyra. There was some consolation when I walked into the space. All of them were seated around the massive wooden dining room table. Juliet stared at me. Louis whispered into her ear. She breathed out a breath. Not that it would help. If Qadir wanted the cub, he would take it. It was all up to her. The other couple must be her parents. I can vaguely remember seeing them at school at some stage.
"Juliet… Marcus won't come back without you. So I need you to willingly return." Qadir's gaze drifted to Louis. "It means you have to come as well." Qadir turned to Liam and Cindy. "You're house is still there…."
To see Juliet's world fall apart around her was enough for me. "Sita, sit down." I pulled out a chair next to him and sat. One thing Liv told me was to do everything Qadir instructed... Not to talk if you were not spoken to. Where I was, those two rules had made my goals possible. It was quiet around the table.
"So what's going to happen now is: Miné will be fine. Charlene and Carl, too. When I leave… you will go get them in the woods and bring them back home. Michael will bring back Caleb. And then Marcus and Chris will come back in a few days… When they do… You will have two weeks before Chris returns to his planet with little Caleb in tow. You'll never see them again. Then you come back to the compound just like it always should have been."
Qadir's fingers drummed on the table, two pairs of eyes boring into each other. One thing I had to give Juliet credit for… she was no coward.
"You four will not say anything to Marcus. For that little understanding… I will take away all surveillance from the house for these two weeks. We will keep it as is… although I won't check up on you. And it's only so Marcus doesn't get wind of anything that happened tonight… Also, I will let this place be. Only after you are all back at the compound with me will Miné be safe. Her parents will be safe. I really don't care what happens to them."
No one said anything. So Qadir went on, "After two weeks, you will tell Marcus you are ready to get your treatment for what was done to you… Because that is what Rodrigo is telling them right now. When all of this happens, we will take it from there."
Qadir had what he wanted. And he knew it. They knew it.
"Why do you want Marcus back there? You can never go back to En-gannim… He will take over… What is your goal?" Juliet's father asked.
"Control… What else? Right now, my father is coming after Marcus. Seeing what he did three years ago… And he left the compound… I don't really care about En-gannin until Marcus takes over… But until then, I need him for my army… and to make Earth mine."
***
Louis
And just like that, Qadir and Sita left the house, walked down the stairs, and teleported out with someone we didn't know. I suspected it had to be Jabin. We were all quiet for a few minutes, watching them leave.
"We will go find Charlene and Carl," Liam said, getting up and walking out the door.
Juliet sat, peering sightlessly into the darkness. Her mind was void. "Baby!"
She blinked a couple of times and focused on me. The rush of all the things that had happened flooded her thoughts. All we've been through and again, what a mess she had created. "I'm so sorry, Louis… When I asked you to cover Marcus on me… I thought I'd be free of him."
"You mean Qadir?"
She nodded, "I thought we would be free. When I came with you to France, I was prepared to put it all behind me. Then I did one… stupid thing… and made you do it." I kept touching her hair, listening to her, and tucking strands behind her ear. Sitting across from her, I leaned forward so our faces were at eye level. She gripped my hand, "If you were there that night, I wouldn't have gone with Chris… I kept praying you would come for me… I didn't want to go with Chris… I want… I neeed you to stay here in France… Please tell me you will stay."
I licked my lips. My mouth was so dry… Nerves rampant for having to unburden myself to her. "Baby, I need to tell you something… Michael was there the night with Rodrigo when he injected you. He was just too late because you disappeared… He couldn't track you… But he followed Rodrigo and held him captive for a long time. Until it came out that you were pregnant. Rodrigo convinced him he had a way for you to carry the baby. They made a deal… Michael also wanted you to be stronger when Chris left so you could take care of yourself when he wasn't your watcher anymore… If one day it was only you and Qadir alone in a room… You are not turning into some freak. Or Zombie. You're becoming a killing machine capable of… he doesn't even know what."
I paused for her, letting it all sink in. "And?"
"I… have… been… dosing myself with the same stuff… I just let it happen when you went through your spells so no one knew." Her chin quivered, and her brows knit together. "Even if we go to the compound, nothing can happen to us. At some point, Marcus can say we changed—put us in a box—and we can leave… We'll get look-alike people… And no one will know with any of that stuff pumped into them."
Juliet was speechless.
"Baby… I love you that much… I don't care what you do. Who you F—. How many husbands you have. If you want me to brand you a million times—I'll do it. Go through all of this," I gestured between us. "Over and over." She leaned in and pressed her lips onto mine, pulled me to my feet, wrapped her arms around me, and hugged me. "This has never happened to me before. When I met you that first day at your house… and you held onto my hand… I knew… I was sure… It really didn't matter what I would have to go through… This is the way it should be. Me and you together… Chris will leave. Michael…? I don't know how to make that happen for you… Marcus… I'm scared of Marcus Juliet. It's not that there is no space for you there… It's because… I know he won't choose you…."
Her shoulders shook against my chest, "He doesn't love me?"
"Oh, baby no… He loves you more than his own life… Marcus is… indoctrinated with two hundred years of torture and conditioning. Filial to a fault. And the fact is, he has never stood up for you… Proves that… you might have to suffer only a little bit for a little while."
"Michael said I have to trust Marcus."
I drew in a slow breath, "I hope we can. I hope he proves himself worthy of you…."
"Why did you not touch me for months?"
"I knew Chris was going to leave… Juliet… I don't think you will ever see him again or Caleb." She grabbed onto me even tighter, making desperate sounds. "I wanted you to have the time with him… And it kept Marcus at bay. You happy for a little bit."
"Why…? Why are you doing all of this for me?"
"My love for you is unconditional. And I mean it. To the very last fiber of my being."
"But mine is… Why do you accept it?"
I chuckled, "That's not how this works… It's the way it's supposed to be… It's my choice. No! We all chose you." I pushed her away and gazed deeply into her eyes. "Now… come to me… and let it be. I don't want to hear you say I can't handle this. You are this."
Juliet was in my embrace in the doorway when we saw Michael bringing Caleb back. I was scared for him… He had done so much for Juliet over the years; it was only a matter of time before someone found out and punished him according to the watcher code.
Worriedly, he walked up the stairs. Juliet took Caleb. I held out my hand to him. We shook on it. A mutual understanding that we were all family. A thank you because he helped me go through the process and put Qadir off our trail. And that he would be there for her—had been there for her in a larger capacity than any of us could boast.
"Did Rodrigo say anything?" I asked.
"Only what we discussed."
I nodded. Michael turned to Juliet, "I'm sorry I lied to you."
"I have to thank you, it seems… I owe you again…" Michael wasn't smiling, and neither was she. The joke was on us. "Like I said… You're much better at this than them. I didn't even suspect anything."
I took Caleb and gave them a moment alone.
***
Juliet
I watched Louis leave and had mixed emotions. He was too good for me. "I have to go, Juliet." I followed Michael outside. "Louis is fortunate."
I scoffed, "Please don't say that… Everything he had to go through and did for me… Michael, what about the plate thing you controlled me with. What will happen when we both change?"
"Rodrigo doesn't know… The button is preventative if you're not in control at any point. Juliet… I haven't brought them because I don't know who to give them to."
"We both know there is only one person we can give it to, and it's not my father."
"If that's what you want." He leaned down, hovering over my lips. I kissed him, cupping his neck. Neither of our eyes closed, watching each other.
"Thank you for Catty and the letter," I pouted my lips, "That was—"
He kissed me quick. "Don't do that. You're asking for it." He kissed me again—harder. "I have a confession."
"Another one?"
"I sent Katty deliberately. I couldn't watch you pretend anymore… Don't stop fighting again. I told you to sort it out, and you stood back even more." My eyes cast to the floor. I had been weak. If I had confronted everything, we probably wouldn't have been going through any of it. I had thought I was doing the right thing. I sighed and nodded. He pulled me closer, "Try and hold onto those things. Don't let them make you think of what you don't have. But remind you of everything you do… We all love you… It's all a matter of time anyway."
"I'll try… I'm sorry."
"For what?" Michael asked, surprised.
"Everything," I said with a sigh. He picked me up off the ground and hugged me—my feet dangling. He put me down and left without turning around.
"Michael!" He stopped. "I do love you. There isn't much I wouldn't do for you. Well, besides the three things I wouldn't do for any of you." His chin turned slightly to me, a smile on his lips. "Be careful. And come as quickly as you can. I'm waiting." He stilled for a moment and disappeared.
***
Charlene
We had a safety zone hidden away in the mountains. If we needed to run or hide, we would all meet up there. When I fled the house, that was where I headed, running and hoping Carl would be there. That Miné would be there. That some watchers didn't come and take my baby away from me. Our life had suddenly become a harsh reality; we never even suspected. We were so happy there. Sita, showing up, had corrupted the place.
I struggled over rocks and a river that led to a cave I needed to head into. It took about fifteen minutes to get here from the house. I had run all the way. Out of breath, heart racing, I walked around a hill, hiding the entrance well. "Carl!"
"I'm here, Charlene."
"And Miné?"
"She's here." His voice was low. He hadn't been there long. None of the lanterns we had hidden away were lit. Slowly, I made my way through the narrow passage into the cave.
"I can't see anything."
"Neither can I. That's why I'm standing here for the moon."
I walked right into him and threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. He put his hand on the small of my back, too afraid to touch me but still willing. I pulled away from him a little and placed my lips on his, crossing the line. In the years we were friends, it never even came close. His body stiffened at first. He wanted to pull away from me. I kept him on my lips until he relaxed. "Charlene… what are you doing?" he whispered.
"I almost died, Carl. My baby almost died… You almost died… I'm telling you how I feel."
He stared at me for a long time, "I don't think we feel quite the same way." Miné fussed. He patted her, trying to calm her.
"Come on, I'll try and find the lanterns. Stay there."
"No, take Miné. I'll do it," Carl said in an irritated manner.
We sat silently for a whole hour until Liam and Cindy found us. Carl was never a big talker. He definitely didn't wear his emotions on his sleeve. I didn't know what was going on in his mind. So, I left it. His feelings for me come out in an unexpected, unplanned way. He had doubts.
"Carl," whispers came from outside.
"Yeah, Liam. We're in here."
"Let's go. We have a lot to tell you. But everyone is safe."
We left the cave and made our way home. Cindy and Liam told us everything we needed to know. Juliet was waiting for us on the porch steps when we came back. The first thing she did was throw her arms around me. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.
"This isn't your fault. You didn't make me sleep with Ben and have a werewolf baby." My eyes darted to Carl to see if Ben was the issue.
"Qadir would never have known if it wasn't for me."
I shook my head, "Miné would've been in trouble regardless. And I think Sita had more to do with this than you might believe."
"Come. You guys aren't sleeping in your house tonight." She took my hand. Liam locked the door for the first time. We all made our way to our rooms. Carl didn't say goodnight or look at me and went to bed, leaving me alone with Miné in Juliet's room.
I sat up for hours and couldn't sleep. When I tried, I had nightmares. Flashbacks kept haunting me. I wasn't going to sleep if I was alone. So, I was going to have to do something stupid—like Juliet would. I got up and went to Carl's room, knocking softly. The door opened. It didn't look like he had slept at all. I took his hand and led him back down the hall. I pushed him onto the bed and got on with him. "I can't sleep alone." He pulled me closer, and I put my arm around him. He kissed the top of my hair. I felt myself relax and drift off.
***
Juliet
That night, Louis didn't even ask if I wanted to be alone. He dragged me into his room, and everything fell into place… He had finally talked to me. The dark atmosphere was almost tangible. As if Qadir never left. I felt like we would have to fumigate… If we ever came back.