50 | Monsters and Men

Seaside, California April 25, 2013

Lillian

THEY say miracles happen. And that was what we needed, a miracle. Yesterday was the last time we were in contact with my mother. We heard they were going to Reno with some vampire hunter woman. My mother sent Scott and Zach back to help us prepare for the inevitable fight with Seana.

Cel kept having visions of the lighthouse in Monterey. We just had no clue when they'd show up. We had been taking turns going by there throughout the day to see if anything had been touched.

The lighthouse closed in the early 2000s. Now it was surrounded by a gate, that didn't deter anyone from going there. It was one of the known party locations throughout the entire county.

It was seven in the morning now, Amberly and Eddie left to go scout the lighthouse again. This waiting game was starting to drive me insane.

Not only did I have to worry about that, but next week started our finals for school. Zach and Scott were going to flunk at this point, they hadn't been in school for a week. And Elle, her shot at being salutatorian was blown out of the water now.

I think I was the only one who still cared about graduating high school.

I made my way over to Scott's to go see my father, he has been trying to look for a place to move to, but my mother locked him out of all of their accounts. She even put up a barrier spell around our house to keep him out.

When I walked in the front door, the kitchen was a warzone. In all of my 18 years, I had seen my father cook about twice. Both times he was just cooking noodles.

The house smelled like burnt bacon and toast, I could see something starting to burn on the stove.

He had his back turned to it as he stirred something in a large bowl. Maybe if I stepped in now I could save the pancakes he was about to incinerate.

"Dad," I sighed and set my bag on the counter. I went straight for the stove to turn it off.

"Oh, my—" he started to shout as he finally noticed the shit burning on the stove.

However when he turned the bowl went with him, sending all of the pancake mix onto the floor and my feet.

"What the hell are you doing Dad?!" I shrieked, the kitchen was more of a mess than I thought.

Dirty dishes were piled into the sink, much of it with burnt food stuck to it.

"I was trying to cook us a nice breakfast," my father glowered. "As you can see it is a fucking disaster."

I just gawked at him. Then I smelled something else starting to burn.

"Shit!" my father yelped and nearly bulldozed through me to open the oven.

I jumped back as flames shot out from it. Whatever was on the baking pan was burnt to ash.

"Does he have a fire extinguisher here or something?!" my father cried as he started opening the bottom cabinets frantically.

I slammed the oven door closed and flicked the power switch off.

"Are you for real right now?!" I yelled. "The fire will just die out! Stop freaking the fuck out!"

"Lillian I just almost set a house on fire, how can I be calm?!" my father fumed. "You have a temper just like your mother!"

"You sure?" I quipped then glanced at the apron he was wearing. "Where did you get that thing?"

He looked down at the pink polka-dot apron. "I found it in the room I'm staying in, I didn't want to ruin this shirt your mother gave me."

I just started giggling uncontrollably. "I'm sure that was Scott's grandmother's, it does look like something from the 50s."

My father rolled his eyes and took it off. Then he started grabbing paper towels and began wiping up the pancake mix from the floor. I busied myself with the pile of dishes. It was a good thing I bought a gallon jug of dish soap. I was gonna need the entire thing to get this grease and burnt shit off.

However, when we were halfway done cleaning the kitchen, my father stopped what he was doing and took a seat on the last surviving stool. I turned the faucet off and draped my towel across the oven handle.

I just glanced at him confused.

"We need to have that talk, Lillian," he urged.

"Right now?" I protested. "Scott and Zach will be back soon, we need to have this mess cleaned up."

My father sighed and held his head in his hands. "I know mi querida but I think it's time."

"I already told you there is no need," I mumbled and resumed wiping off dishes. "You know how nice it has been to just feel normal?"

"Your life is far from normal," he chimed in.

I just frowned. "I know it is but at least I don't have the urge to blow shit up or try and hurt someone I love again."

"Lillian I don't know how many times I have to tell you that what happened then is done," my father insisted. "We never taught you restraint. It is easy to let the magic overtake us."

"Okay, did you try murdering your father before?" I snapped.

"No, but—" he began till I cut him off.

"See!" I cried. "Something is seriously wrong with me!"

"If you would stop interrupting me," my father warned, giving me a withering look. "I was about to say that an untrained witch can easily lose herself in her emotions. It is not uncommon for these things to happen."

I just started shaking my head in disbelief and turned the faucet back on. He was only saying these things to convince me that everything was fine. Nothing was fine anymore.

I heard my father get up off the stool, but I just started scrubbing dishes again.

"I know you are terrified of what you can do," my father murmured as he stood at my side. "The key to controlling your magic is learning to trust yourself. From the moment you got your magic you have been holding back."

"Dad, say whatever you want," I grumbled. "But having no magic this last week has finally given me a sense of clarity. Do you know how hard it has been the last six months for me?"

"I do know," he asserted. "But I also know that you can control it."

"Okay, so if I can control it how come I tried to kill you?" I scoffed.

"Well I did try and kill your boyfriend so..." my father trailed off. "I understand why you wanted to stab me for it."

I just gaped at him stupidly.

"I'm not mad at you for trying to kill me, Lillian," he chirped. "Scott was innocent. I did overreact looking back."

"Jesus Christ," I laughed in astonishment. "I thought I was insane. It turns out my entire family is more insane!"

"Yes, that is why I became dependent on alcohol," my father grinned. "But less talk of that."

"Dad, I don't want my magic back," I reiterated.

"I don't think you have a choice in that matter," he beamed.

"The hell I don't, you are not unsealing it," I remarked.

"Remember when I said sealing your magic was temporary?" my father asked.

"No, I was knocked out remember?" I reminded him. "Mom couldn't undo it, only you could."

"Whatever," my father mumbled. "Look, if you haven't noticed you've had your magic this entire time. You've just been suppressing it."

My eyes widened. "What?"

How the fuck?

"I know it seems surprising," he smiled. "But I think you became so afraid of yourself that even when it came back you subconsciously suppressed it."

Then my father proceeded to take one of the burnt bowls and fill it with nasty dishwater.

"For example, I'm sure you can easily put this out," he suggested before pouring the water all over the counter.

He snapped his fingers, causing flames to explode from the water.

"What the fuck?!" a voice shouted.

I was too shocked to even see who it was, all I could think now was the fire needed to be snuffed out. And just like that it vanished.

I was just gawking at what I did as my father started clapping happily.

"See, now all you need to do is believe in yourself!" he cheered.

I slowly turned my head and glanced at a furious-looking Scott. I just gulped nervously.

"I let you stay here for free and this is how you thank me?" Scott asked incredulously.

"No harm was done I swear!" my father announced. "Except for the food."

Scott just kept glaring at the messed up kitchen, his left eye slightly twitching.

He just started shaking his head and picked his duffle bag up. "I'll be upstairs."

I started smiling apologetically and followed him into the hallway.

"Love you! Glad you're home!" I squeaked.

He turned his head and grinned at me. "He has five minutes to leave before I kill him."

"What? There is no more killing each other!" I shrilled and took off back to the kitchen, only to see my father gone.

"Dad!" I screeched and bolted to his room.

Just as I was about to fling his door open he came out, now wearing slacks and a blazer.

I just looked questionably at him.

"I forgot I had a client this morning!" my father chuckled. "I gotta run, I'll see you kids later!"

He stepped around me and scurried to the front door.

"You—" I began till my voice caught in my throat. I felt my face flush red as I stomped after him. "You are not leaving me here to clean up your mess!"

"I'll clean it later!" my father insisted and started tying up the laces to his leather shoes.

I just kept pointing at him angrily with a finger, unable to even speak because I was so pissed off. The audacity of him to leave that kitchen like that!

I followed him out of the front door, wishing I had something to throw at him.

"Maybe Scott should kill you then! You ass!" I screamed from the porch.

He threw his briefcase in the backseat of the Chrysler and slammed the door shut.

"Now that is not a nice thing to say to your father," he reproached.

I just crossed my arms and glared at him annoyed. I should've called him a giant asshole—or worse things.

"I'll clean it later!" he reiterated and waved to me before jumping in his car. In the next second, he was speeding off like a bat out of hell down the road.

I just shook my head. He knew I would clean it. Any disorder near me had to be eradicated before I had an epiphany.

I turned with a huff back toward the front door, Scott was there leaning against the doorframe.

"Well, did you at least get any decent breakfast this morning?" he teased.

"Hell no, everything Dad tried to cook was burnt to ash!" I hissed. "Now I have to go clean up his mess!"

"How about this," Scott began and grabbed my hands. "I take you out somewhere decent to eat in a bit, then we can come back and worry about the mess. Hell, I'll clean it up."

"How about I clean up the mess first and then we can go?" I suggested and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"It's been almost a month since I've had you all to myself," Scott grinned.

Shit.

"Scott," I warned. "The mess first."

"Let's do this first," Scott beamed as he lifted me into his arms with ease.

"Put me down God dammit!" I protested as he carried me into the house. "Are you deaf?!"

"Nope," he declared. "I demand we time."

I just rolled my eyes and finally surrendered. I've been needing "we"  time for a while.

THE day went by quickly. After Scott and I got back home I immediately went to cleanse the mess in the kitchen. With Scott's help, we finished it in minutes. The smell of burnt food was replaced by the lovely scent of some fruity febreeze shit I bought a month ago.

I even started cleaning more than the kitchen. I noticed my father was a slob since he didn't have his wife cleaning up after him. The guest room was a disaster. I just about wanted to set the room on fire because of stuff strewn everywhere carelessly.

So I cleaned for hours. Scott finally got bored of watching me so he went upstairs to go shower. My father had been gone all day. I wonder what happened with the client of his.

He probably just went out for the day to escape my scorn. It was almost eight when I heard the front door open and slam quickly.

I was in the guest room, folding random things. I stuck my head out of the room, seeing my father head into the living room.

"Lillian? Scott? I need to speak with you now!" my father shouted out urgently.

I dropped whatever I had in my arms and bolted to the living room.

"Dad?" I asked, his puffy eyes darting to where I was standing.

He said nothing as he enveloped me in a tight hug. I stood there confused as I felt tears fall on my shoulder. I saw Scott come from the hallway, he had just gotten out of the shower.

He looked just as lost as me.

My father pulled away but kept his hands on my shoulders. Everything going through his mind went right through me. All of the confusion, madness, and grief. A woman's voice I didn't know echoed in his mind, saying words that I couldn't make out. Everything was too scattered for me to even make sense of it.

"Dad, say something!" I cried.

"They found them," he breathed, his eyes locked on the floor. "Cynthia, they found her in Reno and—"

He choked as a sob escaped him. "She's gone."

I backed away and started shaking my head.

"What do you mean she is gone?!" I erupted. "Did they take her? I—"

"She's dead Lillian," my father cut in, his voice tight.

I felt my entire body just crumble, till the only thing that was supporting me was Scott's arms. I stared straight ahead unblinking. I couldn't even find the ability to speak. Even the world around me was nothing but blurs.

"Your mother and Mila were tracking Seana and Elle," I heard my father say, but I had become mute.

Scott was speaking now, but my ears had tuned everything out now. Their voices turned into loud but incomprehensible noises.

So this was what shock felt like. We were all sitting on the couch now. I felt myself slowly coming back, I kept blinking as my vision became more clear.

"If they killed her why was her body gone?" I heard Scott question my father.

He immediately snapped his attention to me when noticed me staring at him.

"No one knows," my father hissed. "What I do know is the moment I see either of them I won't hesitate."

"What?" I put forth. "I'm sorry I think I went into shock."

"You did mi querida," my father smiled sadly.

Then he told me everything Mila told him over the phone. I didn't know how tight I had my hand around Scott's; mine was numb. I could feel my magic wanting to come loose, but somehow I had it anchored.

And within the next few minutes, we were flying across the interstate in Dad's Chrysler. I was in the backseat, my eyes glued to the window as Seaside disappeared behind us. I didn't even bother calling my cousins about what happened. I'm sure they caught wind of it, Mila is a friend of Cel's mother.

It was a five-hour drive to Reno. The last hour of it I just about tapped my foot through the floorboard. When we pulled up to the emergency room, the place was filled with people.

It was 2 in the morning, how were there so many people here?

My father dropped us off at the entrance.

"She's in room 23. I'm going to attempt to find a damn parking spot," my father cursed.

"Just park in the grass like these other assholes did," Scott suggested.

"Good idea!" my father beamed.

I just rolled my eyes and started walking away. I didn't have any more patience for their banter. I strode into the emergency room and headed straight for the desk.

"Hi I'm here to see Laura Rezza," I mumbled. "I'm her daughter."

The receptionist just opened the door and waved me forward. I guess they didn't care who they let in to see their patients.

What if I was a murderer or something?

Just as I was about to run down the hall to my mother's room, I saw two people step out where she was. I skidded to a stop.

It was Cel's parents. I gulped nervously as they both were talking to themselves; unaware they were coming toward me.

I haven't seen her father since the coven meeting.

Jeff finally glanced up and did a double-take when he saw me just feet from them. Miranda also looked shocked to see me standing here like a statue. Their attention shifted from me to the side of me.

My father and Scott caught up to me.

I felt Scott wrap his arm around my back just as my father took a step in front of me protectively.

"Samuel," Jeff greeted, his voice tense.

"Jeffery," my father replied, his tone laced with contempt.

"We heard about Laura, so we came to check on her," Miranda put in, trying to ease the tension building up between all of us.

"Is she okay?" I inquired, trying to ignore the intense staring between my father and Jeff.

"Yes, but she is going to have to go into surgery soon," Miranda lamented. "The doctor said some of her scans came back showing internal bleeding."

"Jesus Christ," I heard my father say under his breath.

We all stood there awkwardly now. I was just about to just walk off and go see my mother before Jeff ended the silence.

"I owe you all an apology," Jeff began.

My father's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.

"You what?" he laughed in disbelief. "Jeffery Moone apologizing? I can't believe this!"

My father just kept laughing to himself. Jeff and Miranda looked at him like he was insane.

"Uh, thanks?" Scott guessed.

"Let's go," I snapped and dragged Scott away with me.

I didn't have time for this stupid bullshit. I mumbled a quick thank you to Miranda and went right into my mother's room.

There standing guard over her was Mila. She looked like everything that I expected her to. Her skin was tanned from the outdoors. Her long blonde hair was tucked into a tight braid down her back. She wore all black leather, from her tank top to her combat boots.

Except she wasn't wearing 30 knives on her as Zach described over the phone. She had her arms crossed and was standing in the corner of the room watching my mother and the machines that beeped around her.

She immediately turned her eyes to us, her calm mask now becoming saddened. Her brown eyes held nothing but grief.

"You must be Lily," Mila entreated and walked up to me.

"Yes—" I squeaked just as she wrapped me into a tight hug.

"Has anyone else been here?" Scott asked.

"No," Mila replied and let me go. "Miranda and her husband were the only ones. They were close by when I called."

"Seana and Elle are almost back to Seaside aren't they?" Scott scoffed.

"Yes, I wonder who they will try and kill next," Mila remarked. "I was lucky. If Elle had been smarter about snapping necks I would be dead."

I felt my heart stop.

Elle? Snapping people's necks?

"Elle wouldn't do that. There is no way she would," I whispered.

Would she?

However, the way Scott and Mila were peering at me said the opposite.

"I didn't know what happened after Elle tried to kill me," Mila admitted. "But when I woke up your mother had a stab wound to her side and Cynthia's body was gone. I'm sure Elle tried killing her too."

"Elle would not try and kill my mother," I hissed and got into her face. "You said it yourself you don't know for sure!"

"Lily—" I heard Scott warn but I ignored him.

"Look at her," Mila ordered and pointed her finger at my mother. "Look where she is. How do you think she ended up here?"

I tore my hateful gaze from her and went right to my mother's bedside. I could see her eyes moving rapidly under her closed eyelids. Could she hear us?

I pulled one of her hands in both of mine and squeezed it tightly as tears dripped down my face. There had to be an explanation for all of this. Elle would never in a million years harm my mother. But what if she had become that monster?

I glanced at Scott for a second then back to my mother. He was saved. Why couldn't Elle be saved?

I closed my eyes tightly, letting my mind open as I felt for a connection to my mother. It was dull, but there was just enough for me to latch onto. I saw nothing but darkness in her mind, but I started searching farther back to her last thought.

She knew someone was there with her. I smiled sadly as I kept going back. Everything in her mind replayed but in reverse, her emotions, her actions, and the pain.

I felt a sharp pain go into my side and clutched it. A pain started to go through my skull, but I kept going. Seeing Elle like that thinking my mother killed Cynthia made my heart shatter. It shattered my mother's heart.

That was when she fully believed Elle was beyond saving. That she had to kill her.

Elle did try to kill my mother. But she wasn't the one who shoved that dagger into her. It was Seana.

"Lily please stop," I heard Scott plead, but he sounded far away.

Then I saw my mother find Cynthia. I released my mother's hand as I cried out and opened my eyes. Blood had dripped from my nose onto the bed sheets. I was clutching my chest, my heart nearly beating out of my chest.

I had never gone that far into someone's mind, I didn't even know I could.

Scott was sitting on the bed with me. Mila appeared next to me with a handful of napkins. I half expected her to look gleeful at her being right, but her expression was nothing but sadness and understanding.

I took them gratefully. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, you were right."

"Don't worry about it kid," Mila mumbled and took a seat in one of the chairs.

My father finally came into the room. His face was beat red.

"Any news?" he grimaced.

"Yep, your wife is going to be fine," Mila announced. "There is no need to heal her, I gave her some stuff that will heal her slowly so people don't ask questions."

"I can just compel them," Scott insisted.

"You were five hours away, she needed something then," Mila said dismissively.

"What about the surgery?" I gawked.

"Oh, that," Mila chuckled. "I need to tell the doctors to take a second look at her."

"Great, that is great news!" my father rejoiced.

"We need to go back," I put forth quietly.

"We just got here Lillian," my father remarked. "Uh, why are you bleeding?"

"It's nothing," I brushed off.

I just went too far into my mother's brain. Something I could not physically handle apparently.

"You are going to go try and save Elle aren't you?" Mila sighed.

I felt a tremble go through me as I stood up. "Of course, I am. I owe that to her. And I owe it to her mother. Everyone else can give up but I won't."

"You're cousin is gone Lily," Mila lamented. "Her humanity is gone. And the way she was to her own family, there is no coming back from that."

"Then I'll be the one to find that out," I said indignantly.

My father came over to me and dropped something into my hands. It was his keys.

"Then go," my father encouraged. "I know you will do what is right."

I felt more tears threatening to come. I wrapped my arms around him and buried my head into his shoulder.

"Thanks, Dad, for everything," I cried.

Then with one last quick hug from Mila, Scott and I bolted out of the hospital.

While we searched for the Chrysler, it turned out my father did park it in the grass with the other assholes.

I jumped in the passenger seat and snapped my seat belt on. Scott was busy adjusting all the mirrors.

"Please try and get some rest," Scott coaxed. "It's late. You'll need sleep for what we are about to walk into."

I just started laughing dementedly. "Rest? I won't rest until this shit is finished."

He just grinned and pushed the gas pedal to the floorboard.