Singing to the Moon Chapter 16 by Maggie Finson

Oh, this was going to be one fun family meeting. I thought as I went through the front door and found my new mother. “Mom, I need to talk with you, Dad, Carly, the twins, and Chris. And it needs to happen now.”

“That could take some doing.” She looked at me with a question on her face and in her posture.

“Just do it, please.” I answered. “I'll be in the big parlor. It's important, really!”

“All right, dear,” she answered. 'I'll find them and get them here. What's so important that I have to interrupt several dates, and a business meeting?”

“I'll tell you when everyone is here.” I answered then gave her at least a good imitation of that cute puppy dog look. “Please? Just get everyone there, then I'll explain things.”

“Knowing you,” she let out a sigh, “that will be a really good one.”

“Just do it, please.” I told her and started to move upstairs. “It's bad, really bad. And the whole family needs to know about it.”

“All right, honey.” She answered to my already retreating back.

I found Carly cuddling Linda in the room that had been set aside as a nursery.

“Hey.” I said as I gently took the baby from her and cuddled her myself. “Meeting in the big parlor.

“And thanks for watching Linda while I was gone.”

“She is my niece, after all.” Carly smiled then caught my expression. “What's going on?”

“Stuff.” I answered while holding the baby against my breasts. “Bad stuff. The whole family needs to to know and be in on it.”

“I'm there.” Carly nodded and headed out of the room. “If it worries you, then it is something bad.”

I wasn't quite sure how to take that comment. Other than my older sister trusted my judgment and knew I'd dealt with the annoying things and not said anything about it.

Crap. So, okay, I was kind of a trouble magnet. Did that mean I was also the 'bad girl' of the family?

Well, if I was, it had damn well better be the tough kind that took no shit bad girl.

“Come on, Linda.” I kissed the baby's forehead and tickled her till she let out a happy little squeal. “We need to have a long talk with our family here.”

Linda responded to that by trying to get one of her thumbs into her mouth.

Kids. I ended up guiding one into her mouth. I'd worry about the thumb sucking later.

Half an hour later everyone I'd asked for was gathered in the big parlor, which was actually a comfortable meeting room.

“Hey everyone.” I greeted them and waved to the numerous comfortably plush chairs and couches in the place. “Have a seat, this could take awhile.”

The twins were dressed like they'd been on dates they really cared about and looked really pissed off. Chris was in his workout clothes and looked as if he was puzzled, Dad still had a file folder in his hand as all of them looked at me as if I'd just announced the end of the world was coming.

Mom was still in her casual stuff, and Carly hadn't changed clothes either. The one thing they all had in common was watching me.

“The Hunters threatened me.” I started out point blank. “And everyone I care for.”

I let that pandemonium go for a few minutes before interrupting. “But they also gave me an out.

“All I have to do is give them this baby.” I lifted Linda to show them. “If I do that, they say they'll go away.”

“And you believe the assholes?” Carly asked.

“No.” I shrugged. “But the chance was offered, I had to let you all know that, and that things could, will, get nasty if I don't give Linda up to them.”

“You can't do that.” Carly answered that one. She never once thought that I would do such a thing, bless her.

“No.” I agreed. “But I'd pull our clan, and others into a war here if I don't give them what they want.”

“Others?” Mom questioned.

“Carmilla has said she'll support me and give me backup.” I answered. “And Carson may not be able to bring his whole family into it, but he knows people who can advise and might help from the shadows.”

“You lined these up before coming to us” Dad questioned.

“You did that before coming to us?” Mom asked and looked a bit insulted.

“If I had just come to you with this,” I sighed, “You would have set me aside so I would be 'safe' and gone on without me. I won't let that happen. This involves ME. These bastards are after ME and my baby. No one, NO ONE, is going to keep me out of this fight, so yes. I found allies before I came to you with this. I wanted you to know that I wasn't without resources here.”

“But Vampires and Wolves?” Mom questioned.

“Both of them have lost a lot to the Hunters in the past.” I answered simply. “They have scores of their own to settle, could you find better allies at short notice?”

No one could come up with any, or any more powerful.

“You're sure of help from them?” Dad asked.

“I have Carmilla's personal assurances and I don't think that woman says things she isn't willing to back up.” I answered. “As for the Lockes, I at least have Carson and he knows people who could help in the planning of this thing even if they can't or won't help directly.

“So yes, I am sure of those.” I finished.

“You have us as well.” A new voice entered the conversation and all of us turned to see a young woman standing in the middle of a warded room as if she had just walked in with an invitation.

“Jessica Holden.” She introduced herself with a sardonic smile. “The Coven is very interested in that Grail the Hunters have with them. Not to mention the fact the the child has caught our attention, too.

“When the time comes, we will be there.” The young woman told us before she just vanished.

“Holy...” Chris started.

“Shit.” Carly finished.

“Another voice to add to the confusion.” An amused and familiar voice interrupted that. “Mama San is committed to all of this.”

We all turned to see Dani just standing in the middle of the room grinning at all of us. “Carmilla told me to give you this message. “My daughters are with you.

“Gotta go now!” She grinned, waved, and vanished as quickly as she'd shown up.

“Well, I can see that I need to improve the wards on this room.” Mom sighed.

“Witches and Vampires agreeing on something...” Dad shook his head. “When does the earthquake come?”

I had no answer for that one. The witches getting involved completely threw me for a loop there.

“So what do you want to do here?” Mom asked me and I had to shake off the shock to look at her and shrug.

“I have no idea.

“But let me talk to some people, think about stuff, and I should have at least the basic outlines by tomorrow.”

“It better be good.” Mom told me flatly. “The whole clan is behind you on this one.”

Oh great. Pressure anyone?

“Cindy,” Carson told me as he led me into a room in one of the motels that actually did exist in Ravencrest. “This is my cousin, Mason.”

Mason was one very scary person. He was big, with scars I knew he wasn't showing, and one of the most intense people I'd ever met.

“Miss Harper.” He greeted me pleasantly. “I understand you have a problem that I might be able to help with.”

I didn't beat around the bush. Somehow I knew this guy wouldn't put up with bullshit. I just told him the whole story up to now.

“You're hip deep in the shit.” He said after listening to my story. “So what do you want to do about this?”

“I won't hide.” I told him simply. “What I want is to hurt these Hunters badly enough that they'll think a few times before coming back here. I just don't know how to do that.”

“I can teach you the how.” He gave me a thin smile. “I can't teach you the 'do'.”

“I've already killed one of them.” I shot back. “They've threatened me, my family, my friends. I will not let that happen.”

“Good enough.” Mason nodded. “Come with me and we'll talk.”

Oh,yes. Mason was a very scary person. But a good friend.

“The family is dealing with problems right now.” He told me as we left that cheap motel room. “I probably won't be able to give you direct help right now. But if you have questions, you have my number. Call and if things aren't too crazy I'll answer.”

What in the Hell could have the Lockes in such a turmoil? I knew better than ask that, though. I smiled at Mason, and nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” He smiled and that showed a completely different Mason. One who was warm and loving. “You and my cousin are mates, so you're family.”

Mates?! Me and Carson?

But you know what? No matter how I tried to refute that one, it fizzled out like a bad firecracker on the fourth of July.

Carson was the one I was meant for and he was the one meant for me.

Damn, more politics to deal with.

But that was for later.

Hey at the worst it was an alliance between the Lockes and Harpers.

How, just how? How do I get myself into these situations?

But the idea of being Carson's mate wasn't something I wanted to fight at all.

Damnit! I'd been a boy, a GUY for fifteen years of my life. Here I was just a month into being a girl and I thought I'd found a mate?

Damn those female hormones.

Or bless them?

I am so confused.

But I had other things to worry about there.

Just as well.

“You all have a connection with me that would let you find me if I'm lost, right?” I asked Carly, Dani, Carson and the invisible witch in the gathering.

“You're my mate.” Carson shrugged. “Of course I could find you.”

Okay moment of happy embarrassment there, but good enough.

Dani just shrugged and nodded. “Sure. And?”

Carly just looked at me and nodded. “You're my sister, of course I could find you.”

“Just making sure here.” I grinned at them.

“You're planning something really stupid here, aren't you?” Carly asked.

“It's only stupid if it doesn't work.” I answered.

“What makes you think it will work?” She asked.

“Because I know and trust all of you.” I told them.