Everyone but Sven and Nadine went to bed when they arrived at the farmhouse. The two had stood silent, waiting everyone out, and from the occasional loud yells that reverberated through the walls it was clear they argued through the night.

In the early morning hours, Rory pulled herself from bed after giving up on sleeping. She’d forgotten how cold the wood flooring was and danced in place until she found slippers and a blanket to wrap around herself. In full zombie mode, she shambled her way to the kitchen in search of coffee.

There was none made. Shit. For a split second, she wondered if it was because no one remembered to power the magic generator again. The younger nameless servant of Mara had provided them with the means to create enough electricity to power the smaller functions of the house. They only needed to funnel a bit of their energy in it and they had hot water, lighting and most importantly to Rory, a functioning coffeemaker. Problem was, she’d need help to charge the battery and it could be hours before anyone else would wake. Normally, Nadine would be up by then, but after the prolonged argument between her and Sven, Rory didn’t think it was a good idea to wake her.

She filled the reservoir with water, packed coffee into the filter, took a deep breath and pushed the brew button. The orange light lit and she thanked the stars for small favors. A grin worked its way across her face as the rich smell of waking up wafted into her nose.

It was nice to have a moment alone. Too much had happened, and she needed to process her thoughts. Would she ever get used to sleeping without Byron? Or get past her anger? Depression? She took an overly large sip of the hot beverage and scorched her tongue. For a moment, all that mattered was the burn, and she forgot everything else.

There’s one way, I guess. A bitter laugh left her. She gazed toward Nadine’s bedroom and then back at the full coffee pot. Maybe she could use a cup right now, too.

She made the slightest little tap on her friend’s door.

“Come in,” Nadine answered, her voice groggy with sleep.

Rory opened the door a crack and peeked through in case Sven and Nadine made up that night, but her friend sat up, alone. She held out her hands and Rory crawled into bed alongside her. Nadine stifled a little sob, and the two women touched foreheads on the same pillow.

“Sorry I covered for Sven. I didn’t know what he did. Just wanted to get out of there,” Rory said.

Nadine nodded. “No more Byron?”

Rory shook her head. “How about you?”

“I’m still furious. What happened with you two? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Before she knew it, Rory was telling the whole story. Including the parts she wasn’t so proud of, like telling Byron she’d go sleep with Asher just to spite him.

Nadine sat up, cross-legged on the bed, and silently formed words before speaking. “Rory, men suck but your actions last night were questionable. You looked ready to kill Grace.”

“I was. I guess my anger got away from me. Byron left and what happened in Alma happened. I don’t know what to say. But how many more are going to die if we don’t just finish her?”

Nadine took Rory’s hand and rubbed her palm before saying, “It’s a bad look for us to go doling out justice. The townsfolk must fear us or Grace’s rhetoric wouldn’t matter. We won’t win the hearts and minds of the people of Alma with scary spells or violence. Winning a battle isn’t the same as winning the war.”

Rory buried her head in a pillow to muffle her scream. “Things were easier before all this. Why didn’t I choose door number one and never come here in the first place?”

“Because,” Nadine said and pulled Rory’s head into her lap. “It’s not who you are. The second door hid adventure, excitement and the unknown. All the things that scare the hell out of me, but you seem to keep running towards. For that, I adore you. I simply followed the more favorable fortune myself, or I’d have never heeded Mara’s call.”

Rory sighed and looked up at her friend. The sister she’d never had. “There’s coffee. Do you want some?”

“Goddess, yes. That’ll be good. And you’re right, enough feeling sorry for ourselves when there’s a whole world to fix.” Nadine got out of bed and threw on a robe. She poured a cup for herself and filled Rory’s to the brim. At the table they sat, watching the gloomy landscape through the large windows in the dining room.

“I bet this place used to be beautiful in the morning with all the birds and wildlife,” Rory said and sipped her drink.

“What do you miss most? About the past.”

“Cars. Just the ability to get in and go wherever. What about you?”

“New things. Does that make sense? I mean, there’re new things around here, but it’s generally shitty news about the recent crisis. I miss hearing a great poem at a poetry circle for the first time, or reading a brand-new book that changes how you look at the world.”

“Or brand-new pajamas that are extra soft,” Rory said dreamily.

“Morning, ladies,” Doc said with his usual chipper.

Rory groaned. “No one should be that happy until a few hours have passed, at least.”

“There’s my sour puss.” He sat at the table with them, only he had water instead of coffee. “When you both get around, we need to figure out what we’re doing.”

“Preferably before the vampires get too hungry and start getting stupid.” Rory rested her chin on her knuckles. “The secret’s out on our little lair here. At least among the vampires. Trevor found us no problem the one time. But from what I’ve heard, they might not want to come.” She let out an exasperated sigh. “They don’t trust me all that much. Not that I can blame them.”

Nadine smirked and looked at her sideways. “You have a way with them.”

Rory shrugged. “But they really like the alternative blood stuff, so they might come around for that, eventually.”

“You know,” Doc said, tapping on his glass in thought. “We should really go back to Inboco at some point too. Rosemary said she’ll help us with magic. Should probably get my stuff while I’m there.”

Nadine smirked. “Rory told me about Asher already.”

Doc glared at his cup. “Did she?”

“Yeah,” Nadine said. “And his mom. It’s a good idea to get their help.”

“Before I think about anything else.” Rory stretched and yawned. “My priority is a bath and becoming human again. I’m gross.”

Clean and refreshed, Rory wandered back into the dining room where everyone naturally gathered. Billie greeted her while Sven grunted, not looking up from his mug. The room felt choked with tension, neither Nadine nor Sven would look at the other.

“Well, this is fun,” Rory said.

Doc smiled at her. “Yup and I’ll let you handle it. Figure taking a more active role in the leadership will be a nice distraction.”

“What? No.” She shook her head and sighed.

They all looked up at her expectantly.

After the situation became to awkward to bear, she groand and asked, “Billie, do you think you can find where the vampires are?”

“Byron would-”

Not in the mood for this conversation again, Rory cut him off. “Not an option.”

He flushed and looked at his lap. “I know of a few places they go, but I don’t want to go alone.”

“You won’t.” Rory shook her head. “I’ll go with you. Sounds like they’re a little afraid of me. I’ll have to use that to our advantage.”

“Rory, if you’re going to put yourself in danger, I’m going too.”

“Doc,” she began, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and continued. “While I appreciate the thought, you and Nadine are better at portal magic and should start the ritual to create one directly to Inboco from here. That way we’re not having to risk multiple trips to Alma in the in-between.” She sighed. “Besides, if you really want me to have extra back up, I can take Sven. They won’t hurt the chef.”

Nadine beamed at her and mouthed, “Thank you.”

Rory turned to the Brit and frowned. “While I’m thinking of it. Sven, where’s Betts these days? It would be a lot easier if we could ride there.”

“Couldn’t tell ya, love. One day the old horse and cart were out front. Next day, gone. Figured it’d happen, eventually. Found him the same way.” He shrugged as if a disappearing horse was the most natural thing in the world.

Maybe when we find them, we could send the vampires to look for Betts. Byron found him that way, Rory thought. And immediately hated herself for it.

“Any questions? Are we good?” It was her first time taking the lead, and if she wasn’t careful, her insecurities would get the best of her.

“Absolutely,” Doc said with a cheesy, proud grin. “I’m glad to see you taking some initiative.”

Although she was nearly positive he’d have made the same decisions, it felt nice to have something to keep her mind off the rain cloud over her head.

“Thanks.” She gave him a quick hug. “I needed that little pick-me-up.”

“Happy to be a soldier again. Nadine and I’ll start getting the components together we need.”

“I’ll go get a bag together. It’ll be nice to see some of my old friends,” Billie said and ran up the stairs with an extra bounce.

“Got a second, love?” Sven remained in his seat despite everyone else having walked away.

“Sure.”

“You and Dini… you’re close, yeah? What’d I do to piss her off so bad this time?”

Rory sat down beside him and considered her words before speaking. “Well, with what Grace has been doing and saying, we need to be spotless. Above any scrutiny.”

“We’ve never bothered with all that before.”

“They weren’t trying to kill us before.”

Sven flinched. “Well, yeah. Guess that’s a thing.”

“Nadine could have gotten away, but she didn’t want to use her powers again and give them something else to be afraid of.”

“But that’s mental. Grace ain’t gonna care about a pacifist. She’s lookin’ to make examples.”

“Exactly. And mingling all those virgin Daughters with the grubby, common folk made bigger waves than we can probably even imagine.”

“Right, well, if anyone expects me to say sorry for that, ain’t gonna happen. Dini is safe, and we didn’t kill a single person. Didn’t hurt ‘em either.”

She flushed. “Well, I punched Grace. Might have broken her nose.”

“Doesn’t count.”

“If that doesn’t count, head-butting the Daughter at the house won’t either.”

“It’s been a while since I’d done that last. Forgot how much it hurts if you don’t do it right.” He absently rubbed at the spot, long since healed by Doc, who’d given Sven a lecture on the finer points of social conduct as he worked.

“Do you at least understand why Nadine is angry now?”

“Still not gonna say I’m sorry, but yeah.” Sven rubbed his thumbnail; the bottom had an angry purplish black bruise. “You know, we never planned on makin’ anything serious out of it. We ain’t exactly the type to settle down and make a family.”

Rory held back a sigh of relief. One Sven was enough for the world. What would his spawn be like? At least, in this situation, they’d have Nadine to keep them grounded.

“But,” he continued, one side of his mouth pulled up in amusement. “I like what we had goin’, her and I.”

“She’ll come around. Just give her some time.” Rory kissed him on the cheek and smacked him lightly on the other one. “All right, enough sappy shit.”

Sven’s eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. “Oi. Cheap shot.” He laughed and slapped back, not hard but enough to create a limp-wristed slap war between the two.

Her face stung. The tip of her nose throbbed after he’d gone too wide and hit that instead. Happy tears ran down her face from laughing so hard. She gasped for air and wiped damp, stinging cheeks.

“Right. Off to work. I’ll get some things.” He patted her on the head as he left for his room. Not being the type to hug, it was the closest she’d gotten to the Brit showing her warmth.

“What happened to you?” Doc’s voice carried from the upstairs.

“Got beat up by Rory,” he said, loud enough that it would carry to her ears at the table.

She smiled.

Before they departed, Rory decided she should probably pack some fresh things for herself. From what Byron told her, she knew the vamps had keen senses. It was probably best she didn’t approach them smelling like two-week-old laundry. There were a few things still in the drawers from the times she’d come for weekend visits. After opening the closet, the breath caught in her throat. Hung neat as could be were three flannel shirts.

His.

Her shoulders hitched, and she realized she’d started crying again. Instead of pushing it away, she held one of his shirts. Breathed him in and felt his ghostly presence. And finally, she exhaled, breathing him and his ghostly presence out.

She pulled the other two from their hangers and marched downstairs.

Doc craned his head as she passed. “Rory, what’s going on? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Just about to go waste some resources.” A smirk played across her face and she felt better than fine. She was letting go. Not entirely, but enough to stop being such a big cry baby all the time. That was a start.

On her way out the front door, she grabbed the headless seamstress’ form—complete with mostly finished summer dress—and two other important items. She pulled them to the front lawn, dressed the form in all three shirts and stood back, admiring her work. So far so good, she thought and attempted to conjure flames. She tried to will the fire into being. Tried using her voice to command it to burn, but that was a silly thought to begin with.

When she’d given up attempting to create a fire with her power, she went the old-fashioned route. She doused the shirts and mannequin in lighter fluid and lit it with a match.

“Fuck you, Byron,” she said. There might have been some dancing and rejoicing as it burned.

A woman—or vampire, Rory realized after a closer look—appeared from a line of trees. She had wild copper hair that fell in ringlets and blazing green eyes. Her face twitched in horror for the slightest second before regaining her composure.

“Well, well,” she said in a cool, dry tone. “We’ve been wondering where you all’ve been. Where’s Byron?”

That question was getting more than a little old. “Don’t know. Don’t really care.”

“Why? Did you hex him?” The vampire pointed to the figure on fire.

“What if I did?” Rory shrugged, playing along. It was better than admitting she was just a spiteful woman burning her ex’s shirts.

The redhead narrowed her eyes at her and looked Rory up and down.

Still high on endorphins and self-confidence, Rory crossed her arms and frowned back.

“Now I see why he likes you.” The vampire cocked her head to the side. “I’m Molly.” She glanced sideways at the dying fire and back. “Did you hex him?”

Rory batted her eyes. “Not sure where he is. Again, don’t really care. But I’m glad you’re here. Saves me the trouble of searching for you.”

“Why would you have done that?”

“Because as much as your kind makes my skin crawl, I can’t just let you die. Sven’s here making more of the blood alternative and we’ll start making the barn lightproof so you have shelter.”

“Is there a basement? That’s probably lightproof. Or easier to make it that way.”

“There is, but I’ve recently decided the house is for natural-born witches only. That’ll include him if he ever shows back up.” Rory spun on her heel and walked away, glowing with a sense of accomplishment.

Now that the vampires knew where to go, on to the next part of the to-do list. She needed to head back to Inboco and talk to Rosemary.

And Asher.

A little butterfly flitted around in her stomach at the thought.