Epilogue

"I can't believe he got fired," Gen said. She'd repeated herself several times as she, Sage, and Merri walked towards Michael's house after school on Monday, and it still came as a shock to her every time she said it. "How could she fire him?"

"She just doesn't understand," Sage said. "She doesn't realize what he's done for us. We'll just explain to the new guy that Michael is out to help us and then maybe..."

"Maybe what? He'll give Michael's job back? If Natalya doesn't understand and won't listen to reason, I doubt this Cade guy will."

"I think the problem is that she does know what's been going on around here, at least a little," Merri said. "Let's face it; to the casual observer Michael isn't exactly a fluffy teddy bear."

"Uh, you live with him and I don't think even you would describe him as such," Gen said.

"Well, no. But I know he's been looking out for us. He's saved our lives. But if you were only getting reports about the things that go on, you might miss all the good things he's done."

"Reports?" Gen frowned in confusion. "You think we've got, like, a mole?"

Merri shrugged. "I know Natalya probably has like contacts or something. But I talked to Michael yesterday about it and I got the distinct impression that she said she knows about things that aren't exactly common knowledge. What Finn tried to do, for example, or Sage going to see Austin. She knew what was going on here—like in detail."

"So you did talk to Michael about it?" Gen asked. The three of them had a chance to discuss things earlier and Merri hadn't mentioned talking to Michael about anything.

"Only a little."

"How's he holding up?"

Merri chuckled a little. "You care? I thought for sure you'd be happy about this."

"We haven't even met the new guy yet," Gen pointed out. "I figure the devil we know is better at this point."

"Well, I think it's wrong," Sage said, an edge of stubbornness to her voice. "I trust Michael. I don't know that I trust Natalya."

"Why would she lie?" Merri asked. "She's one of us."

"Maybe she just needs to hang around Michael a little," Gen suggested. "Then he can grow on her. Like...mold."

"How's Levi doing?" Merri asked. "I didn't see him today."

Gen shrugged. "He's fine. I spent yesterday at his house explaining just about everything."

"He's not still mad?" Sage said quietly.

Gen met the other girl's eyes before Sage looked away again. "The whole sitch is taking him some getting used to, but he's okay. I don't think he blames us, not really. He's definitely on Natalya's side in this, though. He doesn't trust Michael as far as you could throw him."

They stepped up to Michael's front door and Merri pulled out her key to unlock it. She slid the key in the lock and turned it, but nothing happened. She looked at Gen, then Sage. "It's unlocked."

"Shouldn't it be?" Gen asked. A glance in the driveway revealed Michael's car. "He's home..."

"And he usually keeps it locked." Merri opened the door and the three of them stepped inside.

Michael sat in the living room, elbows propped on his knees and chin resting on his hands. He didn't look up as the girls moved towards him.

"What's going..." Merri's words died as the three of them caught sight of another figure in the room. A tall, thin man stood with his back to them and facing Michael.

"This would be Cade McMahon," Michael said, still without glancing at any of them.

Cade smiled warmly as he turned to look at them.

At least he seems less threatening than Michael ever did, Gen thought. The fact that he hadn't thrown any knives or threatened them certainly gave him bonus points.

Small lines creased the corners of his mouth and eyes, and Gen would guess him to be in his mid-thirties. He stepped toward them immediately, and towered over them when he stopped a foot away.

Looking to Genevieve first, he extended his hand. "If Natalya's descriptions are apt, I believe you would be Genevieve, the Witch."

Gen shook his hand and nodded. "Yeah."

He met Sage next, and then Merri. "We have much to do and I don't like wasting time," he said. "We should go right away."

Genevieve looked to Michael again, still expecting him to say something or order them around or...anything. But instead he sat there in silence, not acknowledging any of them.

"I guess we'd better go, then," Merri said when it seemed no one else would.

Cade gestured to the door and nodded for the three of them to go first. With some reluctance, the girls left at last. Cade followed and closed the door behind them.

"This will work out much better," Natalya said. She stood at the window, peering out through the sheer curtains. Sunlight travelled over her, highlighting her fine features and making her all the more breathtaking. "I had high hopes after they took care of those assassins that the girls would be safe for a spell... But it's clear they weren't safe with him."

"I'm not sure if—"

She swung her gaze his way. "Michael Parris is a monster masquerading as a man. Do not question my judgment."

"I'm not. But I told you that I never thought they were in any real danger."

"They've had contact with any number of unsavory people, many of whom would sell them out to our enemies in a heartbeat, not to mention there's the matter of him allowing a friend to stay with him who in turn tried to assault the Witch."

"But they trust him."

"A mistake that can be excused by their youth and ignorance. But he can't be trusted. If you had any idea what he's done—what he's capable of—you wouldn't want Merri anywhere near him either, Thad."

Thad sighed. There was no use arguing with her, of course, but still... "Look at what he did for Merri, though. Gave her a place to live, helped get the cops off her back—"

"As you had me understanding it, that was as much the Witch's work as it was Michael's. A handful of good deeds in under a year hardly balance out his past."

"You and Shaw keep saying that, but what does that even mean?" Thad asked. "What has Michael done that's so bad? What are you so afraid he'll do to them now?"

"History repeats itself," Natalya said. "It always has and it always will. It doesn't matter if he tries to escape it. You can take the man out of a monster, but once it's in him, you can't remove the monster from the man."

Thad rose and started for the motel room door. "I have to go. Merri's expecting me and I'm pretty sure you were supposed to leave town days ago."

"And I will be," she said. "You said Cade is working out, though?"

"I guess." Thad paused at the door to glance back at her. "Merri said he's nice enough. Still haven't met the guy myself, so I'm taking her word on it."

"And Michael is keeping out of their way?"

"Yeah. Don't worry—I don't expect he'll be a problem anymore."




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