Hare of Misfortune

Now, if only she could get a fix on Arthur, Merlin, and Galahad, then maybe she could get more details as to what would happen with Relica; she was kicking herself for not sticking around to listen to the rest of the conversation because, as it turned out, they’d slipped her net.

The knight was off the grid, in some protective facility outside of her range, and she now had to wonder if the wizard and parliament member had connected and joined forces since the pair seemed to have a way of hiding from her ears. She doubted the King of Knights would have such a Feat since he hadn’t hidden from her before, which left the magic man. Why would he suddenly be hiding from her ears? They were on their guard, so she’d have to bide her time.

Yet a problem that she hadn’t told General Dallas, the President, or anyone else for that matter cropped up around two p.m. after they’d relocated to the Blair House, northwest of the White House. When her family passed out on couches or chairs dotting her given room within the dignitary guest house, Scarlet nudged her head for them to go into the hallway.

Figuring the vespertine reaper wanted to catch up, Rachel poked Nia to change into the purple skirt-and-blouse combination before joining Scarlet and leaving Coral to guard her family. The exhausted Captain Little Bun grumbled in her internal bed across from Nike, and rolled over back into her dreams once changed; she’d been showered with affection by her family over the last few days, it seemed.

They waved at the Secret Service agents lining the halls, keeping watch since the White House was on high alert until they could get a handle on all the insane powers everyone had obtained. She’d already heard about twelve thwarted assassination attempts in the past eight hours, which number didn’t include the over five dozen suspected threats investigated.

She followed the black-haired, shorter girl out of the Blair House and onto the sidewalk, heading east to walk around Lafayette Square, passing the Rochambeau statue. It was a cool March night, and it looked like there would be light snow, according to local weather stations.

Scarlet hugged herself, wearing a cute red sweater that Alexa had bought for her. ”Your family’s way too nice,” she mumbled, plucking at the item before glancing down at her skirt and black leggings. ”All of them know I don’t get cold—well, I’m always cold because I don’t produce body heat, but they still fuss over a blood drinker.”

Rachel held her arm behind her back, smiling at how sparsely populated the area was considering the checkpoints set up around the White House’s general vicinity. It wasn’t all that breezy, and she saw the first flake of snow float down to touch the neatly trimmed grass.

”Haha. Don’t think they do that for everyone. My family is typically very private, but I’ve been seeing a new side to them recently. Between you, Alexa, and Nia, my mom’s coming alive more. My brother’s happier since I’m not constantly bullying his wife, and even my dad is showing more emotion than usual.”

She grinned and bumped into her, making the girl stumble a little and laugh. ”You good?”

”Are you good?” Scarlet repeated, trying to match her energy. ”How’s your Lunar Pool? You can walk now, so that’s a good sign.”

”Mmm.” Rachel tilted her head left and right. ”I’m at about 25% before the clouds rolled in. It’s enough to relax like this and, after that nap, I can go for a short walk. I’ll still be recovering for a good two weeks, though. That doesn’t mean I won’t be doing a lot of political stuff and having meetings with Tom or the President.”

”That’s so crazy and just like you,” Scarlet mumbled, arms clamping down on her hands as she shivered. ”Umm. I don’t know when I should bring this up, but...I haven’t been able to feel Veronica inside of me anymore. Did Relica kill her when she did that...thing to me?”

Slowing to a stop in front of the Andrew Jackson statue, Rachel’s mouth became a line, seeing more flakes now falling around them. Veronica had changed bodies. There was something else happening behind the scenes, and she couldn’t be sure if it were Veronica’s plan or whatever entity was sleeping inside of Scarlet.

Voice becoming thick, Scarlet gulped. ”And why did Twilight just giggle in her sleep? I hate it when she just randomly makes a sound... It happened when I went into my internal world a bit ago.”

Vision snapping to the pointed-eared girl, Rachel’s fingers tightened against her elbow. ”I have more to add to that, but what happened when you went back... Why did you try? I know you were probably terrified.”

”Mhm.” Scarlet’s left fang poked out as she bit her lip, no blood exiting. ”I just felt like...it was something you’d do, so... yeah, umm, I can’t change my Feats still, but I’ve got new ones, like this one...”

Rachel glanced around them as shadows seemed to gather in a bubble, providing a mist of darkness. ”What does it do?”

Scarlet dispersed the field. as they started their walk again, only slower, ”Basically, a short-range invisibility ability that allows you to move in the dark unseen—I guess that’s kind of repeating myself, though,” she mumbled with a strained smile.

”Umm. Also...when I entered my inner world, I was in a small house in the middle of a crazy bloodstorm... I’m still isolated in the Red Sea, but it seems to protect me from going underwater. I, umm, I think Veronica made it. Is she...dead?”

Hearing the uncertainty in her throat, Rachel moved closer to knock shoulders again. ”Last I saw of her, she was stopping me from killing Relica... I think she possessed her, or something like that. I’m not sure yet. You shouldn’t feel bad for her, though. She’s pretty insane now, talking about how ’everything’s a lie’ and she knows the ’truth’ about you. Let’s not put too much weight into her ramblings for now. Just hang with my family, and I’ll get you more answers. Okay?”

A sad smile came from the reaper girl as she closed in to hug her, making them stop as the light snow stuck to their hair. ”Thank you for being so kind to me, Rachel... It’s like I have a big sister looking out for me, and it feels so nice. I’m just...really grateful that you’re here.”

”Hey,” Rachel forced a laugh, returning the embrace. ”I’ve been seeing a lot of change in myself and everyone else recently, and part of that reason is because of you. You’re stronger than you know, Major Fangs. So don’t sell yourself short. I’d trust you with my tail.”

”Aww! That means a lot,” she laughed, pulling away and brushing at her eyes, where bloody tears fell. ”Your mom told me how sensitive you are about it; she loves you so much... I only wish... Never mind.”

Seeing her gulp and sideward glance, Rachel sighed and stepped forward to bring her in again. ”We’ll figure it out, Scarlet. Okay?”

”Okay... The snow’s pretty, isn’t it?”

”Mhm.” Rachel held her closer as sniffles came from the girl. ”We don’t see it in Miami, do we?”

”Nu-uh. My, umm, my family traveled a lot, so we—my dad, just... Yeah, I just always liked the snow... Will you go to the funeral with me? I want to have a funeral.”

”...Of course,” Rachel whispered. ”Of course I will.”

Holding her in the gentle veil for a time as the reaper processed everything that had happened over the past week and a half, Rachel pondered darker thoughts. Was Relica in control anymore? Was she still a part of the Scarlet Hand? Or was she now an agent of Veronica? For that matter, had Veronica flipped sides to whatever inhabited Scarlet, or was she her own agent?

The world had become a far more dangerous place, and she had to build up Omen to protect what she loved; she had to get stronger.