Chapter Text
It takes a few days, but Shannon wakes up. She’s weak and bed bound, but bright and compassionate as ever. After she begins walking again, perhaps a week later, she discovers her access to the Green is severely limited. Lilith temporarily takes over her duties as the school teacher and Ava is shocked when she visits one day by how pleasant and comfortable Lilith is with Shannon’s students. Mary and Ava take on the brunt of Shannon’s care, especially after Mateo learns she’s unwell. He promises to keep tabs on Michael at the bar, calling it the least he could do after the OCS helped his daughter recover from what Ava now knows was a possession by one of the malevolent spirits that gains strength when Adriel is free. Everyone is subdued, even as Shannon continues to improve. One afternoon as Shannon rests, Ava thinks back to the deer and to Lilith’s arm. She gently puts her hand on Shannon’s shoulder, closes her eyes, and breathes deeply. She imagines the warm, yellow glow that seemed to emanate from her mother every time she worked, and the glow she’s seen from her own hands until her skin tingles and her palms feel hot. She opens her eyes and sees that glow again, and tries not to lose focus in her excitement. She closes her eyes again keeps her breathing steady and envisions the energy flowing from her hand to Shannon. At some point, it begins to feel like something is running down her arm and exiting her palm. A cool hand grasps hers, and she opens her eyes. Shannon is awake and smiling at her.
“Hey, solzinha, cut that out. I’m alright.”
“I just wanted to see if I could. I could heal Lilith’s arm, and I started walking again after ten years, so maybe there’s more I can do?”
“I’m sure there is, but you haven’t trained and I know you’re scared about overdoing it and being paralyzed again.”
“But if I can help—“
“Don’t risk that for me. The Green and I will work together again, or she has decided my work with her is done, and I will make peace with that. The Green cannot be manipulated or forced into anything. She sometimes decides her time with someone is done and I will adjust to living like the rest of the people without her partnership. I am still as much a trained witch has my—our sisters. There is still work I can do.” She squeezes Ava’s hand and keeps it close to her.
“Why did you call me solzinha just now?”
“Aunt Raquel—your mother— and Mom used to call you that, when we were children. On my desk there’s a drawing, one of my first.”
“I saw it the night of the equinox, I wasn’t trying to snoop or anything, I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, the interesting ones are in Mary’s locker.” Ava looks at her blankly and Shannon cracks a grin and winks.
“Oh!”
“That drawing, though—Mom and Raquel brought me here when you were a few months old. My parents tried, but they had too many children, and my birth mother knew learning from Suzanne and Raquel would give me better opportunities than a girl like me would otherwise. I…haven’t seen any of them in over fifteen years. I used to be angry at them, but I understand now how many families had to make that choice. I have a good family here, too. You were the first part of that.
With my parents, we’d never had anything for me to draw with. When Aunt Raquel found me drawing with slivers of chalk on a spare slate, she took me to Mateo’s and bought me my first sketchbook and charcoal. Turns out I had a knack for it. The drawing of you three was my third or fourth, and the first one I kept when that sketchbook filled up. You were the happiest toddler, always smiling. Sometimes you were so happy that the Green would start glowing while you were just sitting in your bassinet. So they called you solzinha, little sun. I always hoped I would get to show it to you again one day. Do you want to keep it?” As she speaks, tears well up in Ava’s eyes and Shannon looks sad, too.
“I would really appreciate that. Can I hug you?” Shannon is still fairly weak, but it doesn’t take much effort for her to pull a willing Ava down into the double bed beside her and tuck her against her collarbone. Ava squeezes her back as tightly as she dares. When Suzanne stops in to say hello a few hours later, she has to leave before they see her tear up at the sight of her adopted daughter and long-missing niece asleep together as they used to as children.
Throughout these unusual weeks, Beatrice and Ava keep reading together. Sometimes they go to the Masters to entertain Shannon, but mostly they stay by the fireplace in the main house, lost in the stories they read together. Their little world in the Cradle shifts again the night Beatrice and Ava begin reading about Perseus. As he slays the Gorgon, four crisp knocks echo from the door. It’s not uncommon for a neighbor to require assistance in the late evening or middle of the night. Vincent goes to answer the door and the other members of the household set aside their pastimes to greet their visitor and prepare to go to work. Vincent opens the door wide and Beatrice feels Ava stiffen beside her at the sight of a short, richly dressed older man and his tall, impassive chauffeur behind him.
“Good evening, gentlemen. What brings you to the Cat’s Cradle?” Vincent slips easily into his Sunday service voice—confident, welcoming, and louder than his usual, soft-spoken speech. The shorter man speaks with a rhythmic, lilting accent that Beatrice thinks must be Portuguese or Spanish.
“We are so sorry to interrupt your evening. I’m sure with your work in the community, a quiet night at home is a rare and cherished delight.”
“Please, it is no trouble. It is our duty to serve our neighbors.” Vincent gestures them into the living room and Ava sinks into her chair, attempting to slide it quietly back into one of the shadowed corners. The short man, distracted by conversational niceties, doesn’t notice. His driver, on the other hand, hears a whisper of a scratch against the floor and his head turns mechanically to locate the sound. Despite the hour and location indoors, he still wears his tinted driving goggles. The short man reeks of political grease, but the tall man feels dangerous. Beatrice shifts her chair slightly as well, positioning herself between Ava and the rest of the room. The driver’s gaze settles on their corner but he makes no other move to acknowledge them or speak. The short man settles into a chair and after taking a grateful draught from the tea Camila offers him, introduces himself.
“My name is Francesco Duretti. This is my driver and companion, Mr. Fonesca. I am a businessman and investor and I am mighty interested in assisting in the development of this region.”
“Our neighbors could certainly benefit from the improvement of some infrastructures.” Vincent begins, but Suzanne interjects.
“While true, I’m sorry you came all this way for us to tell you that you’ll have to discuss that with the mayor, not us. We are simply caregivers.” Beatrice hears the tinge of confusion —and heavy irritation— in Suzanne’s voice at the pointless intrusion into their evening. Duretti nods, unfazed.
“Of course, of course. I did in fact speak with Mayor Salvius earlier in the day, and she advised me to come speak with you. I’m lead to understand that in addition to caring for the well-being of the people of Areala’s Gap, you have a particular interest in the preservation of her flora and fauna?”
“We do believe in maintaining a…mutual respect between the Gap and her people, yes.” Vincent responds.
“And it is due to your advice that Mayor Salvius has declined to expand the mining operations of the county, choosing a subsistence approach rather than one that would be more profitable?” At further discussion of Mayor Salvius, Suzanne stiffens.
“Due to the risks of instability that come from creating too many mining tunnels at one time, we have recommended a more moderated approach, that is true. What Mayor Salvius chooses to do with that recommendation is up to her and her discretion about the good of the county.”
“Of course, there’s no untoward reason an elected official would take the advice of the backwoods granny witch over educated company men and the county board.”
“I am quite certain I do not understand your implication, sir.”
As Duretti continues, he grins and his visage drops. Gone is the clever, wealthy businessman. The OCS sees him for what he truly is for the first time: an ancient, cunning spirit of the crossroads, so strengthened by agreements and double crossings that he seeks his own dealings as he pleases, where he pleases. Tall, lean Mr. Fonesca grows impossibly taller, casting a large, monstrous shadow across the floor. Out of the corner of her eye, Beatrice sees Ava shrink into her chair even further.
“Then let us speak plainly. I am here to offer you a proposal, or a warning. You have something that belongs to me, an incredibly powerful conduit for the kind of energy we deal in. You know Adriel’s designs for this land. He has asked me for assistance in this, with the promise of retrieving my conduit. There’s quite a lot of effort involved in Adriel’s plans, however, and I must admit I’m rather fond of the trees here. I would be happy to cut out the middle man and lend you my assistance instead, if you simply return my belonging to me now.”
The only people in the room without a look of confusion are Vincent, Suzanne, and Ava, whose nose is twisted in disgust. Vincent remains impassive, and Suzanne’s face brightens with slowly spreading rage. Camila speaks for the rest of the room when she asks,
“What’s a conduit?” At the sound of a new voice, Duretti’s mask reappears briefly and he is a charming gentleman again.
“In this instance, a conduit is a magical practitioner naturally inclined to channeling large amounts of energy from a source—the Green or the Dark—to some form of target, such as another practitioner. The Gap’s founder was a conduit.”
“We don’t have anyone who does that.”
“Ah, but you do, young sister. The extent of her abilities are unexplored, but she is a rare creature indeed.” Disgust roils in Beatrice’s stomach at the leering way this man describes the conduit. He turns to the corner where Ava and Beatrice sit.
“Hello again, prezado. I hope you’ve had your fun, because it is time to come home.”
Ava recoils, looking for a way out. Fonesca begins taking slow steps across the parlor floor towards Ava, and Beatrice rises and plants herself firmly between the oncoming creature and Ava. She feels the Green shift around them, its natural movement to protect, but also Ava’s pull on it to protect herself growing stronger. Suzanne rises as well and gestures towards the door.
“There is no thing or being here that belongs to you, Duretti. I believe it best you leave before we discover how gifted Ava really is.” The rest of the women gather beside Beatrice, forming a protective line in front of Ava. Fonesca halts his advance and looks to Durretti.
“Come on then, Baltazar. The offer was a proposal or a warning; they’ve chosen the warning.” They make their way to the door, becoming more human like with each step, but now that the mask has been removed, it’s easy to see there’s something uncanny about them. They will never look perfectly human to the OCS again. Fonesca opens the door and exits and before following, Duretti turns and gives on last admonition to the room.
“This was your warning, Suzanne Baptiste. I always get what I’m promised. The fate of Areala’s Gap is solely on your head."
“Then nothing has changed in your visiting, Francisco.” The trickster glowers and exits the house in a huff. The door slams behind him, and the parlor is a flurry of activity. Beatrice collects the cup Duretti drank from and dashes out of the house to craft specific wards against any further intrusions from him or his accomplices. Ava collapses deep into her chair and works to regain control of her breathing, letting go of her panicked grasp of the Green. Camila puts a comforting hand on her shoulder as Suzanne kneels, with some difficulty, in front of her chair.
“Ava, you knew this man?”
“He was a benefactor of the orphanage for the last year I stayed there. He would visit every now and then, see how the sisters were using his money, I suppose. His first couple visits he didn’t pay attention to me much. And then… I started walking again, and he asked me to marry him when I turned 16. Said he was flush, obviously, but didn’t have an heir. He said he’d fund whatever kind of life I wanted after he had a son.” Every face in the room turns positively green with nausea. Lilith mutters just loud enough for Camila to hear,
“Glad Beatrice isn’t here to hear that.”
Suzanne takes a few slow breaths before speaking again.
“The story we tell new residents is not the full story. There is a story told only in our family. Areala was able to learn of Adriel’s plans to destroy the Gap because she was his wife. They were poor, by every standard, and Areala believed Adriel compacted with the Inner Dark out of desperation and shame for his lack of provision for their family. Once he had a taste of stability and comfort, greed overwhelmed him and led to the Dark’s full control over him.”
“What Duretti said was true, Areala was a conduit, the first. A practitioner who can access incredible amounts of power and share it with others. Her daughter, the first child she bore with Adriel, was a conduit as well. The union of a great practitioner of the Green and the Dark is powerful. The first born child of her line appears to always be a conduit, as Areala’s first grandson was a conduit, and so was your mother, my sister. You are Areala Baptiste’s first great, great granddaughter, and also a conduit.” She pauses to let Ava process. Ava seems to be a little overwhelmed, but finally cracks out,
“That’s honestly the most normal thing you people have told me since I came here.” Suzanne huffs out a rare laugh, but sobers immediately.
“Raquel ran away with you because Adriel set in motion plans to kill both of you in the hopes that without a conduit, future bindings would be weaker and weaker. She believed the best thing to do was to stay as far away as possible, hidden at the ends of the Green and the Dark’s reach, until it was time to perform the binding. The Cradle could not be abandoned, so I remained here, waiting for you. The day I lost connection with you and your mother, the day I now know was the day she died, I feared for you and for the future of our home.”
At this moment, Beatrice returns from reinforcing the wards and instinctively positions herself behind Ava’s chair with a posture of protection. Suzanne stands, taking Ava’s proffered hand of support, and addresses the room.
“Duretti finding Ava in California before she was reconnected to the Green, his ability to get close to you, to come to the Cradle tonight, tells me there is more danger than we thought in this seventh cycle. I thought then that Raquel was cowardly and running from her responsibilities, but I see now there was wisdom in it. Something is amiss in the Cradle. Duretti should not have been able to cross our wards with those designs in his mind. It is not safe to remain concentrated here. Shannon is still in no position to travel. As such, she, Mary, and Camila will remain here to maintain the Cradle. Beatrice and Ava, Lilith and Vincent. You will leave the Cradle as pairs. Pack a bag tonight, and in the morning you will purchase a train ticket to anywhere and remain there until I call you home. Lilith and Vincent will go southwest, Beatrice and Ava, simply southwardly. Beyond that, do not tell each other where you’re going. Only I will know where you are once you write me with an address. There will be no argument. I invoke my authority as Caretaker of the Green and Matriarch of the Cradle.” Ava’s eyebrow raises at her formality, but the rest of the room is somber and simply nods their acquiescence. Suzanne, still holding Ava’s hand, grasps it with her other.
“Ava, you have suffered more than any person should have in your 16 years, and I understand why you blame me for that. I swore to your mother on the day you were born that should anything happen to her, I would keep you safe. I have failed to do so, though never intentionally. I swear again to you now that no harm will ever come to you at the Cat’s Cradle. You have had little control over your life. I am sending you with Beatrice because, if you so choose, she will be the best teacher for you to learn about your abilities in the Green. When I call her home, I hope you will return here with her and help us contain Adriel. However, if you choose to forge your own path at that time, know there will always be a home here for you, should you want to come back.” No one is quite as surprised as Ava and Suzanne themselves at the tears they feel in their eyes. Ava nods, and leaps out of her chair to wrap Suzanne in a hug. Stiff and surprised for only a moment, Suzanne places her hand behind Ava’s head and pulls her in. After a long moment, the rest of the room slowly, quietly slips away to begin their preparations for the long, unexpected day ahead of them.
It takes Ava far less time than the others to pack her belongings, due to her practice and relative lack of possessions. Once completed, the family finds more and more reasons to not go to sleep. Another cup of coffee, another quiet song on the piano. Eventually Shannon, who made the slow walk over with Mary after Suzanne told them of the unsettling visit, lays out numerous quilts and pillows from around the main floor to rest on without going to their separate rooms. One by one, they drop into a dreamless, restless sleep.
The morning is less chaotic than Ava would have expected. They rise as normal and complete their housework as if in a few hours, Mary won’t be driving four of them to the train station with no knowledge of when, or if, in Ava’s case, they’ll return home. Suzanne surprises them with the last of a very excellent batch of apple butter to accompany their griddle cakes, and before Ava can blink, she’s in the bumpy bed of the truck on her way to the train station, several weeks later and several months sooner than she’d ever anticipated leaving, depending on the day you asked. The southwestern train leaves first, so with a quick nod goodbye, Lilith and Vincent disappear into the train station. Ava imagines it wouldn’t have mattered for her to see where they purchased a ticket to, as they would likely insist on purchasing a stop at a time and changing directions at least once to keep anyone on their trail, off of it.
When it’s their turn, Beatrice jumps out of the truck first, and offers Ava a hand down, not dissimilarly to the way she did that night in February. Ava’s steadier on her feet now, in many ways, but she still takes the offered hand and presses a fleeting kiss to Beatrice’s cheek. She wraps Mary in a bear hug, who pretends to push her off for a moment before returning it. She and Beatrice shake hands briefly before cracking into small smiles and also exchanging hugs.
“Baby girl, don’t let Beatrice get into too much trouble out east. You know she’s wild” Beatrice rolls her eyes fondly and walks away with their bags.
“Goodbye, Mr. Masters.”
“Bye, Mary!” Ava jogs to catch up with Beatrice’s long strides. In the station, Beatrice pores over the map. She seems to come to a decision, and looks around for anyone eavesdropping before pointing at a place on the map.
“Ever thought about Switzerland, Ava?”