Page 47 of Emerge

The front porch looked like we had spent hours on it when we were done. We'd hung orange and purple pumpkin lights, strung up the spiderwebs, and made a giant monster face on the door with large googly eyes. We lined the walkway with monster yard stakes, with a few that made noise when someone was close.

The sun was just starting to set as we headed up to my room to get ready. The boxes had been removed and my makeshift nightstands had been replaced with real ones. There was a pang in my chest realizing I was going to have to move back home. Or did I? I was eighteen; I didn't have to do anything I didn't want to.

"What if I moved in more permanently with the guys?" I hadn't talked with them about it, but it seemed like something they would want. "Would that be too weird with us still being in high school?"

"They do have a really nice house." Aiden changed into a black t-shirt and set up his make-up on the dresser that had a giant mirror attached to it. "But if momma's sugar daddy is buying this kind of furniture, maybe you should stay here. Moving in with your boyfriends is kind of a big deal."

I plopped on the bed and watched as Aiden began applying his vampire makeup. "It would make dating three of them easier. Not that we've even really been on any dates."

Aiden lined his eyes in thick black eyeliner. "Dates are overrated. It sets unrealistic expectations for how things are actually going to be when they get serious."

"People in relationships go on dates." I cut the tag off my shark costume. "I do think it's weird if you live with someone to be like hey, let's go on a date tonight."

"Really, a date just shows you what's going to happen when it's an anniversary." Aiden turned toward me, looking like he'd rolled out of a coffin. "Your mom will be upset if you move out."

Ivy came out of the bathroom with her fox ears and tail. She'd painted her face to look like a fox and her red hair fanned across her shoulders. "Her mom left her, Aiden. Even if she is back, where is she now?"

"I'm right here." My mom stood in the doorway of my room.

We all stared at her with wide eyes. Ivy and Aiden knew she was back but hadn't seen her in months. They didn't know I had just seen her the past weekend and she'd shown her true colors.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" I stood and put myself between her and my friends. I didn't trust her not to hurt them. Acknowledging she was dangerous made tears burn my eyes.

"I live here." It was meant to be funny, but no one laughed. "Can we talk?"

I nodded and followed her to her bedroom without looking back. I didn't want Ivy and Aiden to see the heartbreak and worry written across my face.

She shut the door behind me and went to the window to peer out before turning to look at me. I was glad she had brought me to her room; I wouldn't have to worry about her kidnapping me unless she planned on using the window.

The thought made my heart ache for what we once had. We were no Rory and Lorelai, but we had been close. Now we seemed to be in two different orbits.

"What do you want to talk about?" I crossed my arms as she sat down on her new bed and patted it for me to sit down. "I'm fine right here."

"I know I've hurt you."

I let my arms fall to my sides, the strength to cross them gone. "You've devastated me, Mom."

My mom sucked in a breath and let it out slowly, a tear falling. My immediate reaction was to rush to her side and comfort her, just like we always had done for each other. Instead, I twisted my hands in front of me.

"You've kept me in the dark my entire life, hoping that I would never know." I wanted to scream and throw things, but also was aware that Ivy and Aiden were right down the hall. "I never realized I was missing part of myself until I shifted. You kept that from me."

My mom found a loose string on the bedspread to pick and avoided looking at me. "Imagine my position as a mother, knowing her daughter is going to be hunted because of who she is. Knowing that every day you'd have to worry about your anger spiraling out of control. Knowing that our lives would have to be entwined to share the knife."

I brought my hand up to my necklace and spun the pearls. "We don't even need the knife."

"I didn't know!" She finally met my eyes and all I saw was pain and regret staring back at me. "My whole life has revolved around staying hidden and keeping myself under control. I don't want that for you."

"You never bothered to ask me what I wanted. Even if you'd waited until I hit high school to tell me, I had enough wits about me then to make a logical and rational life decision." I leaned against the wall next to the door. "Why are you here? The tritons are looking for you."

"I'm here about Dylan." My stomach knotted, and I went to walk out. All the men she was connected with had hurt me. "Here me out, Riley, please."

"You have one minute." I kept my hand on the door handle and my back to her, not wanting her to see how hurt I was.

"Dylan got what he wanted the wrong way, but he isn't entirely wrong in his desire to free the sirens. Our entire race was almost decimated because a man couldn't handle a blow to his ego." She stood and walked closer to me.

I turned so I wouldn't have my back to her as she moved closer. "They probably aren't even alive. That's a long time to be buried in the earth."

"Dylan thinks they are in the same type of stasis that Poseidon puts himself in." She sounded like she actually believed the words coming out of her mouth, even though they sounded ridiculous. "You're giving me that look."

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