Re: Big news!
From: Hasana Smoke			Sun. November 8
Subject: Re: Big news!			4:13 PM
To: Diana Smoke
Attachments:   happycouple.jpg
Diana, I imagine you know that Jeremy is enrolled in our paranormal healing internship, as well as a human pre-med program. He and Caryn are determined to find the best way to integrate magical and medical treatments. In short, they both have so little free time, I'm quite sure they will appreciate your taking charge of the engagement party. I will get a guest list from them as soon as I can catch them outside the clinic. Honestly, I don’t know how they have been dating for almost two years, and I still haven’t met Jeremy’s mother. I look forward to having her input. Your sister, Hasana
Illustration by Maria Campbell

Re: RESIGNATION
From: Diana Smoke			Sun. November 8
Subject:Re: RESIGNATION			5:52 PM
To: Joseph Fader
Joseph, I know the last few days have revealed shaken many people, but I hope you will reconsider your resignation. I know you as a fair-minded man who has always advocated for individuals who otherwise have no one to speak for them. SingleEarth needs people like you. Especially now, we need your voice to help hold us together, not tear us apart with accusations. Sincerely, Diana Smoke, CEO SingleEarth Central

Re: RESIGNATION
From: Joseph Fader			Mon. November 9
Subject:Re: RESIGNATION			10:01 AM
To: Diana Smoke
CC: Lynzi; Jason; Sarik kuloka Mari; Holly Payne; Relations Department; Personnel Department
Diana Smoke, As a mediator at Haven #4, I speak for people who have no voice, and often, nowhere else to go. The people who live in SingleEarth's havens are those who do not feel safe returning to their homes. They are often victims of abuse and persecution who have come to SingleEarth because they have been assured that in this place, they will be safe, and protected, and their blood does not matter. That is the promise I give every day. It is what my title as mediator means. But you, and the rest of your kind, stripped that title of all meaning the moment you decided that witch law was more important. I called your office. I called everyone I could. Two of our people received warnings from friends, telling them that the witches were hunting anyone connected to powerful vampires. Literally all I could do was hand them what cash I could pull from my account, so they could go somewhere anonymous, so if witch-kin pounded on my door I could honestly say I did not know where they were. My job is to assure people they are safe. I can no longer do that. You say I speak for those who have no one else to speak for them? With my resignation, I speak for all those who have fled SingleEarth, and are now alone. - Joseph Fader

Re: RESIGNATION
From: Vireo Marinitch			Mon. November 9
Subject:Re: RESIGNATION			11:17 AM
To: Diana Smoke
Diana, Joseph's bandwagon is getting a bit heavy for my comfort. I cannot believe how many of my staff and patients are telling me they received vague warnings through silly places like Facebook, but one way or another, this twenty-four hour fiasco has gone viral. We need to release an official statement about the Rights, and about our policies going forward. - Vireo

Re: RESIGNATION
From: Diana Smoke			Mon. November 9
Subject: Re: RESIGNATION!			12:15 PM
To: Vireo Marinitch
Vireo, I agree that we need some kind of public statement. Born-witches such as ourselves make up a tiny fraction of SingleEarth, which frankly couldn't exist without its human, vampire, shapeshifter, and Triste allies. We need to make sure everyone understands that. Sincerely, Diana

Re: RESIGNATION
From: Vireo Marinitch			Mon. November 9
Subject:Re: RESIGNATION			2:58 PM
To: Diana Smoke
Diana, I think the diverse members of SingleEarth have figured out that we cannot exist without them. They're on the verge of realizing they can survive without us. If you don't want to get kicked out of your own organization, I think you need to do more than assure people they are important. I think we should get the staff and the rules committee together, and establish a firm separation between witch-law and SingleEarth policy that puts born-witches in the same boat as anyone else: as long as you're on SingleEarth land, you obey SingleEarth laws and can rely on SingleEarth protection. No exceptions. Sincerely, Vireo

Hunters!
From: Hasana Smoke			Mon. November 9
Subject:Hunters!			3:46 PM
To: Diana Smoke
Diana, I had the happy couple over for lunch today, and asked about meeting Jeremy’s family, they tell me that Jeremy’s father is a hunter. His mother is a survivor of an attack. His whole family is rampantly anti anything non-human. We just got done with this whole Sarah Vida fiasco, and now my daughter wants to marry into a family of fanatics. They hate that Jeremy is involved with SingleEarth for his studies. What's far worse, Jeremy hasn’t even told them that Caryn is a witch! Caryn says they intend to tell his family the truth “before the wedding.” What are they thinking? Please tell me this is nothing to panic about. Your frantic sister, Hasana

Re: RESIGNATION
From: Diana Smoke			Tue. November 10
Subject: Re: RESIGNATION			9:14 AM
To: Vireo Marinitch
Vireo, I understand what you are saying. Forgive me for putting it so bluntly, but I can also understand why you are the one saying it. When Midnight brought our kind to their darkest hour, extinguishing the Light line, Mara and Raini walked away from us. The Vida and Arun witches sent every able-bodied hunter west to fight Midnight. Most of them never came home again, but their dedication to their duty and their people won the rest of us our freedom. Sarah Vida- after whom our modern cousin was named- left behind a toddling daughter and a nephew whose earlier injuries had left him unable to fight, and they were the only surviving members of that line. The hunters allowed themselves to be nearly exterminated in order to protect those of us who could not, or would not, fight. And what did Mara and Raini do? They stayed with their new people until the American government's policies toward the Iroquois made life there too difficult, and then they brought their new families back to their witch-kin and begged for forgiveness and protection... which we granted, because witch law says that we never refuse to give aid those who ask for it, and we never abandon our kin. The Marinitch line stayed on the fringes of our society for the next century, until the next crisis- the Great Depression- brought us all together once more. This time, it was the Smoke Line's turn to provide safety and shelter to the hunters, whose skills could keep us safe but rarely put bread on the table. Over time, others asked to join us. Some donated land, or skills, but many just needed asylum. We needed the hunters in those days, because we were frequently a target of assault from groups who felt our growing numbers threatened them in some way. That is how SingleEarth was born. Do I want SingleEarth wrested from my hands? Absolutely not. But I will be driven from this home with torches and pitchforks before I will declare that a CEO's office is more important to me than the ancient vows my line exchanged with the rest of our kind. I do not like what Dominique did. I begged her not to call the Rights. But she did. And I obeyed our laws, because I do not believe it is my place to decide which multi-millennia-old laws are no longer relevant. I agree we need to release a statement. We will share whatever information you and our public relations office feel needs to be shared, so people can understand what the crisis was, why I made the decision I did, and why I would make it again if I had to. Personally, I feel that individuals like Holly Payne made it clear that even without my participation, SingleEarth's individual centers and havens were able to respond appropriately. But if others disagree, and no longer trust me as their CEO, so be it. If the board votes me out, my conscience will remain clear. Sincerely, Diana Smoke

Haven #4 Mediator Opening
From: Lynzi			Tue. November 10
Subject:Haven #4 Mediator Opening			9:22 AM
To: Personnel Office
CC: Diana Smoke; Jason; Sarik kuloka Mari
I spent all weekend and Monday trying to convince Joseph to change his mind, but he won’t budge. We need to put a bulletin out: Haven Mediator We are in need of a mediator at SingleEarth Haven #4. We are seeking a candidate with an upbeat, positive personality and excellent problem-solving and communication skills to help residents respond to personal and interpersonal challenges. Duties include: Maintaining a caseload of residents (10-15). This includes frequent check-ins, advocacy, and guidance as individuals work to return to integrated society. Working with other mediators and residents to resolve crises. Communicating with necessary departments to ensure residents’ needs are met. Maintaining records. Attending weekly meetings of the Mediator’s Table, as well as additional meetings that may be scheduled. This is a residential position. Applicants must be willing to live on-ground at the Haven #4 Campus in Monroe, MA. For more information, or to apply, please contact Lynzi at lynzi@haven.nyeusigrube.com Can we get that posted ASAP? Thanks, Lynzi Mediator SingleEarth Haven #4

Re: Hunters!
From: Diana Smoke			Tue. November 10
Subject: Re: Hunters!			10:04 AM
To: Hasana Smoke
Hasana, Don’t panic. Caryn has a good head on her shoulders, we both know she doesn’t back down easily, and she never hides her head in the sand. Just think about the way she held her own during that fiasco with the author. If she says they will tell Jeremy’s parents, they will. Furthermore, Caryn isn’t the type to give up until they know her, and realize that they need to get their judgmental heads out of their- well, you know. Trust me, it will be all right. In the meantime, I am still happy to host that bridal shower, for any guests Caryn and Jeremy would like to invite. Love, Diana

Fwd: Records Request
From: Records Department			Tue. November 10
Subject:Fwd: Records Request			11:47 AM
To: Diana Smoke
Attachments:   SK.pdf
Diana, I recently received this request. Given Sherwood’s rather complicated and troubling history, I think it would be a good idea to keep his records in the archives, but I need your approval to disregard the request. I have attached the cover of his file, in case you need it to refresh your memory. Lydia Records Department Secretary To whom it may concern: I formally request that all profile records for Sherwood James Kash be removed from the SingleEarth files and archives. - Sherwood Kash

Re: Fwd: Records Request
From: Diana Smoke			Tue. November 10
Subject:Re: Fwd: Records Request			1:14 PM
To: Records Department
Lydia, SingleEarth profiles are not medical records. They are internal documents we maintain in order to help us assist individuals who may not otherwise know to come to us for help. The only times it is appropriate to discuss keeping a profile on file despite an individual’s direct request to the contrary are if that individual may pose a direct and ongoing threat to others in this organization, or if the requesting individual has been found unfit to act on his or her own behalf. SK falls in neither category. I expect that his records will be removed promptly. Diana Smoke, CEO SingleEarth Central

Apology
From: Diana Smoke			Tue. November 10
Subject:Apology			5:12 PM
To: Vireo Marinitch
Vireo, I am sorry for my tirade this morning. I stand by my ultimate decision- I would sooner leave SingleEarth than reject the laws and history of our kind- but that decision was not easy to come by. SingleEarth has always been my home. I remember sitting as a young child at my grandfather's knee, and listening to him describe the groundbreaking of SingleEarth's first official building. My mother and my sisters were all born at SingleEarth, and Monica's grave is on SingleEarth land. I hear people describe me as the "heart of SingleEarth," but the truth is, it is my heart, and I know I may need to let it go. When I wrote to you this morning, I was angry and hurt, and I took those emotions out on you. Please know that I love you, and respect you and your line... and during saner moments, I am very aware that the different perspective your line's history gives you is a blessing, because it allows you to ask the difficult questions that must be asked. I know how much you and your family have given, both to our kind and to our organization. It was wrong of me to question your loyalty to either. Your shamefaced cousin, Diana

Re: Fwd: Records Request
From: Records Department			Thu. November 12
Subject:Re: Fwd: Records Request			9:15 AM
To: Diana Smoke
Diana, I hear what you are saying about Kash's records, but I am not sure you have considered the whole picture. The individual in question is Pakana, but there has been no indication that he has made any effort to make contact with others of his own kind. Given how dangerous isolation can be for that breed, I do not see how we in good conscience can simply turn our back on him. Lydia Records Department Secretary

Re: Fwd: Records Request
From: Diana Smoke			Fri. November 13
Subject: Re: Fwd: Records Request			8:27 AM
To: Records Department
Lydia, First, please refrain from using full names in electronic communication. These are confidential matters, and must be treated with discretion. That said, I hope you will also trust me when I say that SK's file is not nearly complete when it comes to how colossally our organization failed in our attempts to help that particular individual. While I would love to see him come to us as a resource, I doubt he ever will. Our attempting to make amends at this late date, or worse, refusing his very reasonable demand, will only incite anger in him and his very powerful protectors. Diana Smoke, CEO SingleEarth Central

Wedding Invitation
From: Hasana Smoke			Sun. November 15
Subject: Wedding Invitation			12:12 PM
To: Diana Smoke
Attachments:   wedding.jpg
Diana, Thank you so much for your words of wisdom in your last email. I am sorry have not had a chance to reply sooner, but this past week has been so busy! Jeremy and Caryn have decided they want to have the wedding on New Year's Day, less than two months away! Thankfully, Jeremy's internship at Haven #2 hasn't been harmed by the recent debacle, and the director there has offered to let them use the event hall for the wedding, so we have one detail worked out. I have attached a proof of the wedding invitation, because I know you will be curious. You should be receiving a real one in the mail this week. Please send your RSVP quickly! Much love, Hasana
Invitation background art from MS Word

Statement
From: Edward Fein			Mon. November 16
Subject:Statement			7:04 AM
To: Diana Smoke
CC: Vireo Marinitch
Attachments:   statement.pdf
Diana Smoke: Please find attached the final version of the public statement we worked on this past weekend. If it has your approval, we would appreciate your signature ASAP, and then we will distribute it to members. I hope you know that you made the right decision. Sincerely, Edward Fein Secretary, Central Committee

Re: Statement
From: Vireo Marinitch			Mon. November 16
Subject: Re: Statement			9:18 AM
To: Diana Smoke
Diana, Ed copied me on the statement draft, probably since I'm one of the other senior staff who would be forced to step down if this rule were ever to come into play. I was wondering what would come out of all those frantic, closed-doors meetings last week. It looks good to me, though I wonder how much the committee strong-armed you to get you to put that much information about the Rights on paper. I hope you're taking care of yourself through all this. Your family is worried about you. We were talking over the weekend, and we all hope you will join us for Thanksgiving. I know you normally go to Haven Central, but we would love to see you this hear. I think Zachary and Sarah are both coming with their significant others, so it's sure to be an exciting time. Yours, Vireo

Re: Statement
From: Diana Smoke			Mon. November 9
Subject: Re: Statement!			10:01 AM
To: Edward Fein
Ed, The signed statement is in your mailbox. Sincerely, Diana Smoke, CEO SingleEarth Central

Re: Statement
From: Diana Smoke			Mon. November 9
Subject: Re: Statement!			12:19 PM
To: Vireo Marinitch
Vireo, I've been so focused on SingleEarth, I'm obviously out of the loop with the Vidas. I wasn't aware Zachary was seeing anyone. I'm impressed that it's someone you think will get along with Sarah and her SO. I must admit, I'm not sure which boy she's seeing these days, either. I've heard rumors, but they contradict each other. Is Dominique planning to attend? Much love, Diana

Re: Statement
From: Vireo Marinitch			Mon. November 9
Subject:Re: Statement			3:06 PM
To: Diana Smoke
Diana, I wouldn't know about the relationships, either, if it weren't for Jay dropping broad hints about how many chairs we need. He has also promised to show up, by the way, though you know how selective his memory can be about family events. At the Vida kids' request, Dominique will not be there. Yours, Vireo

Avian Education
From: Raquel Divan			Mon. November 16
Subject: Avian Education			4:42 PM
To: Diana Smoke
Diana, I just had a long conversation with Tuuli Thea Saec Shardae. Her oldest daughter, Mina, is sixteen this year. She has been privately schooled until now, but her mother would like her to enroll in public school for a semester so she gains more familiarity with humans and human society. I referred her to our integration seminars, but Saec is insisting that she wants you to personally assign a human tutor to follow her daughter during the school day instead. I know the company line for how I should respond, but given the individuals involved, I wanted your thoughts on how I should handle this. Sincerely, Raquel Divan Outreach Coordinator

Re: Avian Education
From: Diana Smoke			Mon. November 16
Subject: Re: Avian Education			5:16 PM
To: Rachel Divan
Rachel, Please refer the Tuuli Thea to our Education Director, Scott Greengray. He runs the education integration programs, and should be able to give her a better sense of which services we offer, and which ones we do not. Loaning out humans as personal tutors in human etiquette is not a service we provide, but if Mina enrolls in the integration seminar, she will certainly meet mentors who would be able to help her if she has trouble transitioning. You should also make sure she has contact information for our Documentation department. To enroll and fully participate in a human school, Mina will need records of vaccinations and a recent physical examination. Sincerely, Diana Smoke, CEO SingleEarth Central

DV supervised visit
From: Maria Lavette			Mon. November 16
Subject: DV supervised visit			7:01 PM
To: Diana Smoke
Ms. Smoke: My client DV asked me to contact you on her behalf. She would like to arrange a supervised visit with her daughter, AV, and her nephew, ZV. I would appreciate your opinion regarding the wisdom of such a visit at this time, as well as whether you would be willing to broach the subject with them, as a neutral party. Sincerely, Maria Lavette LMHC

Haven #4 mediator position
From: Maria Lavette			Mon. November 16
Subject: Haven #4 mediator position			7:01 PM
To: Diana Smoke
CC: Personnel Department
Diana, First, let me say congratulations. I recently received word of your niece's wedding. Given all the hardship your family has faced lately, it is good to see a celebration in the works. Unfortunately, we are having a difficult time here at Haven #4 filling the open mediator's position. We have a mountain of applicants, but few are appropriate for the role. It looked like we had a good prospect, but when we brought him in for an interview he spent the entire time explaining to me why Joseph made the right decision. I know Haven #4 is one of SingleEarth's smaller facilities, but Joseph had a heavy case-load, and we could use any suggestions you have regarding how to fill the empty position. Sincerely, Lynzi Mediator, Haven #4

Re: Haven #4 Mediator
From: Diana Smoke			Tue. November 17
Subject: Re: Haven #4 Mediator			8:58 AM
To: Lynzi
Lynzi, Haven #4 may be small, but it is no less important than any other branch of our organization. I will see what I can do regarding your hiring difficulties. Sincerely, Diana Smoke, CEO SingleEarth Central

Re: DV supervised visit?
From: Diana Smoke			Wed. November 18
Subject: Re: DV supervised visit?			2:12 PM
To: Maria Lavette
Maria, I met with ZV and AV over lunch today. AV has expressed interest in seeing her mother, provided you believe this would be a therapeutically appropriate time. Unfortunately, ZV has made it clear that he is not yet ready to reinitiate communication. Given what I know of recent events, I am not willing to press him on the subject. I gave them both your contact information, so you should at least hear from AV soon. Sincerely, Diana Smoke, CEO

Thanksgiving
From: Rosemary Marinitch			Wed. November 18
Subject: Thanksgiving			4:07 PM
To: Diana Smoke
Diana, After everything that has happened recently, I want to bring as much of the family together as I can for Thanksgiving this year. We're having dinner much later than usual so everyone can make it, so you have absolutely no excuse not to come even if you do need to put in an appearance at Central's Thanksgiving. Since you're going to be driving right past him, I told Zachary you would pick him up around 4:40. Now that I've finished twisting your arm, I actually need to ask you for a favor. I am determined to invite Kyla, but I can't seem to track down any contact information for her. Do you know how I can reach her? ~ Mare

Re: Thanksgiving
From: Diana Smoke			Wed. November 18
Subject: Re: Thanksgiving			5:31 PM
To: Rosemary Marinitch
Mare, I honestly didn't mean to ignore Vireo's invitation- my head has been so lost in work lately that I didn't realize I hadn't answered him. Yes, I would love to join you, and I am happy to pick up Zachary along the way. I've barely seen him since he was a child, so it will be nice to catch up. As for Kyla, I'm afraid I don't have any direct contact information for her. Have you tried speaking with the serpiente consul? They would be able to put you in touch with Kyla's father. Regards, Diana

[GLOBAL] PREGNANCY FLIERS
From: Frank Guideon			Thu. November 19
Subject: [GLOBAL] PREGNANCY FLIERS			2:00 PM
To: SingleEarth
Attachments:   elavie-pregnancy.pdf
IF YOU ARE HANDING OUT ADVICE FLIERS TO POTENTIAL PARENTS, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE HANDING OUT! We have many different types of parents in SingleEarth, with different needs. For example, I've attached a copy of the informational flier we give to mixed-ancestry elavie parents. It is exactly what they usually need to hear, but if you read it, you will see why it is ABSOLUTELY INAPPROPRIATE to give to pure-blood elavie parents or human parents. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, STAY OUT OF THE OBSTRETICS AND PEDIATRIC DEPARTMENTS! Pregnancy is scary enough without some idiot handing out misinformation. On that note, if you're a species physically incapable of breeding, please consider carefully before dispensing advice!

Re: [GLOBAL] PREGNANCY FLIERS
From: Clare Painter			Thu. November 19
Subject: Re: [GLOBAL] PREGNANCY FLIERS			2:17 PM
To: SingleEarth
Frank, On behalf of all the vampires working in SingleEarth's medical departments, I need you to know that I found your implication that, just because someone is "incapable of breeding" he or she isn't competent to dispense advice about children and childbearing to be offensive to the extreme. I personally have over nine decades of experience with expectant mothers and pediatric medicine. Before my change, I worked as a midwife, a calling for which I studied at my mother's knee since my earliest memories. I have more experience and knowledge than you will ever acquire in your human lifespan, and vampiric senses allow me to notice and diagnose many potential prenatal and perinatal problems before they become dangerous. If my inability to bear children makes it inappropriate for me to dispense advice, then I suggest that we must ban all men- including yourself, Frank Guideon- from the obstetrics and pediatric departments. Sincerely, Dr. Claire Painter

Re: Re: [GLOBAL] PREGNANCY FLIERS
From: Vincent Snick			Thu. November 19
Subject: Re: Re: [GLOBAL] PREGNANCY FLIERS			3:9 PM
To: SingleEarth
Dr. Painter, Would you please get off your high horse, learn to use the return button- unless your decades of experience didn't include time to learn to use a keyboard properly- and actually read the email Frank sent before treating it as a personal attack? Frank's exact wording was... [expand message]

You have 34 more messages in this thread. Expand for more

Out of Office Reply
From: Diana Smoke			Wed. November 25
Subject: Out of Office Reply			4:02 AM
To: SingleEarth
I will be out of the office Wednesday, November 25 until Friday, November 27 for Thanksgiving. If this is an emergency and you need to reach me, please contact my secretary and he will be able to contact me. Sincerely, Diana Smoke, CEO

"Thanksgiving"

12 pm: Rosemary Rosemary Marinitch ran her "to-do" list through her mind as she looked around the sprawling kitchen of the Briar Patch farm. Butcher-block counters were piled high with sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, mushrooms, cranberries, and assorted other fruits, vegetables and tubers. The venison mince pie was almost ready to come out of the oven; the dessert pies and the bread pudding had all been done for hours. The sweets-and-beets could share the oven with the turkeys, Casper and Nixon... both named by Mare's youngest brother, Jay, who had apparently been in a whimsical mood that spring and was now hiding somewhere in the back yard in order to avoid any semblance of "helping." Now headless, plucked and brined, Casper and Nixon were patiently awaiting their apple-pecan cornbread stuffing. The acorn squash, stuffed mushrooms and au gratin potatoes were all done, ready to be put in the oven and re-warmed shortly before serving... She paused to take a deep breath. Since Mare had taken over cooking from her father, Thanksgiving had always been a wonderfully frantic day. Including several local family friends, they normally had about a dozen people, but this year the number would be higher. Most of the Vida family had accepted her invitation, shocking her to the core, and some of them had asked whether it was all right to bring guests. Even her cousin Nathan had promised to show up. On the other hand, Mare knew all her guests well enough to know that a good half-dozen of them were at risk of cancelling at the last minute. The doorbell rang. She took a deep breath and braced herself. 4:00 pm: Sarah Vida Sarah woke, groggy, at four in the afternoon. Christine was gently shaking her shoulder, and reminding her, "Sarah, you asked me to get you up. It's Thanksgiving." The reminder probably wouldn't have been sufficient motivation if she hadn't known that the family had pushed Thanksgiving dinner to five in deference to their newly-vampiric niece's solar challenges. In previous years, they had eaten at about one in the afternoon, an hour Sarah suspected she wouldn't comfortably see for quite a while. People kept saying things like, We'll see. It's different for everyone, when she asked how long it would take her to adjust so she could be awake during the day, but she had figured out that they meant, No one really gets over it, but if you're powerful enough, you can endure. "Thanks," she said to Christine, as she rolled out of bed and shook out her hair. Being undead had a few- only a few- unexpected advantages. Vampires didn't sweat, or secret oils, or shed skin cells, or perform any other messy mortal processes. This made showers unnecessary unless one spilled something on oneself, or wanted to bathe purely for the comfort value. It also greatly lessened travel time. All that combined, and meant that Sarah had time to get dressed, feed, and make it to dinner in time. With her feet still bare, she padded downstairs to see who else was around. She found Nikolas in the dining room, but it wasn't Kristopher seated at the rarely-used formal table with him. By this point, Sarah was getting used to seeing individuals whose faces she had memorized from pictures in the Vida's collection of targets. She tried to avoid staring, and was almost always able to avoid saying the first thing that came to her mind. Sometimes she chose to be tactful, and just backed away slowly. In this case, she spoke the instant she thought. "What the fu-" "Sarah," Nikolas said, rising with enough of a guilty start that she was sure he knew exactly why she was upset. "I'm sorry, our meeting ran late." "Sarah Vida," the other vampire said, standing with a smile and an offered hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm-" "I know who you are." There wasn't a cell in her body that wanted to shake that hand, so she ignored it until it lowered. She had spent a month learning to play nice with other vampires, but there were lines. This was a line. "Excuse us," Nikolas said to his guest, before stepping forward, catching Sarah by the arm, and guiding her to the next room. It wouldn't give them privacy- vampiric hearing was too good. He just wanted to get them out of each other's sights. "I have been nice to Kendra," Sarah hissed, "and I have been polite to Kaleo. I love you and Kristopher despite what I know of your history, which you have to admit cuts pretty damn close to home. But if you try to convince me to dissemble and shake the hand of one of Midnight's trainers, by the goddess I will do it with a blade in my hand and I don't care what you say about consequences." Jaguar stepped into the doorway, but wisely chose not to acknowledge Sarah before saying to Nikolas, "I left the documentation on the table. Good luck." He disappeared. At Sarah's glare, Nikolas said, "He's changed, Sarah." "I. Don't. Care," she bit out. "He worked for an empire that tried to make my entire species extinct, Nikolas. For centuries, he deliberately tortured and enslaved innocent humans... not to mention shapeshifters and witches whenever he could get them. If he's changed, great. Maybe he can keep walking the Earth. But I will not associate with one of Midnight's power-players. I can't." She recognized the expression on his face, which meant he was trying to decide between handling her to avoid an argument, or going with tough-love. She decided first. Nikolas couldn't back out of this argument, but she didn't have time for it now. "I'm going to feed, then head over to the Briar Patch. I'll see you and Kristopher later tonight." "Should-" "Later," she snapped, interrupting him before he could shove his foot further into his mouth. 4:08 pm: Kyla Cobriana-Vida "Vemke'tasa," Kyla swore, as she raced for the showers. She had overslept. If she didn't seriously hustle, she was going to be late for the first family holiday she had ever been invited to... and it wasn't easy to hustle here. She had to climb over three other people to get out of the sleeping area and into the common room. It wasn't that they were all normally nocturnal, but they had been up all night working on a particularly tricky intre'marl with Stefan, and then a few hours more partying. They had all crashed sometime around eight in the morning. Good judgment? Maybe not. Worth it? She hoped so. Most serpiente didn't celebrate Thanksgiving, so her nest-mates were going about their daily routines like always, which meant the showers were busy at this time of day. As long as she didn't try to claim a crown, something she had no desire to do, the serpiente didn't care that she wasn't legitimate. The vast majority of serpents weren't. That meant she got all the advantages of cobra blood without any of the responsibilities, which meant people got out of the way and let her duck under one of the shower heads without objecting. Normally, there was some fooling around here- you couldn't have a communal shower without people playing tricks like hiding each other's clothes- which meant Kyla didn't keep her street clothes in the dressing room. Buck naked except for a towel wrapped around her long black hair, she went back to her cohorts' den. They had been warned about how important this day was to her, and threatened with skinning and dismemberment if they dared do anything that could mess it up. When she got there, they were all awake. Stefan had her street clothes laid out for her, and Alicia was readying a hair-dryer and clips. Luke was blinking sleep from his eyes, but greeted her with an encouraging smile. They didn't understand, but that didn't matter. They wanted to help. The thought brought tears to her eyes- followed immediately by rolling nausea. I can't do this, she thought. "Sit down, girl," Alicia commanded, as Kyla froze in the doorway, fighting panic. "We'll get you all primped to go have a fancy dinner with your mother's folks. Just remember, no matter what, you're one of us. You're beautiful, you're talented, you're proud. Got it?" 4:28 pm: Michael Arun It took Michael Arun quite a while to remember where he was when he woke up. Patchy carpet under him. Thin blanket half over him. Knife digging into his side- just the handle, thankfully, since it was still sheathed at his waist. No bruises, though he'd had those before going to bed, too. He was in a slightly run-down motel. He was on the floor because Rant and Rave, two crow shapeshifter sisters whose real names were never uttered, had taken the bed and this rat-trap didn't have a cot or even a couch. It did have a television, on which he vaguely remembered watching a ten-hour marathon of Supernatural. He was pretty sure there had been a drinking game associated with it, but in the glaring light of day sneaking around the edges of the closed curtains, he couldn't remember what rules they had been following or even what they had been drinking. He put his head back down. It had been a good party, anyway, celebrating the conclusion of a multi-day hunt in which they had been stalking a nest of vamps that had managed to make themselves the feudal lords of this tiny town. Vamps were gone now, and the town of wherever-they-were was marginally safer. Michael couldn't wait to see what SingleEarth told the terrified populace. On second thought, yes he could. He didn't know what day of the week it was, never mind the date. He considered checking his phone, but if he turned it on he knew he would probably have messages, and he didn't feel like answering any more distress calls yet. He wasn't even sure if it was November or December. December would be better. November had been the month from hell. Putting his head back down on a makeshift pillow made of a rolled-up sweatshirt, he closed his eyes again. Another eight hours of sleep seemed like a good idea. 4:30 pm: Nathan Marinitch Won't be able to make it to dinner this year. Love you all. Happy Thanksgiving. Don't reply. Nathan Marinitch sent the text to his cousin Mare, and then deleted any evidence of sending it and tucked the ultra-slim phone into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. A bird fluttered to his side, sharing images of the local landscape. The American kestrel Nathan was honored to have as a companion could see vivid colors that had no words in human language. It refrained from perching on Nathan's shoulder because its talons had a tendency to leave noticeable marks in his suit jackets. He couldn't afford that at the moment. By the time he approached the stronghold, he knew the exact location of every guard, every gun, every hostage, every door and window and bolt-hold. He cast Kestrel back into the air. Her fierce cry was silent, purely mental, so it would not draw attention. Nathan focused his power, seeking out threads of energy from every living creature around him. He checked his watch. He had twenty-seven minutes. 4:39 pm: Zachary Vida In the past, Zachary had always followed Dominique's lead when it came to holidays, which meant that like her he had put the hunt first. Thanksgiving usually meant camping out with a container of Chinese food and a few other hunters while they discussed the upcoming season. Some people loved the holidays. Some people dreaded them. Hunters knew that the days between Halloween and Valentine's Day tended to be bloody. Few vampires celebrated the birth of Christ or the triumph of the Maccabees, but they enjoyed revelry and over-indulgence just as much as any human. This year, Olivia had convinced him to take a break and relax for the holiday- though she had not convinced him to join her and her friends. Instead, he had accepted an invitation to the Briar Patch, the Marinitch family home. The invitation had been extended every year for as long as he could remember; sometimes he had remembered to decline, but just as often he had forgotten. He almost hadn't had the courage to say yes this time. When he had, though, Rosemary Marinitch hadn't even paused. She had continued the phone conversation as if he had been a figure at their Thanksgiving table every year of her life. Now he was in the car with Diana Smoke, another witch he had rarely given the time of day previously. Rosemary had arranged for Diana to give him a ride; conspiratorially, she had explained to Zachary, "I know Diana. If she isn't responsible for someone else, she'll get pulled into work and won't get to the house before Christmas." He wondered if she had told Diana the exact same thing. I know Zachary. If he has to drive himself, he'll chicken out half-way here. She would have been right. It made for an awkward car ride, however. Their occasional attempts at small-talk failed. Zachary's life might have taken a strange turn a while back, but he still didn't have a lot in common with the woman considered the heart and soul of SingleEarth. Well, no, there was the fact that they were both trying to hold together the shattered wreckage of everything they had ever cared about. If they had wanted to, they could probably have had a lengthy conversation about that. It was a long, silent drive. 4:44 pm: Jeremy Francisco Oh, to be a fly on the wall... and feel like, at any moment, the swatter might come down. Jeremy Francisco stepped into the Briar Patch feeling like he was on the verge of explosion, or implosion, or something along those lines. He had certainly never been happier not to be a witch, since he knew perfectly well what such powers could do when combined with high emotions. With his brother's hissing voice still lingering in his mind, he was certainly experiencing high emotions. "It's all about you, isn't it? It always has to be all about Jeremy!" He had wanted to reply, "Yes, Dave, my wedding is all about me," but he knew better. SingleEarth had pamphlets titled things like, How do I tell my family? He could vividly recall reading one specific piece of advice, echoed by numerous others: Telling your family about the paranormal probably means challenging a deep-seated world-view. Even in the best of circumstances, you may face anxiety and denial, which can come out as anger. We advise against announcing your status to a group. Talk to your family members one-on-one, so you can appeal to their reason and offer the support they need to cope with new and often frightening information. Save big holidays for announcements of weddings, graduations and promotions. Announcing that humans are not alone and you are now a shapeshifter at the Christmas dinner table is more likely to make people remember "the year you ruined Christmas" than it is to inspire good will and tolerance. Jeremy had followed half of that advice. He had pulled his brother aside an hour or so before the Thanksgiving turkey was due to be served. They hadn't been as close since high school, since they had followed different paths, but at least Dave wasn't a vampire hunter. If Jeremy could win him over, he would be an ally. It didn't work that way. "I've proposed and she said yes," went very well. "There's something I need to tell you..." didn't go quite as well. Jeremy left before dinner, with Dave's parting shot- "I'll tell Mom you had some kind of emergency at that stupid clinic where you work"- echoing in his ears. He tried to shake off the strain of the confrontation as he pulled onto the dirt driveway of the Marinitch family home, a large ranch set at the edge of several acres of farmland that had long ago mostly gone fallow. Some had been reclaimed by neighboring woods, and other parts had been deliberately filled with native plants. Only one acre was still cultivated, with a combination of herbs, fruits and vegetables. 4:45 pm: Jay Marinitch From three acres away, Jay could hear his sister Mare fuming. At this distance, he should have been able to tune her out, but she would have known and that would have made her even angrier. Nathan had just bailed at the last minute... again. Caryn, who was supposed to be helping Mare cook, was as nervous as a fly on a griddle because Jeremy hadn't arrived yet or called to say how late he would be. Zachary and Diana were supposedly on their way, though Zachary's voice had sounded strained when he had called Mare to say they had hit some traffic. Sarah should be there any moment. Should he wander in and offer assistance? Or would that just frustrate her more? He wasn't much help with- JAY! I know you're hiding out there! Strictly speaking, Mare was not telepathic, but she had always had a unique way of communicating clearly within her own family. Wincing, and wishing he'd had the sense to be out of range, Jay trudged through knee- and waist-high brush and grasses before traveling carefully between rows of actual tended plants and then slipping discretely inside. A glance at the clock he passed revealed it to be 4:49 pm. "How can I help?" he asked, as he found his sister frantically trying to remain calm as she attempted to add final touches to four different dishes in the vast kitchen. "You're not dressed," she snapped. He glanced down. Shirt. Pants. Even shoes. Seemed sufficient. Mare's glare made it clear that this was not acceptable for Thanksgiving, however, so he wordlessly retreated to his room. "Your cat is sleeping on your clothes," his brother, Vireo, remarked as they passed on the stairs. "Mare left one of those sticky tape rolls in the guest bathroom. Use it before you come back down. And brush your hair!" And here Jay had been so proud of his forethought in setting out his Thanksgiving clothes ahead of time, to make sure he had all the pieces and they all still fit. Jerk, he thought to the Canadian lynx, who was indeed curled up on top of Jay's amber-green dress shirt and tie. Both items had been picked out and personally approved by Mare, which meant he couldn't switch them for something else even if he'd had anything else. Cat's faces were not made for grinning, but Lynx pulled it off somehow anyway. I'm going to get some turkey, Lynx announced, as he jumped up and rubbed against Jay on his way out the door. Jay heard the cars and other ruckus downstairs as he dressed and diligently de-furred himself, but there was no way to prepare for this confrontation. He had to force himself to walk downstairs, where he stepped into a fog of anxiety, frustration, and fury concealed behind strained but smiling faces. Across the room, Vireo met his gaze with his own apologetic one. Why hadn't Jay taken Michael up on his invitation to go hunting this week, instead? 5:45 pm: Rosemary Marinitch Vidas were nothing if not prompt, but other guests straggled in late, as if five in the evening was an absurdly early hour to have a Thanksgiving dinner. Finally, though, all of them were gathered around the tables... including Jay's Canadian lynx, who had insisted on having his own chair at the table. Two large mice, having been granted a reprieve by Nathan's last-minute cancellation and Kestrel's resultant absence, were now enjoying a feast of carrot greens, apples and cranberries before they were due to be released back into the wild... unless Lynx got bored of turkey before he was as stuffed as Casper. Mare's bond, a female Hanoverian, was keeping company with her father's greyhound; both were happy to avoid the stressed-out crowds of people, and to indulge in their Thanksgiving gifts. Vireo's fox was delightedly pigging out on a mouse-berry pie that Mare had assembled and set out on a mat for the fox, who had no intention of placing himself in a chair. Two barn-cats, though not bonded to any particular witch, had nevertheless also been invited and were happily sharing in scraps. In deference to the sensibilities of both the people and the poultry, none of the turkeys had been invited. Except Casper and Nixon, of course. Mare had given up on socializing with the other people as soon as everyone had been introduced to each other and dinner had been served. Vireo did the work of engaging people in conversation, breaking the ice and the tension both, until Jay finally stopped looking like he was going to faint and actually started to eat. Now that everyone was talking, occasionally laughing, and smiling in a way that didn't need to be faked, Rosemary's job was done. At least until the dishes needed to be washed.

© Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

First	Previous		Next	New