"Masks camouflage the faces
of both good and evil.
Keeps hidden what is a truth
and what is a lie."

~~Patti Roberts

****************

~Nova~

When Robbie told me we were going to a place called Skulden, I immediately imagined medieval style stone structures, cobblestone streets or dirt roads, and a town square specifically made for hangings. I pictured a place filled with creepy lurkers in the shadows and leaned against buildings to snatch purses or shank someone as they walked by. I even made a comment about him being determined to recreate horror movies with me as the main star.

However, I was pleasantly surprised when we passed a large wooden sign painted in white with bright blue trim and cursive letters. It said "Welcome to Skulden" and was a bit more cheerful than I expected. Not long after we passed the sign, structures came into view. At first they were widespread houses, some brick and some with siding and all with neatly trimmed yards and colorful gardens.

Soon enough the houses grew closer and other buildings joined the mix along with perfectly paved roads and side streets. It was a picturesque town with children playing in sprinklers, joggers dotting the sidewalks, and couples holding hands as they laughed on their way to who knew where. It was like stepping into a movie but definitely not of the horror variety.

I cocked a brow at Robbie. "This place looks like a big cheese wheel."

He snorted back a laugh. "Just wait for it."

Curious, I turned back to the window as he turned down a side street and parked in what seemed to be a random parking lot that didn't belong to any particular place. My curiosity turned to confusion as I followed his lead and climbed from the vehicle, my eyes scanning the area. Robbie joined me a moment later and locked the doors before holding out his hand.

"Uh...," I began, unsure of what I even planned to say because I had no idea what was going on. "I thought we were going to see your grandmother?"

"We are but it'll be quicker to walk from here, trust me," Robbie answered with a smile, grabbing my hand as he tugged me towards the nearest sidewalk.

"And why is that?" I asked warily.

"You'll find out soon enough."

I groaned reluctantly, tired of indirect answers and surprises. But I let him lead the way, following along with the flow of the crowd as it began to slowly increase as we neared the corner of the next block. The moment we cleared the buildings and rounded the corner, my jaw dropped.

Ahead of us was the edge of a market, vendor stalls squished together for as far as the eye could see. Food, clothes, fabrics, jewelry, and so many other items I couldn't make out from where we stood. People pushed passed us, grumbling under their breath at us about holding up the traffic. Turning around, I realized the market stretched behind us as well, the street appearing to be the halfway point.

With a smile on his face, eye lit with laughter, Robbie pulled me through the throng of people while keeping a tight grip on my hand. I tried to look at everything, but there was so much to see that it was impossible to take it all in at once. It would take someone hours or maybe even more than an entire day to see everything. Vendors shouted over the voice of consumers, yelling out special deals or offering lower prices on the popular merchandise.

The aroma of baked goods, fried foods, and other sweet or savory smells drifted through the air making my stomach growl. Robbie smirked at me but didn't say anything when I glared at him. Stalls lined with graphic trees, custom signs, clothes and so much more surrounded me and I felt like a kid in a candy shop.

"This place is incredible!" I told him in excitement, swallowing back a girlish squeal and ignoring the urge to bounce on my toes to see more. "What are we going to do first? Wait, is that a 3D print booth? Can we go? I want them to make me something!"

"Like what?" Robbie asked with a laugh.

I scrunched up my nose. "I have no idea but it's a 3D print booth for Apollo's sake! Oh my gods, Robbie, look! The sign says 'Gizmo Shack'! I wonder what they have?!"

I had never been to a place like this and I was absolutely amazed. I could hear vendors haggling with prospective buyers and customers bartering with others. I couldn't wait to tell Nevada about this place and maybe come here one day. Christmas shopping this year was definitely being done here, if for no other reason than just an excuse to come back.

Letting Robbie lead the way with my hand in his, I paid no mind to where he was taking me until he slipped between a vegetable stall and pastry vendor. My eyes snagged on a booth filled with books of all shapes and sizes, making a mental note to come back later to see if there was something there that my sister would like.

"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to look over my shoulder at the swarming crowd we had left behind.

"To my grandmother's, remember?" Robbie called over the loud voices of the crowd.

We broke out into another crowd that appeared to belong to some sort of auction. A stage was set up about four feet off the ground with an auctioneer standing at a podium calling out a bunch of gibberish into a microphone while others behind him arranged and rearranged different items. The current item up for bid was a collection of three extremely eroctic paintings and the crowd was going wild as they battled each other.

"Woah, $15,000 and counting?!" I said in disbelief to no one in particular before tugging on Robbie's arm. "Hey, did you see those paintings?!"

Robbie glanced towards the stage and rolled his eyes, the paintings not seeming to surprise him in the least. He didn't say anything as we continued to skirt the edge of the raucous crowd, him basically dragging me as I strained to see over bobbing heads. as the group finally began to thin out, he pulled me against his side and draped his arm over my shoulder.

"I've seen those paintings before," Robbie finally said, pulling me against him.

Slipping my hand into his back pocket without thought, I looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"My brother painted them before I was turned," Robbie shrugged nonchalantly, his amber eyes darting around as he scanned the area like always. "I always told him he could make a killing off his talent but he was always too chicken shit to try. Guess things change."

"Wow, your brother did those?" I asked in shock but then a thought occurred to me and I blurted out, "Can you do that too?"

Robbie laughed. "Hardly. I'm a terrible artist, at least in that sense. I preferred metal and leather work like making weapons; swords, daggers, whips, etc."

"Damn, that's hot," I muttered, picturing Robbie drenched in sweat, swinging a cross peen hammer on a liquid hot piece of metal as he balanced it on an anvil. "Have you made anything since you turned?"

We spent the next few minutes talking about the different types of weapons he had made, his favorites versus his least. For those few brief minutes, I forgot about the rest of the world and the problems we faced. The war coming had disappeared from my mind as we passed a bakery next door to a colorful wig shop, and a vibrant thrift story taking a seat in my memory for a later date. It was peaceful and as we approached a small light blue house, I realized I hadn't felt that relaxed in a very long time.

Robbie stopped on the sidewalk where it met the stone walkway that led to the front steps. Flower beds filled with rose bushes and spring flowers in between lined the inside of the small picket fence and around the edge of the porch. A rocking chair with a small table beside it sat on one side of the small porch, and a white porch swing sat nestled on the other.

"This looks vaguely familiar," I commented, suddenly feeling very nervous.

While Robbie appeared outwardly calm and I could tell he was trying to reign in his true feelings, I felt them anyway. He was nervous and a little afraid as well which caused me to imagine running away. What in the world would cause Robbie to be afraid of his grandmother.

I suddenly pictured a strict old lady with a tight snow white bun, perfectly tailored clothing, and a spot clean home. She was going to hate me...

Unconsciously, I stepped closer with my eyes trained on the house and my pulse roaring in my ears. Robbie squeezed my shoulder once before slowly leading us up the walk. Once in front of the door, I felt his hand shake before he removed it from my body long enough to ring the doorbell. The sound bounced around behind the door and the sound of a small dog barking could be heard.

A wolf shifter with a pet dog?, I marveled to myself as I heard a muffled female voice, shuffling steps, and a small crash from inside. A curse sounded out from the other side followed by something smacking against the wall before it was flung open.

Before us stood a slightly older woman that was several inches shorter than I was, but taller than Nevada. Her hair, which was black and streaked with a vibrant blue, was pulled back from her face in a loose ponytail with several escaped strands fluttering around her face. She was wearing a pair of worn fitted jeans, holes patched with random squares of fabric, a threadbare graphic band tee, and mismatched socks. But what stole my attention was her eyes.

Amber eyes, bright with energy and surprise stared back at us, the orbs lingering longest on Robbie before flicking briefly to me. I fought not to squirm under her gaze that somehow seemed to strip me bare, like she could see into my head.

"Gran," Robbie greeted hesitantly.

Tears filled her eyes as she stepped forward and wordlessly pulled Robbie into a hug. He disengaged himself from me, wrapping his arms around her small frame and rested his head atop hers. Even with his eyes closed, I could feel his relief, seeing it soften the corners of his mouth as they tipped up in a gentle smile. I couldn't help but feel as if I was intruding on a private moment, quietly stepping back and giving them space.

Unfortunately, the universe decided to take that moment to humiliate me and I tripped backwards over the rocking chair. Taking the small table down with me, but somehow not breaking it, I tumbled to the ground and sprawled ungracefully across the porch.

"Shit," I groaned, crushing my eyes shut as Robbie rushed to my side. I felt heat rise up my neck and onto my cheeks from embarrassment, my back and arm throbbing from my glorious fall after landing hard on them. "Double shit."

"Nova, what the hell?" Robbie rushed out in concern as I felt him drop to my side. "Are you alright?"

Without looking at him, or his grandmother, I rolled into a sitting position and braced my arms on my knees with my head down. "I'm fine."

"Don't worry, my boy, you aren't the first person to come tripping all over my porch," his grandmother chuckled. "At least you're sober."

The way she spoke the last part made me look over at Robbie, who scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

"That was one time, gran," he groaned. "Did you have to bring that up?"

The woman laughed, "Of course I did. Someone had to make him feel better. Now come along boys, let's have a drink."

With slightly wounded ego, I let Robbie pull me back to my feet and I shrugged off his attempts to check for injuries. He finally relented when I held out my arm and let him eyeball it from every angle. It was humiliating enough without his hovering but I couldn't find it in myself to be irritated because it was just more proof that he actually cared about me.

Grumbling under my breath about my own stupidity, I followed Robbie into the house. I was immediately greeted by the sounded of a ferociously yipping chihuahua perched on the back of the couch, teeth bared as it growled.

"Oh hush now, Milly," his grandmother scolded lightly. "You know Robbie."

Milly ceased her racket but proceeded to glare as she lay down on the back of the couch, her black beady eyes never leaving the two of us. I wasn't afraid of dogs, but I had once had a not so great encounter with a chihuahua as a kid and I knew to be wary of the tiny beasts.

Most of the house seemed to be covered in knick knacks and craft items; beads, string, wire coils, yarn, hot glue guns, pliers, and a number of other things including fabric and paint. The furniture was lightly worn and mismatched but it didn't seem out of place in the chaotic yet coziness of her home. His grandmother was definitely not like any grandmother I had ever heard of.

We joined her in the kitchen, taking seats at the small round table as she bustled about the kitchen.

"So what will it be loves?" she asked with a teapot in her hand. "Tea? Soda? Something a bit stronger perhaps?"

"Whatever you want, Gran," Robbie answered, watching her move about the room with a nostalgic look in his eyes.

"Tea it is then," she confirmed with a nod to herself. "A bit too early to break out the whiskey, I think."

When she joined us at the table, placing small cups of steaming tea in front of us both, I was doing my best not to fidget in my seat. I could smell lavender and chamomile with a bit of honey and other herbs wafting from the tea and I couldn't help but smile to myself. She obviously picked up on the nerves surrounding the two of us.

"Since my grandson seems to have forgotten his manners, I'll introduce myself," his grandmother said into the silence with a pointed look at Robbie. "My name is Rosalyn, Robbie's grandmother, but you can call me Rosie if you wish."

"Yes, ma'am," I acknowledged with a smile. "I'm Nova, Robbie's...," I hesitated, unsure of how he wanted to tell her about us, " ... friend."

Rosie studied my face for a moment before turning her inquisitive eyes on her grandson.

"I see." She offered me a knowing smile before nodding at my untouched tea. "Drink up, love. It'll help."

Following her instructions, I took a sip and felt the calming effects almost instantly. My heart slowed to a healthier rate and the tension in my body eased.

"You didn't seem exactly shocked to find me on your doorstep, Gran," Robbie hedged, tracing the rim of his cup.

"Of course not," she dismissed with a wave of her hand. "You forget I'm a medium. I'm a bridge between the living and the dead, and you my dear boy didn't come to me that night or any night after that. Only him, so I knew you were out there somewhere despite what everyone else believed."

Robbie chewed on his bottom lip. "You're not mad?"

"Of course, I'm not mad," she assured him, patting his hand gently as it rested on the tabletop. "What you endured was unspeakable and my son, your wretched father, was a vile man. Anyone with a chance would have left. I had my suspicions about your condition, dregs of your soul trapped on the other side but not present per se if that makes sense. Who was it, hon?"

"Who was who?" he asked with a frown, his brows drawn together.

Rosie rolled her eyes in exasperation. "The man that made you a vampire, your sire dear boy! I swear, you were dead too long and lost some cells or something. Pay attention."

I snorted and pressed my lips together to hold back my laughter as Robbie glared at her. Rosie smirked, her features resembling Robbie's all too well for a moment.

"August Maines," Robbie muttered, scowling at the now cold tea in front of him.

Rosie's playful demeanor quickly sobered at his proclamation. "The Hybrid Warrior?"

Robbie nodded but didn't say anything.

"Well, that explains a lot," Rosie concluded, sitting back in her chair as she watched his face. Her golden eyes regarded Robbie for a moment, calculating and sharp. "He must not be all the rumors say he is if you're sitting in my kitchen drinking tea like a civilized man."

"The rumors are true but he's not so bad... usually," he added with a shrug.

Rosie nodded, her face relaxing marginally. "So, what is it you need?"

Robbie sighed and sipped his drink, grimacing slightly as he swallowed. "The war that's coming, I wanted to make sure you were alright."

Rosie narrowed her eyes. "I'm not helpless, Robbie, and I'm not alone here. Besides, after the way things went down with Reyne taking over the pack, I'm not sure anyone would dare bother little old me."

"Don't be so sure, Gran. Things have gotten a little crazy out there," Robbie replied. "You live in one of the most popular market towns and you're a previous Luna of the Blood Onyc pack. Torch could come for you if he got wind of your presence here."

"That man will do no such thing," Rosie scoffed. "He knows where I am, and he's well aware of my abilities, but he has no use for me. Whatever he's gotten himself into, it won't touch me directly."

Robbie and I shared a glance, frowns blanketing both of our faces.

"What do you mean?" I asked warily. "You know Torch, the psychotic Fae hellbent on destruction?"

Rosie's eyes found mine, once again looking into the darkest corners of me and I clenched my jaw to keep from looking away. I couldn't help but wonder who this woman was and what she saw when she looked at me that way.

"Everyone is damaged in some way, with secrets locked away and parts of themselves kept hidden from the rest of the world," Rosie said, her voice quiet but unwavering. "Most of us hide our darkness but some bury the light until they themselves believe that it no longer exists. Circumstances shape our lives and decisions, but at the same time many things are entirely out of our control. Tell me something, Nova. What would you be willing to do to survive?"

I felt the color drain from my face, every muscle in my body drawing tight as some of my darkest memories threatened to surface. The way she spoke, and the wisdom in her golden eyes, left a chill in my bones I couldn't escape from. Words fled me and my tongue felt heavy in my mouth as I continued to stare at her. After a moment a sad smile graced her face, still beautiful and barely showing her late age, and her hand patted my hand.

"Do you know something Gran?" Robbie asked into the tense silence, brows drawn together with a deep frown distorting his handsome face.

Rosie sighed and looked at the empty tea cup. She was silent for a few minutes, her eyes distant as if lost in thought or memories.

"I know that war and death and violence aren't always simple, black and white concepts," she finally said, looking at a space to my left but when I followed her gaze, I saw nothing. "There is blood on all of our hands and to ignore that or to pretend otherwise would be ignorant and could have catastrophic results. I won't deny that Torch has done some very horrible things, but have you ever stopped to ask why?"

A shiver slipped down my spine, joining the chill that still lingered in the pit of my stomach causing me to visibly shudder. Rosie was still focused on the empty space beside me and I couldn't help the jump that overtook my limbs when she suddenly laughed.

"It seems there's a party of sorts you two youngsters are expected to be at?" She eyed Robbie and I skeptically as we just stared at her in complete confusion. "Well that won't do and I'm tired of the depressing train of this conversation. Who wants to go shopping?"

Her suddenly cheerful demeanor left my mind reeling.

"Uh...," I began but couldn't figure out what to say.

What just happened?, I wondered as I looked at Robbie who chuckled and shook his head.

"Whatever you say Gran," he gave in, pushing away from the table.

"Oh, this is going to be fun!" Rosie chirped, heading for the door.

"Just go with it, babe," Robbie whispered in my ear, kissing the side of my head.

"Does that mean I get to see Robbie in lycra?" I asked following them out of the house and trying to gather my wits about me.

Whatever Rosie was about to say never made it out of her mouth as the three of us stopped in our tracks on the front walk. Standing casually at the edge of her yard stood a man with dark hair and cold eyes.

"Hello again, Rosalyn," the man greeted, his deep voice void of emotion.

"Torch...," Rosie whispered, eyes wide in shock.

Well fuck...

********************

A/N: So, longer chapter and we finally meet Grandma! What do we think of Rosalyn?

And ooh! There was Torch at the end!! What?! FINALLY right? Lol

Thoughts or theories?

Thanks for reading!❣ You all are amazing, truly!❣

Vote. Comment. Follow.

XOXO🖤❤

~SM~