CHAPTER NINE

Annabella Liggman was smiling as usual when Jade and Beth walked into the Waterfront Witchery. The store sat three doors down from Om Shamti, and the women frequently spent time together admiring the waterfront and talking with Gianna Bly, who ran a new age shop called Salem's Sanctuary that catered to both witches and warlocks. Her shop served as neutral territory where all were welcome so long as they behaved. When a pyromaniac lycanthrope hunter had burned Gianna's shop down, the entire supernatural community of Salem, both good and evil, had come together to help her rebuild it. Amos White had donated more money than anyone.

Gianna stood with Annabella in the shop snacking on one of Annabella's famous brownies. Gianna was nearing seventy now, and she'd proudly embraced her role as one of Salem's supernatural elders. Beth had nothing but respect for her.

"Hello, ladies," Annabella greeted them warmly. "Brownies?"

Beth immediately accepted that offer, suddenly starving. Jade took one as well.

"What brings you by?" Gianna asked. "I sense that something is troubling you, Beth."

Beth sighed. She knew better than to lie to Gianna and Annabella. "I'm just worried about some dreams I've been having," she admitted.

Annabella stepped into the apothecary in the back of the shop. "Elena, Skeeter, would you two mind watching the shop for a bit?" She asked her two youngest children. Annabella's biological children had been murdered to start a war between the witches and vampires sixteen years ago. The following year, she'd adopted three children who'd been born into the devil worshippers. The eldest, Katie Springfield, was now Katie Ashford, and Beth adored her sister-in-law, but she was relieved that she wasn't there now. She wasn't ready for Kevin to know about the baby yet.

Elena Liggman walked into the front of the shop first. She offered Beth and Jade a bright smile as she spotted them. "Merry Meet," she greeted them. She hugged Jade tightly, as she always did. Both of the younger Liggmans had been born into the Manhattan cult, and Jade had killed Elena's mother to save her life when she was only nine years old. Beth had later split her father's atoms, a fact Elena was also grateful for, so she soon received a hug as well.

Skeeter might not be six anymore, but as soon as he entered the room, he ran over to them with all of the enthusiasm of a little boy. Skeeter was a conduit, and like Elena, he'd been born in Manhattan. He'd endured a special form of torture as a child, but it had never broken him, and he was still one of the most cheerful people Beth had ever met. She couldn't believe he was twenty-two now.

"Hey, kiddo," Jade said as he hugged her and Beth at the same time.

"We've got the shop, Mom," Skeeter promised Annabella. "Especially if it's for Jade and Beth."

"Come, ladies. Let's have tea in the sacred space," Annabella said.

Beth, Jade, and Gianna followed Annabella into the apothecary. She opened a closet that was actually the entrance to the passageway which led underneath the shop. Annabella's sacred space was off-limits to most people, but the witches she trusted the most were allowed to join her there.

Annabella immediately smudged each of them before allowing them into the room. She motioned for them to sit on some of the cushions she kept in the room for emergencies. They quickly sat down as she brewed up tea for each of them.

Beth took her cup in her hands and inhaled deeply before taking a sip. "Is this ginger?" She asked.

"Yes, sweetheart," Annabella replied. "It was the only thing that ever helped my morning sickness."

"You know?" Beth asked.

"Bethany Schwartz, after all of these years, haven't you figured out that I always know?" She replied with a patient smile. "Congratulations, by the way."

"Tell us about your dreams, honey," Gianna added.

"It's my parents," Beth admitted. "They keep appearing to me, but I'm fighting it and I can't hear them... I think they're trying to tell me something about the baby."

Gianna gently touched Beth's stomach. "The child is strong," she said. "And healthy."

"And destined for greatness, much like his or her parents," Annabella added.

"I'm scared," Beth said. "My last pregnancy almost killed me... I had to stay in bed for four months just to carry AJ to term, and I still almost lost him. If our coven hadn't cast a spell to keep us both alive through the pregnancy, neither of us would be here. And if Deenie hadn't..." Her sentence trailed off as tears filled her eyes. The flashback hit her hard.

Beth was home alone when she went into labor. She tried to stand up to grab the phone, but pain overwhelmed her almost immediately. She knew that something was wrong. She couldn't focus enough to send a telepathic message to Jade or Alex or anyone else.

"Joey!" She shouted in desperation. Joey was still very young, but she knew he could get help for her.

Joey opened a door to her moments later. "Aunt Beth! What's wrong?" Joey asked.

"The baby's coming, Joey... I need you to get help to me. I don't think I can leave the house," Beth explained, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Aunt Beth, you're bleeding!" Joey said in fear.

"I'll be okay," Beth lied for his sake. "Go get help, okay?"

Joey nodded and vanished. He reappeared quickly with Aideen and Evan. Beth was lying on the floor, unable to move and absolutely terrified.

"Joey, bring your mom and Randy here and then go back to school," Aideen said gently. "We'll take care of Beth and the baby."

Joey dutifully ran off to fetch them. Evan was already examining Beth. "Okay, Beth," he said gently. "I need you to try to stay calm. The baby is in distress and you're losing a lot of blood, but I'm going to do everything I can to take care of you."

"I'm scared," Beth sobbed.

"I know," Evan said soothingly. "We've got you. Just focus on me and Aideen. We'll get you both through this."

Aideen's face was full of concern as she knelt beside Evan. "You can do this, Beth," Aideen said firmly. "Just do everything Evan says."

Randy and Jade arrived soon after. Joey went back to school despite being terrified for Beth's safety.

"Jade!" Beth sobbed in terror. "Something's wrong!"

"It's okay, Beth," Jade said soothingly. "We'll make it right."

"Randy..." Beth whimpered.

"I'm here," Randy promised. "I love you."

"I can't do this," Beth sobbed. "It hurts so much... I'm not strong enough."

"Bethany Ashford, you are the strongest person I know, so don't you dare say otherwise!" Jade snapped. "You can do this. You will be okay. You've absolutely got this. Do you know how I know that? I know that because you are my best friend, and my best friend can do anything."

"Bethany Schwartz," Beth corrected her softly. She managed a weak smile. She'd said something similar about Jade early into their Silver Society days. Unfortunately, her brief smile vanished as more pain hit.

"I have to do a C-section," Evan said. "The baby's running out of time."

"Why can't any of the Silver Society's offspring ever have an easy entry into the world?" Aideen mumbled.

It was true. Joey had been born during a devil worshipper ritual while his father was sacrificed in front of Jade. Cassandra had gone into premature labor after watching her mother and brother die, and only divine intervention from the Powers That Be had saved both of their lives.

Two months earlier, Melissa had been attacked by warlocks and gone into labor in the Burying Point. Arnie had delivered little Echo in the cemetery by himself and healed both of them. Dylan and Logan's surrogate had almost died giving birth to the twins, but Dylan had been able to heal her. The twins had been premature, but they were both getting stronger by the day.

Beth blacked out during the C-section. When she woke back up, Arnie was healing her as Evan checked the baby.

"Is the baby okay?" Beth asked in terror, not bothering to question when Arnie had arrived.

"The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck," Randy said softly. He was shaking and Beth heard the tears in his voice. "He isn't breathing... And his heart... It's not..." He shook his head.

"Oh God..." Beth whispered, her heart breaking.

"He's going to be okay, Beth," Jade said firmly.

"How? He's not breathing, Jade! He doesn't have a heartbeat!"

"He's got me," Aideen said firmly. "Someone changed your baby boy's time, Beth, but I'm a Reaper, and I'm changing it back."

Sure enough, Aideen resurrected the baby moments later. She placed the crying boy in Beth's arms.

"Congratulations," Aideen said. "He's beautiful."

Beth sobbed in relief, overwhelmed by everyone's emotions, but as she clung to her baby, it centered her.

"Deenie, how can we ever thank you?" Randy asked in tears.

"Be the amazing parents I know you'll be," Aideen replied. "And maybe name the kid after me," she joked.

"Done," Beth replied. "We'll name him Aiden... Aiden Jeremy."

Randy looked stunned. "Jeremy?" He repeated.

"Without Jeremy, you'd be dead, and our baby wouldn't exist... He was our friend, and I think we should honor him. And without Deenie, our baby would have died... Her name will protect him just like she did."

"I love it," Randy said. "Aiden Jeremy."

"Guys... I was kidding," Aideen said, genuinely stunned.

"We aren't," Beth replied. "Thank you, Deenie."

Beth snapped back to the present as tears streamed down her cheeks. Jade squeezed her hand gently to ground her.

"Aideen and Evan aren't here this time," Beth said softly.

"We can help protect you and your child, Beth," Annabella promised.

"I need to know why my parents are stalking my dreams," Beth decided. "But I don't want to talk to them."

"I can try to do it," Jade offered. "I spoke to Lewis once before, right after they died. He was lingering in the house."

"I think that would be asking too much of you, Jade," Beth replied. "I know you were attached to my parents before the truth came out. Besides, I don't want to put you in danger."

"I can do this safely," Jade protested.

"It's unnecessary, Jade," Annabella said. "We'll just ask the spirit realm to deliver their message to us." She grabbed a deck of Tarot cards and quickly set up a three-card spread. "Hmmm... First we have the Magician," she said as she turned the card over. "I sense great power within your child... Their magick will be undeniably strong." She turned over the second card. "Next is the High Priestess. This child will be deeply spiritual and wise... And, finally," she flipped over the card before visibly tensing. "The Tower," she said softly.

Beth knew enough about Tarot to understand her reaction. "Chaos, destruction, and turmoil," she said.

"Beth, it can mean a lot of things," Jade replied quickly.

"But it doesn't," Beth said firmly. "Something horrible is coming, Jade... Something that will flip my entire world upside-down."

"We'll stop it," Jade replied. "Stopping apocalypses used to be our specialty. We might be a little bit rusty, but I'm pretty sure it's just like riding a bike."

"Not the personal apocalypses," Beth said softly. "You lost Spencer... And River... My parents turned out to be monsters... Jesse lost Tommi... Arnie lost his mom... I can go on and on. What if I lose this baby, Jade?"

"You won't," Annabella said. "Your parents are trying to warn you that the child is in danger. We'll keep you both safe."

"It's time to tell your husband, sweetheart," Gianna added.

Beth sighed. She was terrified, but she knew that Gianna was right. "I'll tell him tonight," she promised.

"We'll whip up a spell to protect the baby right away," Annabella promised.

"Thank you," Beth said softly. She prayed to the Gods that whatever they did would be enough.

~*~

True to his word, Arnie had filed for custody of Roxy and her foster sister. Johnny had pushed the paperwork through and enlisted the help of the Unit to retrieve Izzy from an unsafe home. Arnie had been awarded emergency temporary custody of both girls until the permanent paperwork could go through, and Roxy's "parents" had been arrested for kidnapping and child abuse.

Izzy was shy and skittish when Johnny brought her to the house. Roxy coaxed her inside with the promise that it was a safe place.

"Hi, Izzy," Echo said with a welcoming grin. "I'm your new foster sister. My name's Echo. Do you like pizza?"

Izzy nodded shyly. Echo led her into the kitchen and grabbed a slice for her. "Rox, do you want a slice? It's extra cheese," Echo said.

"Sure," Roxy replied with a shrug. She sat beside Izzy at the table.

"Did I do something wrong?" Izzy asked Roxy nervously. "Is that why they took me away? Was I bad?"

"No, Iz... Our parents were," Roxy replied. "You'll be safe here, okay? Arnie seems decent enough, and Echo's cool."

"Thanks," Echo replied with a grin.

Arnie watched them as he came into the room. He seemed to be focusing on Izzy. She nervously shrank in her chair. Roxy stood up and motioned for Arnie to follow her.

"What's with the stalker vibes?" She asked him.

"Sorry," he replied. "I'm just a little bit overwhelmed by Izzy's emotions. She's pretty freaked out."

"You staring at her won't help that," Roxy pointed out.

"You're right. How much does she know about the supernatural?"

"Enough. I mean, our pa... The people who raised us are corrupt slayers. She's seen some things. She's psychic, too."

"Is she a slayer?"

"No, Izzy's a gentle little thing. She's a medium, though. She's afraid of her powers, but Izzy can see and hear the dead. I helped her hide it from the Not-My-Parents."

"Why did you hide it?"

"I was worried they'd try to use her powers for their own gain. They've always used mine like that... Izzy may be terrified of what she can do, but she's strong. Anyway, I also have that ability, so I've tried to help her learn to control it."

"You're a good big sister," Arnie said with a smile.

"Someone had to look out for the kid," Roxy replied with a shrug.

Arnie heard giggles coming from the kitchen. He smiled and walked back inside. Echo sat at the table making funny faces at Izzy and shapeshifting her hair and eyes into different colors. Izzy was finally relaxed and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying Echo's party trick. He smiled as he watched his daughter put the younger girl at ease so naturally.

She's so much like Missa, he thought with pride. Arnie always felt a pang of sadness in his heart at moments like that, but they also brought him some peace. He would miss Melissa until the day he died, but Echo gave him a tiny piece of her back.

Echo tickled Izzy before walking over to Arnie. Sensing his emotions, she wrapped her arms around him, snuggling against him. He felt calmer as he hugged her.

"Alright," Arnie said with a smile, "who wants ice cream?"

~*~

Joey was wandering through the Burying Point as he tried to clear his mind. He was still furious that Genie had been attacked, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was coming. His anxiety was pretty high as he walked through the old cemetery.

He was more than a little bit surprised to see Angelina pacing nearby. Joey hurried over to her. "Hey, Lina," he greeted her. "Are you okay?"

"Joey!" Angelina cried in surprise. "Yeah, I'm fine... I'm just trying to clear my head a bit."

"What's the matter?" Joey asked in concern.

"I'm trying to figure out who my father is," she admitted nervously.

Joey softened a bit. "I know you've wanted to know the truth for a long time," he said.

"I have. It's hard watching my siblings with their dads. I mean, Adam's usually in Kentucky, but he visits a lot, and he's always here if Hunter needs him. He's always here for my mom, too, and he's always been so good to me, but I'm not his kid... And I love Trent. He's amazing, and he's treated me and Hunter like we were his ever since him and Mom got serious, but he's not my biological father..."

"Blood isn't everything. My dad's not related to me by blood, but he is absolutely my father."

"It's different with you, Joey. You chose him. Corey is definitely your dad, but you still know where you come from. You know who River was. You have that piece of yourself. I don't."

"I know that's hard for you... How can I help?" Joey asked.

"I went to the Unit and found a clue... Shooter says I shouldn't pursue it. He knows who my dad is, but he won't tell me."

"Angelina, maybe you should listen to him," Joey said in concern. "Shooter wouldn't say that unless he had a good reason."

"I have to know, Joey... Besides, he's a witch. The clue was the coven's crest. If he's one of the witches, I probably already know him. They're good people. There must be a reason I feel like I need to find out the truth right now. Maybe he needs my help."

"Just be careful, Lina. Don't do this alone. I'll help you."

She smiled at him. "Thanks, Joey. I appreciate that. Jason went with me to the Unit. I haven't done any investigating on my own yet."

"Good." He paused. "I'm surprised that Jason helped. He doesn't seem to like us much."

"He's not so bad," Angelina replied with a smile. "He's sweet, deep down. I think he just keeps up a tough exterior because he'd been through a lot."

"Maybe you can get him to open up," Joey replied. "If anyone can, it's you." He paused. "Let me take you home. It's late."

"You know, I am a slayer," Angelina reminded him. "I can take care of myself."

"I know, but... I feel like I need to take you home..."

As two shadow creatures began to come toward them, Angelina said, "Hold that thought!"

They were immediately forced to battle the creatures. The shadow werelions roared at them threateningly.

Before he could react to the shadow lions lunging at him, someone jumped between them. This lion he knew very well.

"Uncle Timmy!" Joey shouted as Timothy Ballard stood protectively in front of him and Angelina.

Timmy was in his lion form, and he let out a soft meow of acknowledgment before he roared at the shadow lions in warning. Timmy wasn't generally a dominant lion, acting more like a house cat than a royal lycanthrope, but when it came to protecting others, his fierce side came out.

"What's going on?" Angelina asked.

"I don't know," Joey admitted. "I think Timmy knows who the lions are."

As another lion came racing toward them with a wolf by her side, Joey realized who the shadows must be.

"Oh Gods," he whispered.

Belinda stayed close to Thea Lyconi as they joined Timmy. Thea roared furiously, making both of the shadow lions hesitate.

"It's the other two triplets," Joey explained. "Tracy and Tina... Thea's sisters that were slaughtered by the hunters."

"Oh no... Joey, we have to help them!" Angelina said in horror.

Joey hated to do it, but he knew that killing the shadow lions was the only way to free them from whoever was controlling them. As one of them sank her teeth into Timmy's shoulder and Thea flew into a frenzy, he knew what he had to do.

He pulled out a silver knife and recited a spell to make it painless before he thrust the knife into the more aggressive shadow lion's side.

Tracy immediately began changing form back into a human. Joey felt tears in his eyes as he moved to repeat the process with Tina, but she shifted back on her own.

"She's an empath," Joey remembered as he noticed that Tina was bleeding from the exact same spot as Tracy.

Thea roared in anger as she stood over her sisters, forced to watch them die again. Timmy shifted back into his human form. He was bleeding severely from where Tracy had attacked him.

"I've got him," Angelina said, immediately shifting her focus to healing Timmy.

Joey knelt between Tracy and Tina. "I'm sorry," he whispered as he stroked Tracy's hair.

"Thank you," Tracy whispered, her eyes gentle and fully aware before her temporary body turned to ash.

Joey switched to comforting Tina. She smiled at him sadly before she also turned to ash.

Belinda shifted back into her human form as Thea ran off. "Should someone go after her?" Joey asked.

"She needs to be alone," Belinda replied sadly. "She'll be alright."

"I had to do it... To free them from Bonnie's control," Joey explained sadly.

"You can tell me about it later," Belinda said gently. Since her soul was Jade's sister, she was Joey's aunt. They'd become close over the years. He was also very close to their other sister, Gigi Nova. While Belinda could be more serious and reserved at times, Gigi bounced off the walls and was so colorful she looked like she'd stepped out of Joey's world.

"Do you think Thea will be mad at me?" Joey asked softly.

"No, sweetheart. I think she'll understand. She was prepared to put them down herself. I'm glad you spared her that burden."

"Timmy's okay," Angelina announced as he sat up and groaned.

"Thanks, Angelina," Timmy said softly. "I was going to fight back, but it was Tracy... I just couldn't do it."

"Are you alright, Uncle Timmy?" Joey asked.

"Yeah, Angelina healed me perfectly," Timmy replied.

"I meant emotionally... I know that must have been hard for you."

"I'm more confused than anything. What the heck just happened? How were they back, and why were they so feral?"

"Let's go back to my place," Belinda said. "We'll be safe there and the kids can explain everything to us."

"Okay," Joey agreed. "I'll bring us there... I think it's safer to travel my way right now." He had a feeling they weren't out of danger yet.

~*~

"You lost Tamara Meadows," Judas said with a frown.

"I never had her. There was magick protecting her," Bonnie replied. "I did the best I could, Judas."

"Now, you've lost the lions... And you already lost the wolf Alpha."

"The bodies are temporary. They can be killed. You know that. There's only so much I can do."

"Enough excuses, Bonnie. Do better. You are capable of incredible things, but you're not living up to your potential."

"What do you recommend I do?"

"We need to raise someone they will not expect... Someone who will traumatize a great many people in Salem... Someone who will not be easy to control. His soul is especially powerful, my dear. I am counting on you to get this right. It will help that his temporary body will be the only thing anchoring him to the Earth."

"What do you mean?"

"His original body was completely destroyed during the zombie uprising sixteen years ago. If you craft him a new one, that will be his only physical self. And if you do this correctly, I know it will destroy more than one of our targets."

"Who is it, Judas? Who do you want me to raise?" Bonnie asked curiously.

Judas smiled at her darkly before replying, "Spencer Connelly."