After Dominic and Ellie left, I laid Este down for a nap. I was restless but not in the mindset to to try to go into the vet clinic. So I redecorated the foyer a bit.
And cleaned up a mess in the spare bathroom -after I got Lucky to stop rolling in it that is. It was a good distraction. The day went on as normal but not normal. Caleb texted me that he and Lilith are safe. It did little to ease my nerves.
I turned to yoga after Este went to bed – until there was a knock at my front door. The moment I saw him it all came out.
“Caleb’s gone. He’s off chasing Inna Cents across who knows where. I checked her social media and she’s been silent for days. I tried to find out where she lives but apparently she’s really secretive about it. What if something happens? What if he doesn’t come back?” I asked. I barely took a breath during my whole rambling.
Dakota hugged me tightly. Next to Caleb walking through the front door, it’s the thing I needed most.
“It’ll be okay. Caleb is crafty and infuriatingly hard to kill. Plus he has Lilith with him.” Dakota whispered to me.
It hit me. Caleb had asked Dakota to check on me and knowing Dakota, he wouldn’t hesitate in agreeing to. We had a small discussion about that fact before I invited Dakota to spend the night, given the fact that it was pretty late when he arrived and we do have a spare bedroom. I gave him some clothes of Caleb’s to wear – Dakota was so thrilled over that, ha.
We decided to watch movies together like we used to do years ago. It actually has made me feel a bit better having Dakota here.
“This movie doesn’t make sense. If Grandpa Joe has been in bed all this time, how the heck can he jump up and start dancing?” Dakota asked me, confused.
“Don’t use logic, just enjoy it.” I told him. We had found the old Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie on TV.
I had a hard time sleeping – knowing Caleb is off looking for Inna. That he isn’t here.
I think Tucker sensed something is off because he slept on the bed with me, something he rarely does. Thank God for pets.
Still, I know I can’t stay in bed all day. I have animals to tend to. A daughter who needs me. A daughter who won’t understand if her Dad doesn’t come back soon.
Thankfully we had some vistors today.
Dominic brought Ellie over to visit us. We’ve transitioned to Ellie only staying with us one night a week, but she comes over often for visits. That’s the benefit of having her living just across town.
“You seem down.” Dominic commented as sat down on the porch, stepping out for a bit but not far from the girls.
“Oh…just life stuff.” I said softly, not really wanting to talk about it. Thankfully, Dominic has known me long enough to know not to push.
“They set the court hearing to make Ellie’s adoption legal. It just happened this morning so I’m sure you’ll be notified soon.” Dominic shared, beaming. The happiness radiates off him and I’m happy for him, Zoe and Ellie. I truly am. It’s good to have something happy to focus on right now.
I knew it was coming. Between what happened yesterday and the way Caleb spent extra time with Este, Lucky and Tucker. I could feel it.
“Tesoro?” Caleb asked worriedly, sitting down beside me.
“You’re going to go find her, aren’t you? Inna…” I said with a sigh. My anxiety about the situation was and still is gnawing at me. I don’t see what good can come from confronting her.
Caleb sat back as I sat up. I didn’t look at him, trying my best to keep my emotions in check.
“We need to know what she is up to. Why did she keep Naya in the dark during the interviews? It is troublesome.” Caleb stated calmly.
It’s not that I don’t agree with him. I do.
“Inna has a lot of good in her but I did hurt her. I am concerned she may have waited all these years to extract some sort of revenge. If that is the case, I need to know so I can protect our family.” Caleb continued.
“What if you’re walking into a trap? What if she wants you to confront her?” I asked. Too many what ifs. Too much that can go wrong.
“Lilith is going with me.” Caleb assured me.
It made me feel only slightly better. I stood up and tried not to pace.
“I will be back. Remember all we have come through?’ Caleb asked me after pulling me close to him.
I do. We’ve been through a lot. Even up to Este’s birth when we thought James might try something. I blew out a breath and tried to focus on all that.
The last thing I was expecting as we were getting ready to put Este to bed tonight is a visit from my baby brother.
Not that I'm complaining. I'm always happy to see him and Este was excited to see her "Unca Poewoe".
But, I knew he didn't just simply drop by this late at night to say hello. So while Caleb was putting Este to bed, I pulled him into the family room.
"What's going on, Apollo?" I asked him point blank. He stared at me for a bit, trying to figure out how to say his news. I knew it had be important.
"You know how Naya has been interviewing some famous vampire lately?' Apollo asked me.
I made a face but nod. It's almost all Naya talks about when I message her. That and AJ.
"It's Inna Cents." Apollo stated.
I stood there, frozen. My mind trying to process his words. Of course, nothing stays secret when you drop a bombshell like that in the room next to a vampire.
Caleb came storming in there, at vampire speed, demanding answers. I haven't seen him this worked up in years.
Apollo launches into telling us how Naya has been interviewing Inna but had no idea that Caleb had turned Inna. That there was any connection between her and Caleb at all.
"She just happened not to tell Naya all this, hmm?" I asked, wondering what her motives are.
Apollo scratched the back of his head repeatedly. "Yeah. Naya said Inna never said anything about Caleb officially....but did ask a few questions about him off the record."
"What questions?" Caleb asked, his voice tense.
"I didn't ask, to be honest. I booked the first flight I could get to come here." Apollo admitted.
Caleb went silent. The kind of silent I haven't seen from him since before we got together. He was brooding. Angry. And I don't blame him. I'm mad too but not at Naya. Clearly Inna figured things out and used these interviews to gather information on Caleb and his life.
I just don't know what - if anything, that we are going to do about it.
Apollo and Naya Grant are using a rare day off together to hang out at one of Sulani's many beaches, since AJ is spending time with his best friend, Alora.
Naya has been busying telling AJ about how she's just finished up her interview series and it'll be published next week.
"I still can't believe I got to interview Inna Cents, she rarely gives interviews. This is great for my career." Naya gushes happily.
Apollo freezes at that name. "Inna Cents?"
Naya raises an eyebrow at her husband "Yeah...the one and only."
"This is a huge problem." Apollo sighs, feeling horrible for his wife and dread because he's going to have to tell his sister and brother-in-law about this development.
"What? Why?" Naya asks getting angry. She worked hard on these interviews and doesn't understand the issue.
"Because. Caleb turned Inna. Without her consent." Apollo says softly.
Naya curses under her breath as all the interviews play through her head. She's mad but it's at Inna. "She didn't tell me that."
"I'm not surprised." Apollo states, stroking his chin in thought. He has to warn Vera and Caleb. Quickly.
"I can't just not print the interviews though. I'd get fired." Naya says slowly, She feels torn. She doesn't want to possibly hurt her in-laws by publishing the interviews but she also doesn't want to lose her dream job. "Inna never mentioned Caleb officially...but she did ask a few questions about him, off the record."
Apollo remains silent for a moment. "Let me tell them first."
Naya nods. At least the interviews aren't supposed to be published until next week. Hopefully things can be settled down - somewhat- by then.
At the Bronze, two vampire sisters are meeting up for a night out together. Naturally Annalise's wedding is much talked about. There's a lot to plan, even for a small but elegant ceremony.
Annalise is still on cloud nine from Frances' proposal but she can't help but notice Liberty is unusually silent outside of yes and no answers. "What's wrong?"
"James and I are getting a divorce." Liberty says quietly. Even though the decision is mutual and for the best, she still feels a sense of failure and sadness.
While Annalise isn't sad James will no longer be in her sister's life, her heart still goes out to Liberty. "And here I am going on about my wedding."
Liberty shakes her head slightly "No, I'm honestly thrilled for you and Lurch. You two belong together. I'm just...grieving a little I guess? And trying to figure out where I'm going to live and all that fun stuff." She pauses a long moment. "I really don't want to stay in Forgotten Hollow but I don't want to leave you either."
Annalise nods. She doesn't want Liberty to leave either.
"Frances has been talking about moving to Windenburg for awhile....maybe it's time we start house hunting there." Annalise suggests. She really doesn't enjoy Forgotten Hollow either and it would make her soon to be husband happy.
Liberty sighs in relief, she was going to slowly suggest the idea but Annalise has beat her to it.
Lilith Vatore is still looking for answers. At this point, she feels it in her bones that her maker didn't kill Jackson. That's the only thing she feels certain of. Between the seance with Jackson and her talks with Vladislaus, it has convinced her.
The question remains - Who did kill Jackson?
"Given what evidence I have been able to collect and interviews, I believe it has to be someone who has powers." Bella states. "That doesn't necessarily mean a witch or warlock. Some vampires and fairies have powers as well that could render someone unable to move for a short period of time."
"Jillian was being hunted by Jackson." Lilith supplies, feeling guilty. If she and Jackson hadn't fought that day, he wouldn't have been out there- hungry. He wouldn't have been in that frame of mind. "I think someone saved her."
"Okay. List of those who would want to save her? Her boyfriend, Dakota Laws. Annalise Blake would stop him, given her oath as a Doctor to save lives. Your brother would save her also but he found the body." Bella lists off people.
"Caleb would have told me. Also I think both Dakota and Annalise would be feeling guilt. I don't see them hiding this." Lilith says, going off her gut.
Silence descends as both female vampires go over things in their heads.
"James. Jillian was in Forgotten Hollow to see him." Bella Goth has just found her lead suspect.
A very serious and important conversation is taking place in Forgotten Hollow. A couple has decided to part ways.
No screaming. No throwing things. Just a soft conversation. Something out of the ordinary for the pair as of late.
"You really don't have to give me half of everything. I'll be fine." Liberty states, looking across the table at her soon to be ex-husband.
“So will I. It’s not like we’re loaded but we’ve done good.” James retorts quietly. He’s not thrilled about this. It feels like failure and he’ll miss Liberty. While it wasn’t love at first sight or a traditional love story, they did love each other in their own way.
“I know I’m definitely leaving this place. I’m so done with Vlad playing his organ.” Liberty muses, looking over James’ face. She briefly wishes that he isn’t so ridiculously good looking.
James makes an amused noise before looking away at his soon to be ex-wife’s appraisal of his face. It feels a little too imtimate for the moment. “I think I’ll move back to Glimmerbrook. Be closer to the magic realm.”
Liberty nods slightly. Maybe she can talk Annalise into moving. Lurch has mentioned he’d like to live in Windenburg someday.
The couple briefly talk about a few more details. Agreeing that this is their best option now. Truth be told, they’ve been heading in this direction for months.
James stops Liberty as she goes to leave to go to work.
Surprising them both he plants one last kiss on her lips. Surprising them both, Liberty kisses him back.
Andrew and Rashidah agree to meet up in Windenburg to hang out. Andrew has to remind himself this isn’t a date repeatedly but he really wishes it was.
They go to the pool first planning to eat afterwards. They mostly have the place to themselves since it’s mid-evening by the time they arrive.
The duo discuss anything and everything while they wait for their food. They exchange texts sometimes but it’s not the same as being in the same room with the person.
Andrew knows he has it bad for Rashidah. He’s never felt this way about another girl but she doesn’t seem ready to date. He has to take what he can get and try not to seem overly obvious about how he feels.
Rashidah for her part knows Andrew is starting to get feelings for her. She likes him. She really does.
But she’s scared.
She thought her parents would be married forever. They’re divorced. She loved Rahul and they broke up over his Aunt’s affair with her Dad.
Still, as Andrew looks at her with that goofy look on his face while they stargaze, she’s wondering if maybe she should give him and herself a chance.