5.7. Bump in the Night(Iphigenia)
Mariah told me all about herself after that. About how her parents were old and couldn’t keep her in check. She went her own ways and though they tried to stop her from going overboard, there was nothing they could do.
“I had nothing but partying and boys in my head,” she told me. “And especially that one boy.”
“I knew what I wanted and I was going to get it. Everyone at school felt the same way. Colin was such a nice guy and his parents were known all over the island for being respectable, decent people. In retrospect, it was all too nice.”
“But he was so good at it. He was so good at making you feel like the centre of his universe. Until he got you where he wanted you, that is. After that…”
“Well, I guess you know about what happened later. He started using me as a punching bag. When I finally left and tried to file for divorce, he came at me with lawyers and I had to defend myself to keep Ash. In the end he promised it would be all well and good and we would be a family if only I’d come back. I did, and nothing changed.”
She sighed deeply. “The last time I tried to leave, he beat me until he broke his own hand. I’ve been told I’m lucky to be alive.”
Guilt twisted in my gut. “You survived that only to be treated like dirt by me.”
“Stop that.”
“Mariah…”
“Stop, really, please stop it. I can’t say it didn’t hurt and that I’m not still mad, but it’s over. I just want to live in peace.”
She stood up, but I stopped her. “Just… one more thing. There’s something I don’t get.”
Mariah sat down again to face me and nodded. “Okay, spit it out.”
“Dad kept talking about how mad he was about you. Like from the second he met you, and it just rings false. I know everyone’s obsessed with true love at first sight and all but I don’t buy it. I’m not saying you did something to him; I don’t believe that anymore. But something’s weird about it. He’d lost Cadie just four years before that and you don’t just fall in love with someone so quick; especially after an experience like that.”
“You know, we’re not quite sure why that was.”
“Trust me when I say I was just as worried as you were. After all that happened with Colin, I didn’t see any reason to ever come near a man that wasn’t my son, and then I suddenly met Orestes…” A smile spread on her face, a very genuine one. “It was like being under a spell, meeting him, and that really freaked me out. But I wanted to trust him and some part of me knew he wasn’t bad news.”
“But it is weird?”
Mariah nodded. “Yes, and the only thing we can think of… You know, years ago, when Colin beat me within an inch of my life – almost literally – I almost died and I don’t remember much, but I do remember…”
“… That I didn’t want to go. That I cried and begged to get back for Ash. He was only ten and I was so scared to leave him with that bastard. I couldn’t make myself wake up and get back because it was like my body had given up and didn’t want to go on anymore. My mind did, though.
“And I can’t tell what happened. Your dad only told me a bit about magic and how all of this works, but I can say that I pulled through.
“I only remember it vaguely - someone helped me through. I don’t know who it was and it’s all a blur but it was like a spark that gave me the strength to come back here.
“I changed after that. Of course a thing like almost dying will change you but I changed in strange ways. Started liking different colours, started enjoying things in a different way, started thinking in different patterns and it’s hard to explain but that’s the gist of it. And then I met your dad and it was… it was crazy.”
“And well, we both quickly realised that the day I almost died was two days after your mother. It could be a coincidence, but something, or rather someone, pulled me back to life, gave me a spark of energy. Maybe a part of herself.”
I looked at Mariah, torn between disbelief and amazement. I was going to open my mouth and say it out loud but she stopped me.
“It’s pure speculation. We don’t actually know anything for sure but it is… remarkable that…”
“That what?”
“That the date I almost died was close to the day that she… who knows, right? And why would anyone help me anyway? Never mind… I have to run now.”
I watched Mariah leave but decided not to pursue it further. If I hadn’t already seen magic in action in the form of Minerva and my granddad I wouldn’t have bought any of this.
(Mariah)I’m not the type to hold grudges even if it would have been understandable if I’d decided to hold a grudge against Iphigenia. When all came to all, though, it was pointless. Now that she’d apologised and we’d made up, I was a proper part of the family.
I got to be there for a pretty exciting time for the Ithacas. Iphigenia being proposed to was just a small part of it. They couldn’t even begin wedding preparations before another piece of news presented itself.
The two of them were expecting. Time went by so fast and before we knew it, they had a little boy.
Melanthios. A sweet little guy who grew like a weed.
A sweet little guy. And I was glad all our squabbles were over because at times I could allow myself to feel like he was my own grandson and like Iphigenia and Lyzzie were the daughters I never had myself.
And it felt that way for sure when Iphigenia included me in her wedding plans. I helped her pick the dress and the bridesmaid dress for Lyzzie as well.
Sweet, shy Lyzzie who wasn’t so sure that the dress or the colour fit her. She wasn’t used to wearing anything so colourful or wild.
The both of us assured her that she was beautiful and that it fit her perfectly.
She seemed to cheer up after that, and particularly when Ash seemed to like it on her. She was more animated about her sister’s wedding than I’ve seen her in a long time.
And it was beautiful. Turned out later that it was the last family gathering Kleio and Donte got to attend. Later was the time to be sad when they passed away, but for the wedding we all had a good time.
After the wedding I nearly walked in on Lyzzie and Ash in a fairly intimate moment – I only just managed to stop myself and just closed the door before they noticed anything. So it may be that I considered Lyzzie a daughter, but Ash certainly didn’t consider her to be a sister.
Speaking of sisters, Iphigenia was pregnant once again, and all was well.
Mel was spoiled rotten, Iphigenia was glowing (she never had morning sickness once, that lucky girl) and it seemed we were all thriving. I couldn’t really shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right, though.
I’m sure it was nothing. The noises at night woke me up a couple of times…
… and I saw Flint leaving. But he assured me it was nothing. Nothing to worry about at all… He was just going off to work.
Author's note: It's finally time to talk about names again:
Melanthios: In the Odyssey he's Odysseus disloyal goatherd. While the suitors have taken over Odysseus palace, Melanthios serves them wine and meals and as thanks he gets horribly murdered by Odysseus and his mates once he's home. He had his limbs chopped off, as well as his ears and nose and a certain reproductive organ. I guess that just goes to show that you don't want to piss off Greek heroes. Because Greek heroes are totally not heroes (except Hector, he's cool... and he's not even Greek dontcha' know it).
So, this is the beginning of the end. The last couple of chapters in this gen will probably be sucktastic. I apologise but I'm also waaay too lazy to do it better. I want it done now. Actually, reading it again it's more than lametastic but I'll just go for it anyway. Carpe diem and all that.