Lilac Valley

The Truth is Out

"If you are eighteen by Election Day, please vote," Marty concludes.

The bell rings.

Carter enters the classroom.

"What are you doing here?" Marty asks. "Is there an emergency?"

"No," Carter answers. "It's a year today. I just...I should've gone to your house and spent the day with Autumn, but she has a two-month-old to worry about."

"It's fine," Marty says. "You can talk to my next class. Talk about politics and your interest in the government. You can't convince them to vote for you, but you can tell them to vote if they're eighteen. Most of my students are sixteen and seventeen, though, but they have parents that can vote."

"Amber's in town," Carter says. "I saw her pass by the hotel with Kyle. Doesn't Con usually drive to D.C. to see them?"

"I think it's fair that she drives sometimes," Marty says.

"Unless she has a warning," Carter says.

"About?" Marty asks.

"The Magic Catcher, the Anti-Magic Group," Carter answers.

"There hasn't been an attack in a while," Marty points out.

"I know," Carter says. "I'm worried."

~

"A Spider?" Con shouts. "Your mom was a Spider? I'm glad Eddie's not here. And your dad's a Magic Catcher. You were a part of the exchange program and your dad's a Magic Catcher? You stayed in Autumn's home!"

"I wanted nothing to do with it," Amber explains.

"It doesn't matter," Con says. "It's in your DNA. A Magic Catcher is raising a half-werewolf son. I can't...I can't. Your dad killed my mom. You don't get over something like that. I can't be around you. I'll visit Kyle. I'll send money for him to travel alone, but I will not see you."

~

Eddie finds Con on the couch, looking at an old picture of him and his mom.

"Everything okay?" he asks.

"Amber and I broke up," he says.

"Why?" Eddie asks.

"Apparently, we can't date at the same time," Con says. Eddie sits in the armchair. "Her mom is the lead Spider. Her dad is a Magic Catcher. He drained her powers. She's supposed to meet with Carter about something Secretary Wilkinson said. How is that girlfriend of yours?"

"Good, it's still new," Eddie says. "I like that everything is so fresh. No history."

"Have you told her you're half-vampire?" Con asks. "You shouldn't date humans, Eddie. Their parents might murder your parents."

"I'll tell her when I'm ready," Eddie says.

"Hopefully you'll still be alive at that point," Con says.