Muses, Mishaps, and Murder!

Chapter 37 Rebirth of The Dragon Village

Paisley, A Month Later, Inside Three Leaf Village

We didn't watch Mason for days on end, and it was winding down. He didn't need us, or rather, me. I realized he'd be fine until the next dangerous mission.

Mason and Holbrook emerged from Charlotte, and she transformed into a pendant.

Gloria's family store was being rebuilt stone by stone, and though it wasn't as grand as the old store, the half-finished structure appeared magical in the Badlands.

Villagers built a paved road that stretched from their village to the closest encampment.

The sky in the Badlands was beautiful when it wasn't full of fire and storms.

Mason waved at Gloria as she landed. Jake snuggled against her, and Zander was in full bunny humanoid form.

Holbrook spoke to Zander. "Nickel is doing better, but how are you?"

"We're fantastic." He tipped his hat. "But how is she?"

"Nickel was released a week ago. She's depressed, not delusional. Her saying those Deb chants was her way to avoid abuse. Rob and Lace spent her trust fund, but Shanna saved the cottage for her. She has a place to stay, at least," Holbrook said.

Zander said. "Today, I'm a bunny by choice. I'm learning to control my body."

Bunny ears formed on the top of Jake's head.

Zander embraced Gloria's wing. "Are you staying here or leaving? Kay, I mean, my mother changed the code, but she'll let you out. I want to live in Three Leaf Village."

"And I wish my mother wasn't a disappointment, but Kay is telling me that she will be my and Birdie's mom if I need one, and she means it, and my grandparents are heading here soon. They sacrificed to protect us, so it's not all bad." Mason grinned, and his tail wagged.

"I hope you're not pretending to be okay," Zander said.

"Life is complicated, but good things are going to come." He snuggled closer to Holbrook.

"I saw it, but I didn't realize it until the curse was complete," I said.

'You couldn't see everything,' Mason thought. 'Nickel wakes from nightmares screaming. Most cult members had some choice to join, but she spent years in an isolated cabin. I wondered why Mom was never home.'

"I thought she was working," I said.

'Her curse she gave me ended up being her downfall,' Mason thought.

Gloria's wings twitched. "I'd love it if you moved to Three Leaf with your son."

"Gloria, it's my fault you're stuck here," Zander said.

"But I refuse to leave you alone even if I could, and my taxi service will be useful." Gloria's wings stretched out.

Mason lowered his voice. "Rob took a deal for imprisonment in his castle, but Mom didn't realize he had more on her than she had on him. I dread testifying against her."

"Me too. The cult might come after us," Holbrook said.

"No, it's not that. I dread seeing my father in court. Most cultists decided to believe that Shanna is the real Deb, and they believe my mom and Rob are framing her for criminal acts. The cultists blame them for her semi-retirement."

"How is she pulling it off?" Gloria asked.

Mason winked at her. "Shanna is a fantastic actress. Cultists, when presented with proof that they've been tricked, double down. Shanna taps into that and has created imposters for them to hate."

Mason clutched her fingers. "The other side of the world has vast kingdoms, some not even ruled by the new king, and Rob is considered a flight risk."

Holbrook danced around the muddied field. "Our playhouse is going to showcase a performance of Pirates of Penzance. You should bring Jake. We loved that musical when we were kids."

"Yes, but we were weird," Zander said to Holbrook.

"Weird is fantastic." Mason danced with her.

"Goodbye," I whispered to Mason.

"I'll be around if you need me and Holbrook too," Muse Silver-Green said.

"Our Muses, they're leaving," Mason said.

"Will you still be able to write?" Holbrook asked.

"Of course." Mason turned around, and Birdie stood behind him.

"I've been looking for you all day." His brother's leg braces were removed, but he walked with a cane. "Another hit-and-run happened. The same bottles of cider were found, but this time the driver was bludgeoned with a silver candlestick. No one knows how the man got here without Kay knowing."

"Wait, but that sounds interesting," I said.

Birdie leaned over and whispered. "Oh, the creepiest part is the body disappeared from the morgue, but a note in his pocket was addressed to me."

"Are you joking?" Mason lifted an eyebrow, which is extremely hard to do.

"Of course, I'm joking. He was a random drunk. Nothing to see, but I have big news. I talked to my late father's sister, and they've invited us to the Planet of the Glass Harp. Mason, we'll meet our Muses."

"How many secrets did our mother keep?" Mason asked. His phone rang, and Tricia, the lab tech, was on the other end, and he listened for a moment, but as the booth darkened, I couldn't fully understand what she was saying. The last words I fully heard were from Mason. "Anything for a friend."