Gravity Rises (S1)

NW: Part Three

Pacifica had a big smile on her face.

This was going perfectly.

She sat perched on the couch of Ford's living room, keeping her posture perfect even though no one could see her. Who knew her amulet could make her invisible? She hadn't found that power before she went to Portland. Her amulet could do so many amazing things, and Pacifica had barely begun to discover them.

She forced herself to stay still as Mabel stomped past, oblivious of her enemy's presence. Not yet, Pacifica, she told herself as she glared at the girl. Attacking now would ruin all your perfect plans.

These things had to be done with finesse, after all.

Ford's project and a chunk of his money sat in her lap, shielded by her power. She didn't need the money, but she figured taking some would make the robbery less suspicious. Plus, the look on his face when he realized it was gone was priceless. It made up for the fact that she had to stay invisible. She didn't like the idea of doing something awful to someone and not even being able to take credit for it.

She listened as Mabel walked up to Stanford after the Corduroy boy left. "Grunkle Ford, I want to stay and help you with the robber."

Hmm, this was interesting.

"You're going on the camping trip, Mabel," Stanford replied, sounding tired.

Mabel stiffened. What was she thinking? Pacifica's amulet flared up as a habit, only to remind her that these two were immune to her mind-reading.

She smirked. Not for long.

"Grunkle Ford, I can help! I know you said it was dangerous last time, but you'll be here to protect me, right? And if it really is a ghost—"

"It's not a ghost."

"—I know everything about ghosts! In fact, I thought I saw a shimmer over there by the couch just now."

Pacifica sat very still.

"A trick of the light. I make sure my house is ghost-free, Mabel. I make very sure."

Interesting. . . The old man really did know his way around the supernatural. Gideon claimed he was some sort of expert, with that strange Journal of his. Pacifica, for her part, thought that reading up on these things was a waste of time when you could just be experiencing them.

"You're going on that trip," Ford continued.

"But Grunkle Ford—"

"Mabel," Ford cut in firmly. "This isn't just a way to get rid of you. Think of this as an opportunity to spend time with your brother and with Robbie. To make new friends."

"I already have enough friends," Mabel said, "but I don't have enough knowledge about the supernatural!"

So whiny. Pacifica nearly shook her head, then decided against it in case she created any more shimmers.

Ford shook his head for her. "You'll find that if you spend time researching when you could be spending it with other people. . . well, you miss out on things."

That quieted Mabel.

Pacifica rolled her eyes. He was wrong, of course. People were simply there to be used by those who had the power to use them. Spending time with them never did anything for you.

But the old man's errancy wasn't what was important. People were wrong all the time; Pacifica didn't let that bother her. What was important was that Mabel would be out of the picture this weekend — leaving Stanford completely unprotected when Pacifica sent Bill after him.