Laughter Lines

Right Back in Time

Vivi wished she could be surprised when the bird turned into a child. The prairie hawk settled itself on a rock ledge jutting out above the mouth of the cave, and then it was suddenly half of the runaway twins team. Whichever child it was dangled legs over the edge, waiting. Artie was always low-key freaked out about them. Ten points for his paranoia.

Vivi also wished she could work up shock over the fact that someone in the depths of the cave was laughing just as hard as she herself was, nearly doubled over Chloe's neck and wheezing at the sheer, painful ridiculousness that they had to come back here again, of all places.

We were supposed to leave this behind forever. It's over. It's done.

Vivi's right leg now swelled larger than her left and had collected two or three colors at the mid-shin area.

Mystery stirred in Vivi's arms. "Mother?" he murmured, straining his neck toward the cave.

"Hey guys. You made it." The child lifted a hand in greeting, expression guarded as she watched their approach from above. Of the two, Vivi had only ever heard Ginny speak.

This just tickled Vivi more. Before she could launch into another round of hilarity, Lewis straightened their spine. Pink flared hot at the edge of her vision and laughter died in their throat.

Ginny shook her head slowly. "Don't get mad at me, Lewis. It's not gonna help Vivi if you keep taking over. Everything got thrown in the blender."

Lewis blinked, squinting up at Ginny.

"You know, all mixed up?" Ginny pantomimed shaking something up and down in two hands. "Swinging back and forth really fast. Probably messed up her thinking."

Rapid cycling, Vivi thought, surprise finally breaking through. Swinging from up to down and back in short succession. She knows what's going on? And about Lewis?

"What in the seven circles of hell is going on?" Lewis growled, curling their fingers into a fist. "And why here?"

An odd sheen touched Ginny's eyes as she gripped the edge of the ledge. "Wish I didn't hafta bring you here. Really do. But I promised."

"Mother." Mystery wriggled in Vivi's grip, unable to break it. He didn't spare a glance for Ginny. "Mother. I have. To."

Lewis sucked in a breath. "She's here. You sold us out."

Ginny shook her head rapidly. "No. Has to happen."

"You sold us out!" One arm hooked firmly around Mystery, the other hauled back, heat collecting in the palm of their hand. "You're giving her hostages against Arthur!"

"No!" Ginny threw her hands out, eyes wide. "No, Persephone sent me!"

The arm froze, heat still pooling in their palm. "Explain."

Again Ginny shook her head. "I can't. There's a lot I can't say, but here's what I can. Persephone knows Mister Artie's in trouble. She sent us 'cause she still owes him bigtime. Gareth ran off to find him and Miss Kay. I had to come after you. Well." She side-eyed Mystery. "First I had to stop him from fighting Mister Artie, then I had to get you to come here."

"You took on a full-fledged Kitsune?" Lewis spluttered. "How? And again, why all this?"

"Mister Artie has to talk to her." Ginny pointed down at the cave mouth as she spoke. "He has to, but not until after you all talk to her first. And you're not helping Vivi by being up front of you both! It's mixing her head more."