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Persephone crouched to look at a black leatherpointed beak "You didn’t think she believed you about the dwarf ed a look Blue mused over what this meant: that Maura wanted to know more about Neeve as oing to explain why Neeve said she was here in Henrietta?"

Calla ether as if she were either war what to pick up first "That’s quite simple Your mother had her out here to find your father"

"Well," Persephone corrected, "that is not quite true Maura told ht be able to find him"

"Out of the blue?" Calla asked

"I’d prefer if you didn’t use that expression," Blue said

"Out of nowhere?" Calla repeated She picked up a candle "That see a lot of details here"

Calla switched the candle froht "Basically, your father showed up eighteen years ago, swept Maura off her feet, nant, and then vanished after you were born He was cagey and cute, so I assumed he was trailer-park trash with a police record"

"Calla!" Persephone admonished

"It doesn’t bother er’s past? "I just want to know the facts"

Persephone shook her head "Do you have to be so sensible?"

Blue shrugged She asked Calla, "What’s that candle telling you?"

Holding the candle out from her body, Calla squinted "Just that it was used for a scrying spell Locating objects, which is what I’d expect"

As Calla ruht about what she’d just learned about her father and found she still maintained her unreasonable fondness for him She was also pleased that he’d been cute She said, "I heard Mo him up online"

"That sounds true," Calla said "It was just curiosity It’s not as if she’s been pining for him"

"Oh," Persephone murmured, "I don’t know about that"

This made Blue’s ears prick with interest "Wait, you think my mother is still in love with -- does he have a naled, clearly recalling memories of Maura insensible with love

"I refuse to believe Mom ever called some man puppy," Blue said

"Oh, but she did Also lover" Calla picked up an empty bowl There was a crust in the bottom, as if it had once held a liquid with so Or blood "And butternut"

"You arethat up" Blue was asha not to laugh, shook her head Large hanks of hair had escaped fro her look as if she had escaped a tornado "I’m afraid not"

"Why would you even call soed eyebrows, Calla said, "Use your ihter

Blue crossed her arms "Oh, really" Her seriousness only served to dissolve any self-control the toan to trade other pet nahteen years earlier

"Ladies," Blue said sternly "We only have forty-five minutes Calla, touch that" She pointed to the s in the rooood a reason as any to try theh, Calla stepped over to theabout the utter i surfaces pointed only at each other

"Don’t stand between them," Persephone warned

"I’m not an idiot," Calla retorted

Blue asked, "Why not stand between the with them I don’t want " Calla gripped the edge of the closest mirror, careful to stand out of the view of the other Frowning, she pawed a hand toward Blue Blue obligingly stepped forward and allowed Calla to press her fingers over her shoulder

A moment passed, quiet but for the insects outside the

"Our little Neeve is quite aers on both Blue and the h for her Television programs are for nobodies"

"Don’t be sarcastic, Calla," Persephone said "Tell us what you see"

"I see her wearing that blackin between theseher back wherever she caer ones behind each of these I can see her in each of the fourthe mask in all of them, but she looks different in each one She’s thinner in one of the in a different one I’ht be possibilities" Calla stopped Blue felt a little chill at the idea of four different Neeves "Bring me the mask No, not you, Blue, stay here Persephone --?"

Persephone gingerly retrieved the ain, there was a pause as Calla read the object, her knuckles pressed white