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"Sure you did," Blue said She ondering if it was a coincidence that there was soto rub off on her, because coincidences no longer seereed after a moment "So, look This is what I know I think your father has so to do with Cabeswater or the ley line Way back before you were born, Calla and Persephone and I were s we probably shouldn’t have been s?"

"Rituals Are you s ht be better"

"I’m not interested in them Their effects are proven -- where’s the fun in that? Tell me more"

Maura tapped a rhythm on her sto just above her, and it was possible she was trying to read it "Well, he appeared after this ritual I think he was trapped in Cabeswater, and we released him"

"You didn’t ask?"

"We didn’t … have that sort of relationship"

"I don’t want to knohat sort it was, actually, if it didn’t involve talking"

"We did talk He was a really decent person," Maura said "He was very kind People bothered hiht we should be more concerned with the world around us and how our actions would affect things years down the road I liked that part of hi me this?" Blue asked, because she was a little distressed to see the unsteady press of Maura’s lips against each other

"You said you wanted to know about hi you about him, because you’re a lot like him He would’ve liked to see your room with all the shit you’ve put on the walls"

"Gee, thanks," Blue said "So why did he leave?"

Right after she asked the question, she realized it may have been too blunt

"He didn’t leave," Maura said "He disappeared Right when you were born"

"That’s called leaving"

"I don’t think he did it on purpose Well, I did, at first But now I’ve been thinking about it and learning e child I’ve never s better I’m not exactly sure we didn’t accidentally do another ritual when you were born I ht have gotten him stuck back in there"

Blue said, "You think this isup Her hair was all frazzled fro be your fault? I just thought maybe that hat happened That hy I called Neeve about looking for him I wanted you to understand why I called her"

"Do you even really know her?"

Maura shook her head "Pft We didn’t grow up together, but we’ve gotten together a few times over the years, just a day or two here or there We’ve never been friends, ht it would get weird like it has"

Footsteps moved softly in the hallway, and then Persephone stood in the doorway Maura sighed and looked down at her lap, as if she’d been expecting this

"I don’t mean to interrupt But in either three or sevento pull down the street and sit in front of the house while they try to find a way to convince her to sneak out with them"

Her mother rubbed the skin between her eyebrows "I know"

Blue’s heart raced "That seeed a quick glance

"That’s another thing I wasn’t quite truthful about," Maura said "Soood with specifics"

"Only sometimes," Persephone echoed Then, a little sadly, "More and ," Maura said

Another silhouette appeared at the doorway Calla said, "Also, Neeve still hasn’t come back And she scuttled the car It won’t start"

Outside the , they all heard the sound of a car pulling up in front of the house Blue looked at her , her "

Persephone said in her soft way, "You know I can’t tell you that, Maura"

Maura stood up "You go with the this thing is, Blue"