Dollhouse by Melanie Martinez

Everyone thinks that we're perfect, please don't let them look through the curtains.

Avery returned home from reading the original will today to find a bloody heart and knife on her bed. Lovely.

Oren is dealing with it at the moment but has reason to suspect it was someone in this house, more particularly a worker. 

But never the less, Xander filled me in on everything that they found out by reading the will. Turns out Tobias Hawthorne was going to leave the money in his will to charities related to those who died in that fire. 

I wake up early the next morning to the sound of Avery from beyond Jameson's fireplace. His arms are wrapped firmly around my chest. I feel his soft breath blow gently on my ear. 

"Jamie" I mutter. He groans slightly, "It's Avery" I clarify. His face scrunches up, "why are you in bed with me Avery?" He asks jokingly with his eyes still glued shut and his arms firmly around my waist. 

"Up!" I demand loudly, "you get up" he argues hoarsely. "I'm not solving mysteries with my sister am I? That's you so you can get up" I bicker. 

"Come with me" he begs and before I get the chance to answer he gets up, lifting me as well due to his strong grip around my waist. He holds me with one arm and with the other he pulls the candlestick down and the fireplace starts creaking. I roll my head back onto his shoulder, still curled in a ball in mid air being held by one strong man. 

"Morning love birds" Avery teases. Both of us grunt tiredly, our eyes still begging to be closed. I place my feet on the ground and escape Jameson's hold, now standing next to him.

"Having a good morning?" She asks. "We were up late last night" Jameson tells. Avery's eyebrow shoots up suggestively. "Don't get any ideas, he spent three hours trying to prove he's a good poker player. He won a total of four games out of seventeen." I ridicule, Jameson gives me a small side eye.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, she's a pain in the ass. She never loses." Avery speaks. "Well as she said, she lost four games." Jameson says somewhat proudly. 

Avery leaves back through the tunnels once successfully waking us up.

"I'm going back to sleep. Fill me in later" I report, walking back to the side of his bed. 

"No, you'll be coming" he informs me, "I already told you, I'm not getting involved in any more of your mystery shit" I tell him. "It wasn't like that when you helped us with those black lights. You were on a roll." He encourages. 

I roll up the vest of my pj's and reveal the gunshot scar, still fighting to fade away. "This. This is what happened last time I got involved. I was dangled over a bridge, I was almost drugged, I sprained my ankle. Hell, Jamie, I was shot for gods sake." I cry. 

He clenches his jaw and closes his eyes tight. He looks back at me with a soft expression. "I never meant for any of that to happen. I don't want you to get hurt, surely you know that?" He speaks calmly. I look up to his eyes. I know he wouldn't want me hurt.

"If I could I would go back and make it be me instead but I can't so now all I can promise is that nothing will ever happen to you again, I'm gonna protect you from everything this world throws at you." He assures. His hand meets my cheek where he wipes one of my tears with his thumb. 

I feel a smile growing on my face. He sees this and also grins, lightening the mood instantly. I love his smile. I watch his eyes flick between mine. 

His smile drops slowly. "You were drugged?" He asks confused, circling back to a minute ago, having only just processed that part. "No" I lie. 

"Paris.." He warns angrily. "I don't want to talk about it. Just know that I'm fine." I assure. He nods, glad I'm okay and wanting to make sure I'm comfortable before I tell him. I would happily tell him all about the experience if it weren't for the fact it was his own Mother who tried to drug me after sending my ex boyfriend to kill me and someone to shoot at my sister. It would crush him knowing his mother was capable of something like that. "Besides, I told Grayson the second it happened and he dealt with it." I tell him.

A jealous look takes over his face, "You went to my Brother before you went to me?" He asks bitterly. "It's just because he was there, it's something he knew about before.. it's complicated. Point is it happened a while back and everyone's fine now" I smile. He nods unconvinced and starts getting ready.

Why did I have to mention Grayson?

We get ready in silence, him leaving me when he was ready. I quickly finished getting ready, wearing jeans and a tight cropped T-shirt. 

I make my way down the staircase and find him standing there wearing a leather jacket that looks more than fine on him. I follow behind him outside and I'm met with a motorcycle. 

"Do you trust me Eiffel Tower?" He asks with a mischievous smirk, "Not even the tiniest bit" I exaggerate. Yet I still take the helmet from his outreached hand. He helps clip mine on safely after securing his own. 

"If I die, I'll kill you" I warn. He pulls the visor of his helmet up and does the same to mine. He places a small kiss on my cheek and smiles. I'm guessing he's forgiven me after earlier, either that or he's getting revenge by setting me up for death on his motor cycle. 

He pulls the visors down again, "Hang on tight Lover" he jokes, I cringe at the joking nickname. He gets on the front and I slide on the back, wrapping my arms around his chest. 

Jameson isn't actually too bad a motor cycle driver, he took a few too many sharp turns for my liking but he's a lot better than I thought. 

We arrive at a luxury hotel around the same time as Avery does. 

"So what are we doing today?" I ask standing between the two, looking up at the tall building. 

"Visiting my dearest Mother" Jameson smiles falsely. I freeze. "What?" I mutter. Jameson looks at me, "Trust me, however disappointed you are to be visiting her, I'm more." He says begrudgingly. I doubt it.

"She might be a bit psychotic but she would never physically hurt you" he assures. Want a bet? "Yeah.. I know. I just need to make a call quickly, can I use your phone?" I ask. He nods and passes his phone to me, him and Avery continue conversing as I open his contacts and tap the name.

It rings. 

After five rings I hear the crinkle on the other side of someone picking up.

"Jamie?" Grayson asks, surprised by the call from his brother. "It's Paris." I say. 

Silence. 

"What's wrong?" He asks worriedly. 

"Avery and Jameson brought me with them to follow a lead and apparently that lead is Skye. We're standing outside the hotel she's staying in, I don't know if I can do it." I say, trying not to sound as nervous as I am.

"Paris.. Don't go in there." He warns. "But then I'd have to explain to Jamie why. I'm not doing that." I beg. "You don't owe him an explanation Paris. I'm driving to pick you up." He says. "I need to be there with them. I know she wouldn't do anything to Jamie but I don't want her around Avery." I say. "Jameson wouldn't let Skye lay a finger on her." He promises. 

"I'll be there in ten. It's your decision." He tells me. "Gray?" I ask before hanging up. "Yeah, Paris?" He replies softly. "Thank you" I say to him. 

Jameson.

I watch as Paris smiles as she hangs up the phone, she approaches me and hands it back to me. Her and Avery walk ahead inside and I glance down at my phone. I tap recent calls. 

Grayson 3:21pm Today.

Why would she call Grayson? A feeling rushes over me that makes my spine tingle. Jealousy. I felt it when she told me she had almost been drugged and went to Grayson first. I felt it all the way back when they were told to pretend to go out for the press. I still feel it. I don't understand why they can't publicly 'break up' and she can get with me so we don't need to hide it. 

Paris.

Avery and I walk ahead, Jameson catching up with us a moment later. We make our way up to Skye's room and Jamie knocks. I feel like I'm on death row, moments away from the inevitable death but I don't know when it will pounce. 

Jameson talks himself up first and knocks on the door. It opens seconds later. Skye wears a crimson robe that flows around as she moves. She has a cheap and fake smile as she looks at Jameson. 

"Jamie... Shame on you for not visiting your poor mother until now." She says. He glances at Avery.

"I'm an awful son," Jameson agrees, he acts almost as fake as her. "Horrid, really, perhaps not as horrid as leaving your kids without warning and making no efforts to contact them, but still, I'm a terrible son" he says. I'm proud of him for sticking up to his Mother. 

Her eyes flick to me, she looks me up and down. "I'm surprised Marseille. I thought you would have told him" she says, acting as if she doesn't know my name. So close. Wrong city in France but at least she got the country right. 

I clench my jaw. "What do you mean? Told me what?" Jameson asks her. When Skye doesn't answer he looks at me with despair in his eyes. "What does she mean" he asks. 

"Come in why don't you? I can put the kettle on. Some tea, Bordeaux" she looks at me and winks. Another attempt on my name failed. Another city in France, she'll get there eventually. 

I remember back to when she offered me a tea with drugs in it. I swallow. A hard lump in my throat that blocks any words from coming out. "Don't look so worried dear, you weren't this jumpy when you last visited me with Grayson." She tuts. 

"So how about that tea, Riley?" She raises her eyebrows. I step forward prepared to fully attack her however Avery puts an arm out and stops me, knowing how much it gets to me. "Don't call me that!" I yell a little too loud, some passing guests glance at me and whisper. 

"I think I'll call you whatever I like Hun, unless you want me to tell Jamie the truth." She says. I stand down, knowing Jameson can't find out. 

"That's what I thought Riley" she smiles satisfied. I can't take it, i don't care if she tells Jamie. I step forward and come so close to literally punching her but Jameson pulls me back effortlessly with one hand. 

"I don't know why you're threatening me with it. It's not me he'll be mad at." I say. "I could never be mad at you" he says to me. 

"You're choosing this child over your own mother? She threatened me you know? Called me fucking stupid, attacked me physically, I'm lucky I'm still alive." She lies, pretty convincingly. 

"You tried to kill me!" I yell back.

Jameson freezes, "what?" He asks. 

"She's clearly deranged." Skye replies. "It was her wasn't it. She tried to drug you. Why would she try to drug you?" He asks, finally facing me. 

I take in a deep breathe. "Because she let Drake in. And paid Danny to try and kill me. I figured it out and confronted her. When i did she locked me in her room and tried to give me tea with drugs in it. I escaped through a passage though. I had told Grayson because he figured it out too but he asked me not to tell anyone and he dealt with it." I confess.

"Skye?" He waits for her to say I'm lying or to fight for her case. "She had it coming" she shrugs. This time it's Jameson's turn to step forward and try to attack Skye but I grab him by the arm and pull him back to me. 

"What drug?" He asks once he's settled next to me. Strange thing to say moments after finding out his Mother tried to kill his Girlfriend. "GHB" she shrugs as if it's nothing. 

"Jesus" Jameson mutters to himself. "You could've fucking killed her" he yells. "Well James, that was sort of the point sweetie after the first attempt didn't work" she explains calmly. 

"Jamie" I mutter, he looks at me and through my face I let him know to just drop it for know and do what we came here to do.

"I believe," Jameson says calmly, "that I've found Grayson's father."

"Was he lost?" She asks with a raised eye brow. "Sheffield Grayson." Avery speaks up, "His nephew died in the fire on Hawthorne Island, along with your brother, Toby."

"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."

"And I have no idea why you think lying to me is a good idea, when I could have you kicked out of this hotel," Avery shoots back. 

"You?" Skye scoffs. "This hotel has been in my family for decades. You are under quite the delusion if you think—"

"That the management will care more about the feelings of the new owner than about yours?"

"Aren't you just adorable?" Skye walks back into her room. "Don't just stand there," she says walking further in. "You're letting in a draft."

I give an unsure glance to Jameson. He nods comfortingly and reaches for my hand. Silently reminding me of his previous promise. I nod back and we walk inside after Avery, followed by Oren, Kennedy and Eli. 

"It appears we have a party." Skye says, laying down on a chaise lounge "Let's get down to business, shall we? I have something you want, and I would like a few assurances, starting with how very welcome I will be to stay in this penthouse indefinitely."

"Counteroffer," Jameson interjects before Avery can reply. "If you answer our questions, I won't tell Xander what you did." He flops down on a sofa next to Skye's chaise, still holding my hand for comfort. "I'm sure Nash has put two and two together. I know now. But Xan? For all he knows, this is just another little trip of yours. I'd hate to have to tell him about your murderous impulses."

"Jameson Winchester Hawthorne, I am your mother. I brought you into this world." Skye says, reaching for a glass of champagne, just what she's needing. Then it occurs there are two which means she isn't alone.

"However," she sighs, "because I am in such a generous mood, I suppose I will answer a question or two."

"Is Sheffield Grayson Gray's father?" Jameson asks without hesitation. 

"Not in any way that signifies." She shrugs. "Biologically," Jameson continues.

"If you must know, then, yes, technically Sheff is Grayson's father. But what does a little biology matter? I'm the one who raised you all."

"By some definitions." Jameson snorts. I know he was likely raised by his grandfather and his brothers.

"Does Sheffield Grayson know that he has a son?" I ask, thinking of Grayson.

"I haven't the faintest idea." Skye shrugs as if its no big deal.

"You never told him?" Jameson asks.

"Why would I?"

"You got pregnant on purpose." Avery reminds her. "You were grieving," Jameson says softly "So was he."

"Toby and I were so close. Sheff practically raised Colin. We understood each other, for a time."

"For a time," Jameson repeats. "Or for a night?"

"Honestly, Jamie, what does it matter?" Skye is getting impatient. "You boys never wanted for anything. My father gave you the world. The staff spoiled you. You all had each other, and you had me. Why wasn't that enough?"

"Because," Jameson says, his voice hoarse and full of pain that he is hiding well, "we didn't really have you."

"Don't you dare rewrite history. What do you think it was like for me? Son after son—and every single one of you preferred my father."

"They were children," I say.

"Hawthornes are never children, darling," Skye says. "But let's not argue. We're family, Jamie, and family is so very important. Don't you agree, Paris?" 

She finally got my name right.

"In fact," Skye continues, "I'm considering having another child. I'm young enough, still. Healthy. My sons have turned their backs on me. I deserve something of my own, don't I?"

'Something' not someone. My heart hurts for Jameson.

"You never told Sheffield Grayson that he had a son." I change the subject back to the original, hoping to get the topic back to the purpose.

"Sheff knew who I was," Skye says. "If he'd wanted to follow up, he could have. It was a test of sorts: If I didn't matter enough to chase—then what use were they to me? Frankly, I suspect that Sheff knows exactly what came of our time together. This family is prominent enough that any of the men I slept with would have to live under a rock not to know that they had a son."

She torments. Hinting Jameson's Father -whoever he may be- knows about him.

"We're done here," I speak shaking my head "Come on, Jameson."

He doesn't move. I lay my hand on his shoulder. After a moment, he reaches up to touch my fingers. Jameson Hawthorne doesn't like being vulnerable. He doesn't like needing people any more than I do. 

"Jamie," I repeat. We have the information we came for and now we can leave without hurting Jameson anymore.

"Won't you stay a bit longer?" Skye begs. "I'd love to introduce you to my new friend."

"Your friend," Jameson repeats. His eyes flicking to the champagne glass i previously noticed.

"Your new friends know him." She grins. I pause. I hear the bathroom door creak. 

I turn around curiously.

"Dad?" I mutter painfully.

My heart hurts. 

A lot.

I take in a deep breathe. 

The air is thick.

I want to kill him. I hate him. I want to love him.

I step forward slowly, not being able to help myself. 

"Riley" he grins rapping his arms around me. I don't hug him back. I stand numbingly still. Everything hurts.

"Don't call me that" is all i manage to say. "You've grown so much" he says, squeezing me.

He smells like beer and smoke. He always does. Tears flood my eyes and overwhelm me.

He pulls back to look at me. Avery manages to stay back and not even look at him. I've always had a soft spot for my Father I'm not proud to have. I hate the man but I've always had hope that one of these days he would sober up and be my Dad. Not just my Father. It's been 16 years of waiting. 

I sniffle and breathe quickly. My heart going a million miles an hour. I can't bring myself to move. 

I feel a hand on my shoulder. It's Jameson's turn to comfort me now. "Paris?" He says, moving his head down to my ear. 

I need to leave. But my feet don't move. "Paris" he says again more firm now. I finally move my eyes.

Jameson's face saddens when he sees mine. He leads me out the door and I let him. We make our way down the lobby to where Avery is being lectured by Oren for being dangerous. 

When I finally process what happened I sigh deeply. Jameson faces me head on. Both of us having been hurt by our parent. 

"Let's get out of here Eiffel Tower" he says. "She'll be going nowhere except home. And definitely not with you" Oren says. 

Eyes are now watching and I notice some have their phones out now and are recording. "Jameson" I mutter, feeling cautious with all these eyes on us. Plus I'm supposed to be dating his brother.

"You know what? Fine. I'll see you." He says grudgingly before walking away. 

"Paris?" Grayson asks from the doorway of the large hotel. He jogs towards me quickly. 

"How are you?" he asks worriedly. I just shake my head. He watches my expressions change slowly, trying not to cry. 

He pulls me close to him and holds me tightly. He doesn't need to know what happened to know it didn't go well for me. "Your Mom's hooking up with my Dad" I tell him quietly, hoping nobody hears how fucked up our lives are. 

"You saw your Dad?" He asks. I nod sadly. "I'm sorry Paris." 

(A couple said they wanted another chapter this week and I sort of just wanted an excuse to publish another so enjoy.)