Blair, Anastasia and Holly returned to the house after the sun had fallen behind the town's horizon. They had settled down in the living room after a good shower. All of them were seated on the floor in front of the warm hearth in fluffy, soft pyjamas.
"I'm almost finished," said Blair.
Holly pulled up the long sleeves of the night-clothes she borrowed from Blair. "How are you fixing the crystal, are you using glue?"
Blair chuckled because she actually used an old magic trick to repair the broken crystal. "Magic glue, to be more specific," she teased Holly.
Anastasia appeared from the kitchen with some ice-cream. "Here," she placed the bowl in front of Holly. "I hope you like chocolate."
Holly shyly picked up the spoon. "Thank you," she said as she nibbled on the small treat.
Blair grabbed the last piece of the blue crystal with her tweezers. The gold melted between onto the cracks and Blair carefully put the last piece together. "All done," she held up the necklace and examined her nifty work.
Holly grabbed the gem. "It's so beautiful," she said. "The gold looks so pretty with the blue."
Anastasia leaned forward to steal a glimpse. "It does," she added. "Good job, Blair."
"Thank you. I worked really hard," Blair rubbed her sore shoulder.
Anastasia chuckled and lent Blair a hand with the sore shoulder. "Must've been so hard fixing a crystal," she said with her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Do you two always live like this?" asked Holly.
Blair and Anastasia shared a puzzled expression.
"Must be nice," said Holly. "No one's here to tell you what to do or be mean because you didn't listen."
Anastasia's expression darkened like Blair's.
"I didn't always live like this," said Blair and the she lightened the mood. "Don't worry too much for your age, Holly. Or it'll give you wrinkles and grey hair."
Holly yawned. "I try not to," she said nonchalantly.
"Hold on-" Anastasia perked her head up- "don't you have school tomorrow?"
Holly nodded. "Yeah, I do."
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" asked Blair.
"Probably," added Holly.
"We would suck at raising kids," Anastasia snickered with Blair. "Come on, kid. Let's take you to bed." Holly followed Anastasia up to the spare bedroom leaving Blair all alone on the warm rug.
The doorbell suddenly went off in the house interrupting Blair's wine break. Blair got to her feet and peeked through the window first where she caught a sight of a dark sports car and a very familiar figure.
Blair grabbed her robe, tied the sash and then opened the front door. She propped her hip on the door. "What can I do for you this late?" she asked with a smirk.
Maddox's amber eyes gleamed. "It's only nine o'clock," he said.
Blair couldn't help but smile whenever he was with her. "So, what brings you by?"
"I came to see my girlfriend," he answered bluntly. "I even brought cake."
"Welcome to Lightwood residence," said Blair as she grabbed the cute box from Bates Bakery and let Maddox inside. He followed her closely but he's already been in the house, so he went to the living room on his own as Blair tread into the kitchen for a plate and some forks.
"Were you working on something?" asked Maddox as he saw the mess on the table.
Blair joined Maddox on the floor with the slice of cheesecake on a plate. She handed him a fork. "I was fixing Holly's necklace that broke," she said. Blair took a bite after Maddox. "Eleanor's cakes are the best," she commented.
"Where's Holly?" asked Maddox.
Blair scooped another bite. "She's sleeping upstairs," she told him.
Maddox raised his knee and positioned his arm on it. "How's she holding up?"
"She's taking it like how kids usually handle hard times," Blair said. "She forgets her struggles the moment you put ice-cream or her gift in front of her, like all kids would."
Maddox's grim expression troubled Blair. "I'm worried about her sore-loser-of-a-father."
The cake grew bitter in Blair's mouth. "Don't concern yourself with the likes of him," she said. "I'll have running away with his tail between his legs."
"No," admonished Maddox. "I don't want you meeting a man like that."
Blair chuckled. "I've dealt with spirits, demons and all kind of creatures my entire life," she rebuked. "A simple human can't hurt me."
His brows furrowed. "I still don't want you going alone," said Maddox sternly.
"I won't be alone. I'll have Holly," she told him.
Maddox raised a brow. "That totally reassures me," he scorned.
Blair scooped up another bite and she put the fork in front of Maddox's mouth that was held in a tight line. "You're going to have learn to trust me, Maddox," she said calmly.
He took the offered bite. "I do trust you," he said. "It's other people I'm worried about."
Blair put the fork down and relaxed against her couch. "What brought you by tonight?" she asked him.
His dim glare brightened to a sweet gaze. "I wanted to see you," he admitted.
"But we had lunch together," she said.
Maddox pushed the tendrils of her hair that had loosened from her braid away from her face. "I just can't seem to get enough of this face," he grinned.
Blair smiled and leaned into his touch. "It's nice that you came," she said. "I would take you upstairs but my walls are very thin, and we're not alone."
Maddox's laugh was sexy and deep. "I think we can manage."
"No, I'm being serious," she said. "You have to promise no funny business if you want to sleep here."
Maddox cupped her jaw and pulled her in for a kiss. "Promise," he muttered softly and followed Blair to her bedroom.
"Okay, Holly. Where's your house?" asked Blair as she stood hand-in-hand with Holly in the middle of a forest. Blair should have taken Holly to school, but instead they took a detour to handle Holly's wish as soon as possible.
"I don't live in a house," said Holly.
"Then, where?"
Holly pointed. "Right over there," she said, "in that cabin."
Blair followed Holly up the single path to a very small wooden cabin, which was probably used for camping. The only good thing Blair found of this place was the tall forest trees and the lake. But as she inched closer to the cabin, the putrid scent of alcohol washed over her. Blair's gut lurched and she covered her nose when the scent of trash came closer too.
Suddenly, Holly's hand started to shake like a fluttering leaf; so fragile and small. "Don't be afraid, Holly."
"My stuff-" Holly's eyes were blank.
Blair followed Holly's gaze. She found a black garbage bag full of books, toys, pictures and other stuff. Holly's step-father must've thrown her things out. Blair's anger thundered enough to cause a hurricane right here in Meadow-Mist valley. Blair was about to verbalize her anger, when a man strode out of the cabin with a pair of torn-up jeans, a white shirt and a beer bottle in his tattooed hand.
"Why'd you throw out my stuff?" asked Holly with a hostile tone.
Bill's dead eyes found Holly and he wasn't even interested. "I thought you ran away when you didn't come here," he said, and then, his gaze found Blair. "Is this who you shacked up with last night?" He asked as he leaned on the railing of the porch. "You really did do exactly what your whore-of-a-mother did," he chuckled as he took a sip of his beer. "I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
"Shut up," snapped Blair coolly.
Bill's inky eyes raised to finally meet Blair's. "What'd you say?"
"I said, Shut. The. Hell. Up," she repeated once more for this worthless piece of trash to hear.
Bill put the bottle down and came around the porch and stood on top of the stairs. "Who the hell do you think you are?" he snapped. "You come on my property and insult me."
"I wouldn't have to if you had some manners," she told him. "But, what would I expect from a worthless drunkard and a child abuser."
His eyes flared with darkness she could see emitting from his aura. But he didn't target Blair, he targeted Holly. "Is this who you brought to fight for you," he scorned bitterly. "A woman, like your mother."
"Don't talk about my friend like that," said Holly.
His eyes turned to Blair. "You can take this ungrateful urchin," he told her, "I don't need anything that doesn't benefit me."
"Oh, don't worry, I'll take her away," said Blair. "But not before I cause you a lot of pain."
Bill gritted his teeth. "What the hell are you saying?" he bit out. "You should shut her up, Holly. Before I have to hurt her and teach her a lesson."
Blair crossed her arms. "I'd like to see you try," she raised a brow and challenged him.
Bill didn't even take the first step when the wood under his collapsed and he tumbled down the stairs. Blair moved Holly back and behind her so she would stay safe. Bill's terrible cry caused the near-by birds to fly away.
"What did you do?" He shouted on top of his lungs. He groaned as he turned over and looked at his hand. It was twisted in a way which wasn't considered normal.
"That's the hand you hurt Holly with, isn't it," she said. "I just returned what you've been giving her."
His eyes glared at Holly. "Don't think you're safe behind her, Holly!" Bill used his free hand to get on his feet...but that didn't go as he planned. "What the-" he looked at his body that couldn't get off the floor. "I can't get up." He tried and tried again, but he wasn't successful.
Blair and Holly watched Bill struggle on the muddy floor.
"What did you do to him?" asked Holly.
"Nothing special," she smiled down at the girl. "Just a little bit of magic."
Holly couldn't help but feel fascination more than fear or anything else for Blair.
Bill flapped on the ground like a dying fish out of the water. "I'm going to kill you!" he threatened with a measly voice. "Both of you!"
"Yeah, yeah," Blair rolled her eyes, "we've heard that line before pal." She pulled out her cell phone and called the town's cops to report Bill. And she texted Maddox as well, when instantly her phone rang.
"Where are you?" he snapped from the other side of the line.
Blair gave him the address and told him where they were near the lake. And surprisingly, he arrived faster than the cops. Maddox slammed his car door and marched over to them, but his lecture was side-tracked when he found the man struggling on the floor.
"Is this Bill?" he asked Blair.
She nodded. "Yup, Holly's step-father."
"What's wrong with him?" asked Maddox.
"I kind of broke his wrist," she told him. "And-" Blair whispered near Maddox's ear- "I used a spell to immobilize him."
Maddox grabbed the bridge of his nose. "Didn't I say not to come here alone," he said furiously.
"And I told you I'd handle it," she smiled innocently. Both of their gazes fell to the man on the floor. "And I did."
Maddox moved around the girls. "This is for hurting Holly." Maddox kicked Bill right in the gut. Bill groaned and held his stomach when the cops arrived.
Blair applauded. "It's better to let it out, Maddox," she teased as she watched Maddox seething with anger over Bill for Holly.
"Ma'am," the cop appeared behind them with his partner. "Were you the one who made the call?"
Blair didn't like the cop's nonchalant attitude. She read his badge. "Yes, I was, officer Brady," she said. "I'd like to report a crime. This man-" she pointed to the body on the floor- "has been abusing this child."
The cop looked from the Bill to Holly. "We've been over this," he said. "There wasn't sufficient evidence to prove-"
"Holly, come here," said Blair. She pulled Holly's shirt away from her neck and displayed the terrible scratch marks. "Is that enough proof?"
Both of the cops froze. Officer Sloan stepped forward and pushed her partner to the back. "When did he do that to you?" she asked Holly with her soft brown eyes that were fiercely determined unlike her partner's.
"Yesterday," answered Holly.
Officer Sloan put her hand on Holly's shoulder before her gaze hardened and landed on Blair and Maddox. "What happened to him?" she asked as she found Bill's body.
"He fell," Blair said simply and then gave Officer Sloan a kind smile. "It's probably because of all the beer he drinks.
Officer Sloan looked at Maddox who simply nodded along with Blair. "Sam, get the man in the car." Her partner followed the simple order after Blair lifted her enchantment of course. "We'll need both of you to come to the station," she instructed. "I'll need to file a case."
Blair nodded. "We're happy to be of any assistance," she said. "But, you will be able to make a case and put Bill away, right?"
Officer Sloan nodded. "Yes," she said and her face looked like she'd keep her end of the promise. She moved to Holly and her strict voice grew kinder. "You've been strong for a long time," she said. "But, I need you to be strong for just a little longer. Can you do that?"
Holly nodded. "I can."
"I'm going to take that man away from you. I promise," said Officer Sloan. She stood to her full height and faced Blair. "I'll be heading down first. Make sure to come to the station-"
"How about you come to my shop?" Blair suggested. "We'll all be there and we can talk more comfortably-" Officer Sloan took a moment to contemplate and Blair quickly added- "I think Holly will be more relaxed away from the chaos in the station. Don't you think?"
Officer Sloan nodded. "Fine," she said.
"It's the shop-"
"I know where it is," Officer Sloan interrupted. "I'll be there at noon."
Blair smiled. "See you then," she said and Officer Sloan got back into her car and drove off.
"You're getting awfully chummy with that cop," remarked Maddox.
"She looked nice," said Blair when she caught Holly drop to her knees. "Holly!" she called out. She crouched down and gathered the girl in her arms. "She's frozen, Maddox."
Maddox ran to his car and brought his jacket. He wrapped the thick coat around Holly and picked her off the floor. Blair opened the door to the back of the car and Maddox positioned Holly on the seat. They quickly got in themselves and drove away from the grim property that held nothing but terribly memories for Holly.
"Get us to my house," said Blair as she fastened her seat belt and grabbed a hold of Holly. Blair peaked over from behind as Maddox drove through the streets towards her house. "Are you still angry?" She asked.
"No," he said quite irately.
"What's got you in a knot, Maddox?" she asked with a bright smile that countered his seething frown.
His hand fisted the steering wheel. "Not only do I find out that my secretary called in sick, but my girlfriend decides to go looking for a criminal on her own," he snapped. "How do you think I'd feel?"
"Tony's sick?" she asked.
Maddox grouched but still answered her. "Yeah," he said. "He took a few days off."
Blair frowned. "That's not good," she said. "I should pay him a visit."
"He said not for you to visit," said Maddox.
Blair stiffened. "Why not?"
"He didn't say," Maddox said. "He probably doesn't want to pass it to you."
Blair raised a brow. "I'm still going to go meet him."
Maddox finally brought a smile to his lips. "That's what I told him too." Maddox pulled up in front of her house.
"Bring Holly," instructed Blair, "I'll go open the door."
They worked quickly and Maddox entered the house with Holly in his arms.
Anastasia came from the kitchen. Her eyes widened when she saw the pale little girl in Maddox's arms. "What happened?" she asked as she ran to their side. "I thought you were just taking her to school."
"This is no time to ask questions, dear cousin," said Blair. "Go get the medical bin from the kitchen."
Anastasia huffed. "You, Lightwood witches never learn," she scorned as she ran to the kitchen and got Blair's handy medical kit.
"Why do you keep forgetting that you're a Lightwood too?" asked Blair jokingly.
"I'm a Donavon through and through," answered Anastasia. "I don't take chances like you, Blair."
"Shouldn't we take her to the hospital?" asked Maddox.
Both the witches gave him a stumped look. "She just has a light fever because her conscious is fighting her spirit," clarified Blair.
Maddox took a seat. "Right," he sighed and watched Blair take out a long blue flask. "What is that?" he asked Blair.
"It's my saving grace," she said as she popped the flask's lip open. "It has a mixture of five flowers that heal emergencies like Holly is in."
"Star of Bethlehem, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum, Impatiens, Clematis," said Anastasia.
Blair gaped at her cousin. "You remember?"
"Mom had to beat it into me," Anastasia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "It was the hardest to memorize and trickiest to make."
"It sure is, but works like a charm," said Blair as she put the potion of flowers on the temples of Holly's forehead. The girl's pale skin returned to a healthy shade and the creases on her forehead eased.
"We should let her rest," said Maddox. "You still have two hours before Officer Sloan visits the shop."
"Officer!" Anastasia gaped at Blair. "What did you do?"
Blair grabbed the blanket from the cupboard and draped it on Holly. "I might have confronted Holly's father and cursed him."
Anastasia put her hands on her waist. "How many times do I have to stop you from doing that?" she asked with anger fuming off of her.
"It was for Holly," said Blair. She looked to Maddox for support.
He had a satisfying expression on his face. "Don't look at me," he told Blair, "I'm on her side."
"You have to stop putting yourself in danger like that," scolded Anastasia. Her voice went off like the steam engine of a train; it just wouldn't stop.
"Okay, okay, I get it," Blair covered her ears.
"No, you don't," rebuked Anastasia. "You say this now, but then later, you carry on with whatever crazy idea you plot in that head of yours."
"You know me so well," chuckled Blair.
Anastasia turned her fuming gaze towards Maddox who was caught off guard. "Be careful of her," she forewarned. "This Lightwood will bring just as much trouble as she will love."
Blair laughed. She guided her grumpy boyfriend who was battling her raging cousin, away from Holly who was fast asleep on the couch.
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