[Mary's Studio]
"How can this be okay to you? We're talking about a cult!" Rachel fires, her voice a hushed fury as she drags Daniel toward the main work area. "Putting the man's personal involvement aside, isn't the recent danger clear enough?"
Daniel winces, leaning away from her glare. "It's not okay, but what do you expect me to do? We had no idea of his affiliation until last night."
"Exactly! The timing of this whole thing is too weird. Even if he means well, how can we be sure we're in better hands with him?"
"We were in no less risk before," Daniel counters. "At the very least, we have a source. Isn't that better than not knowing anything at all?"
"That's—"
"Is everything okay here?"
Mary's voice breaks their argument as she peeks in from the hallway, an uneasy smile on her face. Once her gaze lands on Rachel first, she shuffles awkwardly before nodding to the scientist. "Um, hi! It's good to see you again, Rachel."
Rachel inhales, the hard lines of her anger softening as she properly takes in the British artist. "Mary!"
Guilt flashes in the artist's eyes, but her posture remains firm. "I'm sorry about my uncle, and what happened with Lecia. I can't promise everything will be fine, but please, at least hear him out first."
"Hear him... Wait, that's the wrong order here!" Rachel declares, her voice trembling with recognition. Mary stiffens, but isn't able to react as the elder woman closes in, lifting and holding their hands together.
"Uh?"
Holding the surprised girl's hands warmly, Rachel's lips twist regretfully. "Dear, I'm the one who should be sorry. We haven't met in such a long time, yet here I am, barging into your workspace without a thought!"
"What? I-it's fine!" Mary pushes, squeezing the scientist's hands earnestly. "I'm just glad we can finally meet again."
"Honestly, I should have reached out to you sooner. The fact that your relationship had to be hidden, though, it's infuriating!" Rachel leans forward, tapping their hands. "I know there's a lot to catch up, but I need to know, are you happy about all of this?"
The artist blinks before squinting. "You're going to have to be really specific given what's going on now."
"Ah..." Rachel clears her throat. "I meant getting back together with Daniel, and... well, sharing him with others."
"Oh, that." Glancing at her rigid boyfriend for a second, Mary returns Rachel's concerned stare with a flat snort. "Admittedly, I didn't expect to be embroiled in magic flames and cults, but, even so..." Dragging a long pause, her shoulders shift. There's no time to prepare as passion erupts in her eyes like a lion's roar. "I'm fucking elated! Tell me, where else am I going to experience two adorable slime girls in addition to my humdrum college love!?"
Daniel slumps. "Of course you had to take a jab at me, but why use humdrum of all words?"
This is of no surprise to him, but Rachel creaks sideways to the burst of energy that is too vivid for her aging mind. Luckily, she doesn't need it to recognize that this British artist is the same as ever.
Her smile softens before she breaks into a light chuckle. "Right, I forgot you're like this, always eager to try new things."
"Which has caused its own set of problems between Viviane and Anne," Daniel adds sadly.
"Hey, cut me some slack! I had no control over certain events." Mary huffs before resetting back to Rachel. "Speaking of adorable, how did you get Anne to agree to shrink for you?"
Rachel's brows rise for a second before the corner of her lips follow... not so nicely. "Oh, let's just say, Amy owes me a lot for involving me in her troubles, not withstanding all the times I helped her with Daniel. Much of that debt would've been lost after she passed away, but since Anne inherits her, I'm only taking what's due."
Mary whistles. "Wow, but also, I get it."
"Huhu, I figured you would understand! Anne told me you and Daniel have been shared memories from Amy and each other, right?"
Daniel and Mary share a glance before the latter beams while the former slumps. "Yep! That also is helping our relationship. I feel more closer to him than ever before." Yet, Mary's heartfelt expression gives way to a menacing twinkle in her eye. "He can't escape now. I know all of his dirty little secrets."
"Oh my." Rachel turns to Daniel, closing her eyes to a smile. "Dear, I see you're truly back in good hands!"
"Thanks," Daniel draws out flatly.
Mary titters. "It's not just him. I feel closer to you too, Rachel. I know the feelings and memories come from Amy, but it makes me appreciate... well, just knowing you more."
The astronomer's eyes glisten. "Oh, dear, stop it. Since learning that it's not only Anne that carries my friend, I realized it's pointless to worry about the nature of your relationships."
She pauses to wipe her eyes then lowers them. "That said, I'm a little conflicted. It feels like my friend's legacy is being cheapened by being split between all of you."
"Not at all! None of us can replace that legacy," Mary urges and tilts her chin. "She inspires me if anything! I'll admit though, it's not bad that I feel a little smarter without having to do much."
"Debatable," Daniel injects with a smirk.
"Shove it, love! Like it's any different for you," Mary growls, rolling her eyes back to Rachel. "Putting me aside, Amy gives Anne and Viviane a sense of life! Can you imagine if our slimy friends extended some other random grave? I've heard some wild histories to some names buried here in Keystone."
Rachel shudders. "No, you're right. Let me clear, I am grateful that something good came out of my friend's death." She fixes to Daniel, tapping her hands at her side. "But, as we see now, it's not simple and might not remain good in the long run, so I'll reserve my judgment after meeting Marlin, but I expect a decision on our next steps."
Daniel forehead creases. "Getting an update on Mike would help with that."
"Ugh, alright. I swear, that man..." Rachel mutters, shaking her head. Taking a moment to breathe, she shuts her eyes. "He's already on a plane to come here."
Daniel flinches. "W-what?! I said I would talk with him, but a phone call would've sufficed. He has a family, right? Isn't coming here a bad idea?"
"It is," Rachel answers, more annoyance lacing her grave tone. "He was already boarding when I told him you were willing to speak to him again. At some point, he situated his family, then made up his mind to come in person regardless of whether you agreed to meet or not. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't budge. I think hearing that I wasn't in any danger from you helped cement the decision."
"The suspicion is understandable, but still, man..." Daniel drags a hand down his face, groaning. After a moment of wallowing, his face snaps back as he sighs. "When does he get here?"
"Sometime tomorrow. He isn't flying directly in, so I don't have an exact time. As a precaution, he's driving the rest of the way from Denver."
"He's really serious about this?"
"Of course. Whatever concerns you have, don't doubt how much he cares for Lecia. Their relationship is... complicated, from what I understand."
"Story of my life." Daniel snorts. "I guess I'll have to meet him in person. It's not like we have better choices now."
Rachel blinks. "Are you sure?"
"Not really, but what can I do?" Daniel follows. "You told me to trust the circumstances. Well, the circumstance is this 'Order' has been waiting for the Al-Bali star to fall, they've been expecting Viviane's release, and seem to be more familiar with these flames of Isis than any of us. Along with their assaults on your group, that's a lot more damning than someone who discovered a book that Merlin bet on being dug up."
"Uh...fair enough." Rachel shuffles. "Anne mentioned the last part, but I still can't wrap my head around it. Is he really a figure who could see the future?"
"As far as we know, but we don't know the full extent," Mary answers this time. "All I know is that he had some role in setting up my uncle with the book and expecting my involvement."
"That's even more reason to hear your family out." Rachel draws deeply. "Since we don't know how much more exposed we can get, it's best not delay."
Daniel and Mary nod and hum in sync. With that, the three head back into the hallway. As they near the lounge, another discussion fades in from their absence.
"Are all remnants female?" Marlin asks, steady between two slime sisters. "Because, so far, that's all I'm seeing."
"I don't think so, but it does seem biased," Viviane answers. "Nimue told me within my domain that if she were at risk of regressing, she would have picked Merlin to succeed her."
Anne, who has returned to normal size, leans back, groaning. "I still can't believe what I'm hearing! So just like how you were inside me, she's been within you?"
"I don't know if it's the same," Viviane rejects. "She's completely disconnected in the fog within me. Literally, she showed us memories she could pull in her lake, but none of which I can access—"
"Ahem, I see that you all have gotten acquainted!"
The silver lake dweller stiffens to her son's call. Slowly, she locks to Rachel, who reflects with a weak smile.
"Hello, dear," she greets. "You must be Viviane?"
"Rachel..." Viviane stands up hastily, but stops herself from closing in too quickly. Hesitating long enough, she fakes a cough. "Sorry for reaching out so unexpectedly this morning with you."
"Oh no, not at all!" Rachel waves her hands. "It's a lot for me to take in, but I can't deny how fascinating this is. I hope to get to know you, regardless of whether you possess my friend or not."
Viviane's lips rise as her eyes soften.
"That said..." Rachel holds, a tense gaze floating to Marlin. In response, the bald man jerks to a stand and raises a hand to his chest.
"I'm Marlin, Mary's uncle," he greets, forcing a smile. "It's nice to meet you."
"Is it?" Rachel counters, her voice hardening.
A suffocating silence covers the lounge before Mary chuckles nervously and motions to the elder woman. "Uncle, as you heard, this is Rachel. She's a friend of Daniel's mother, but more importantly, she's..."
"A member of Lecia's organization," Marlin finishes, his brows knitting together while Rachel grips her bag tighter. The discomfort doesn't go unnoticed as he lowers his head even more. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. Viviane and Anne filled me in, but all I can say is that I wished I had known their plans sooner."
The lounge is quiet for another second too long as Rachel's brows deepen. "Would you have leaked it?"
Marlin thins his lips. "To be honest, I can't say I would've unless my niece was at risk."
"Family first, I see."
"I know it's not an excuse, but I deeply underestimated what I joined." Marlin's eyes narrow bitterly to the book in front of them. "I needed to know what this book holds. That curiosity has caused all sorts of problems. In the end, it seems I'm just the messenger in Marlin's plan."
After a pause, Rachel lowers her gaze to the table. "I suppose that's the same for Lecia... or really, any of us." She locks onto a book with a strange symbol. "Is that it, The Book of Isis?"
Marlin's eyes flutter to the book and back to the astronomer. "Yes. As I told Viviane, I didn't intend to bring the original with me. It holds magical properties, perhaps similar to what Lecia found. What I didn't know is that it could teleport to me miles from my safe at the airport."
Viviane claps her hands to break the line of conversation, then turns to Marlin. "Sorry, as much as we can discuss magical books that hold these strange flames, can you tell them what you were hiding to us about Victor and Layna."
Marlin sighs. Without much complaint, though, he explains to the group what he revealed to Viviane while they were left alone in the lounge. Although he doesn't know the specifics, the fact that Layna had been "dealt" in some way by The Order, and Victor used to be part of the council, adds a layer of depth to the connections.
Daniel exhales slowly, drawing his eyes to the ground. "So part of the reason The Order is here is also because of Victor?"
"Yes," Marlin answers. "Based on Morgan's tone and how he approached you and Lecia, he's certainly not in good hands with him. I'd bet even more now that he's protecting Lecia."
Rachel inhales silently. While the possibility is welcoming, she doesn't want to rise too optimistically. Tampering herself, she twist to Anne. "Dear, you said Rose had connections to Victor and Layna Moore as well, right?"
The wavy slime mother nods, wiggling her lips. "It seems so. I mean, her being a student of Victor and remembering Layna was in the same class is pretty big, even if she can't remember."
"She never told us of anything like that. I mean, I knew she studied in Egypt, but..." Frowning, Rachel tilts away, sliding a hand across her chin. "She was the only one who left the team. Now I'm wondering if there's more to it."
"Why don't we just ask her now?" Anne suggests, raising her phone.
Viviane motions her hand down. "Not yet. First, I need to understand more of this Book of Isis. Given what Marlin has seen, however, I don't think it's enough to hear from him."
Everyone widens their eyes while the man in question shuts his eyes. "So in the end, you still want to probe me."
"It's the best way now. If there are members that have eyes on you, I don't think we'll have time to go over years of your studies."
Marlin swallows. "Will it hurt?"
"There... might be a lingering headache. It depends on how much of my collective memories leak into yours, but I have some control to prevent that."
"Some? You don't sound very confident."
Viviane shifts her eyes. "Well, my memories are locked behind a fog, so I don't know what capabilities I had before."
"Urgh, I don't like it, but I agree it's the best way," Mary adds.
"Again, you were the one who originally threatened your uncle with this forced exchange," Viviane reminds flatly. Following with a snort, she looks to the others. "Any objections?"
Everyone shakes their head except Daniel, who rubs the back of his neck, eyes unsteady on his slime mother as his lips thin. "Just be careful."
Viviane smiles sweetly before coughing. "I will... I mean, we've already done this countless times between the three of us, so I believe it will be fine."
"J-just do it before I have second thoughts," Marlin urges.
"Very well."
Viviane steps behind the British man and lays her hand on top of the man's shiny head. For a moment, the elder slime hums and narrows her eyes.
"..."
Squeak, squeak.
Marlin's jaw loosens as his bald head is felt unusually. "Um, is this part of the process?"
Viviane flinches, breaking herself out a different fascination. "Ah! Ahem, yes. Just...finding a good spot."
"Pfft!" Mary barely holds back at the sight.
While she's left snickering in the background, Viviane resets and closes her eyes. Her fingertips loosen to its more gooey form as she dives into the uncle's head without further delay. Her limited senses to the studio dampen in a snap.
She expects a flood of Marlin's memories to come crossing in, but...
Nothing?
"Huh?"
Viviane reopens her eyes. "Hold on, something is wro—"
Her words are choked off as a large double, wooden door stands before her. Past the trims, stone walls spread across in each direction, leading into a hallway that seems to go on endlessly. Embers of torches light her vision, providing the only sense of life to what seems to be a castle.
The slime mother blinks several times before she smiles crookedly, her shoulders half slumping.
"I don't know if I should be surprised anymore," she mutters.