Page 97 of Dead Serious Case 5 Madame Vivienne

Harrison shakes his head again.

“God damn Brits.” Olivia rolls her eyes and gives an exasperated sigh. “What the hell are they teaching you over here?”

“Not the cool stuff, obviously,” Dusty mutters as she stands with her arm wrapped around Bruce, looking like a Christmas tree fairy.

“You ready to go, Olivia?” Lucien interjects, startling me. He’s so quiet, skulking around in the shadows, that I almost forgot he was there.

Olivia looks down at her watch. “Shoot, I have to go. I have cookies in the oven.”

“You bake cookies in Hell?” I ask in confusion.

“No.” Olivia’s brows rise. “I bake cookies in Massachusetts, where I live.”

“Oh.”

“Anyway, I really do have to go. My husband, Theo, will be home from picking the twins up from soccer practice soon. But, hey, if you guys are ever in my neck of the woods, look me up.” She hesitates for a moment. “Just… don’t actually go wandering in the woods near my house. Hades has a habit of leaving me little gifts of the mythological creature slash killing kind.”

“They’re very protective of Olivia, Theo, and the kids,” Lucien agrees.

“Hades?”

Olivia nods, then her gaze drifts to someone standing at the edge of the room, and my heart jolts. It’s Viv. The creepy symbols are gone from her arms and neck, and her mouth is back exactly where it should be. She looks just the way I remember; in fact, she looks better. Her dark hair is glossy and without a touch of grey, and while she’s still wearing her long tie-dyed dress and bangles, her skin is now rosy and healthy. She’s watching us nervously, her gaze drifting to Harrison.

Olivia turns to Harrison. “Does she belong to you?”

He stares at Viv for several long seconds, his expression unreadable. “She’s my mother,” he admits quietly.

“Well, take some advice and go talk to her,” Olivia says to him gently. “Trust me, no one understands mommy issues like I do, but if you don’t make your peace with her, you’ll always regret it. The demon spell that was used on her was one of the cruellest, most inhumane forms of magic that can be used on a soul. It locked her within herself so she couldn’t communicate, but inside she was in torment, drowning in her own pain and unable to escape or feel a moment’s peace. But the moment you were trapped in that circle and in danger, she managed to break through. You have no idea the strength of will that took to break throughdemonmagic. It’s damn near impossible for a regular human soul. She would have been in absolute agony. But all she knew was that her child was in danger. So whatever she did or didn’t do while she was alive, don’t ever underestimate a mother’s love, even if it comes with complicated strings attached.”

Harrison contemplates Olivia’s words and then finally nods.

“Okay, my work here is done.” She winks. “I’m sure we’ll all meet again sometime. Just try not to let any more demons loose.”

Before any of us can say anything, both Olivia and Lucien disappear in a swirl of the strange purple smoke they’d arrived in.

Harrison shuffles forward, supported by Sam, and Viv, watching him, edges forward to meet him halfway.

“Sage,” she says quietly.

“My name’s Harrison.”

She gives him a small shy smile. “I like it. It suits you.”

“Why did you do it?” he blurts out. “Why did you give me up? Why didn’t you want me?”

“Oh,” Viv whispers. “I didn’t give you up because I didn’t want you. I gave you up because I love you.” She sucks in a deep breath. “I gave you up to save you.” She looks around the wreckage that was once her bookshop. “I wanted to spare you this, not be trapped here like I was.”

“I don’t know what to say to that,” Harrison murmurs, looking at her sadly. “I understand, I guess, but…”

“I’m so sorry,” Viv says. “I wanted you to be safe and happy. That was more important to me than my own happiness. I gave you to Dr Stanford and his husband because I knew they’d love you as much as I do. That’s all I wanted for you, to have a life filled with love.”

“I did.” Harrison nods. “Ido. My dads are amazing, although they’re going to be pretty pissed off when they find out about this.” He huffs lightly as he looks at the debris from the demon trap.

“Vivienne,” Dad says gently. “It’s time to go. They’re waiting for you.”

She nods and gives Harrison one last look. “Have a beautiful life, and know that I always have and always will love you.”

“Wait.” He holds out his hand as she turns away, causing her to look back at him. “I… thank you. For everything. I wish I could’ve known you. But I do understand why, so thank you for my dads. You made a good choice.”