Chapter 2 – Bad Girl.
Now she was over the initial shock of moving and losing her father, Alyssia could finally concentrate on more important matters. She had managed to somewhat patch things up with her mother, but still had no idea what on SimLand was actually going on. It was time to make a few calls, without her mother knowing.
Mystery Person: *yawn* “Hello?”
Alyssia: “Hey Dom… it’s me.”
Dom: “Alyssia?! What happened?! Everyone thinks you’re dead!”
Alyssia: “Um… surprise?”
Dom: “You better believe it’s a surprise! What’s going on? Where are you?”
Alyssia: “Dom, you’re my best and oldest friend, but I can’t tell you.”
Dom: “Can’t or won’t?”
Alyssia: “On where I am? Won’t, Mom will kill me. On what’s going on… can’t. I don’t know myself.”
Dom: “Answer me one thing then.”
Alyssia: “I’ll try.”
Dom: “What’s that funny noise in the background?”
Alyssia: “Oh, I’m standing next to the air conditioner so Mom can’t overhear… she’s asleep anyway, but I’m being extra careful.”
Dom: “That’s one mystery solved then.”
Alyssia: “Listen… I need a favour. I need you to do some digging and find out what’s going on.”
Dom: “I hope you don’t mean literally. I just got my claws done.”
Alyssia: *chuckles* “No, not literally. But you’re the only person I trust, and you’re smart to boot. Mom says Dad is dead and we had to leave for our own protection. I want to know who killed him, and why.”
Dom: “Hate to tell you, but he is. My Dad got promoted at work because of it.”
Alyssia: “Oh yeah, they worked together, didn’t they?”
Dom: “Yep. I’ll see what I can find out for you.”
Alyssia: “Alright. Do me one more favour?”
Dom: “Sure, Aly.”
Alyssia: “Delete this number from your phone records. I’ll call you in a week.”
Dom: “Ok. I’ll speak to you then.” *click*
Part of her wondered if getting Dom involved was a good idea or not, but she knew he was smart, resourceful and careful. Not only that, he could always hulk out into werewolf form and defend himself if he absolutely had to. Alyssia was pretty sure he’d be fine, but she still worried. Going back inside the house, she found her mother wasn’t up yet, so she’d managed to get away with the phone call. The teenager got in the shower just as Phoebe woke up, so she came back out to find waffles waiting.
Alyssia: “Waffles?”
Phoebe: “Yep. Thought something different was a good idea.”
Alyssia: “They’re pretty good!”
Phoebe: “Thanks. Seems like I’m a good cook, even if out of practice.”
It was the last day of the weekend. Alyssia’s homework was done, so she went out into the garden to help her mother, while Phoebe worked on making more elixirs and researching new ones. It wasn’t exactly the best way to make money, simply because of all the ingredients needed, but it was bringing something into the house, so that was certainly a good thing.
Monday rolled around with Alyssia getting up early so she could go to school. She remembered her promise to her mother and promptly started picking up a few things around the house after getting ready. Doing the laundry seemed like a good start.
Then she decided to clean the cooker as well.
Phoebe got up to a somewhat clean house and Alyssia had gone to school. She needed to clean the shower after she was done, but at least she didn’t need to worry about laundry or the cooker. Of course, she used the new found free time to work on some more elixirs.
It would be full moon in a few days, and that’s when she was most likely to actually sell them. It was nearly time for Alyssia to come home, when her phone started buzzing in her pocket. Phoebe figured it was a good time for a break anyway, so she stopped and took the phone out to look at it.
”Going 2 Bryce’s. Will b back asap – Aly”Phoebe just rolled her eyes. She hated the text speak her daughter used, but talking her out of it was like talking to the wall. At least she was going over to a friends, so that was nice. After all the work she’d done on the house today, the witch didn’t really feel like she could say no. Of course, Alyssia wasn’t really at a friends house…
…she was researching Supernatural creatures. She wanted to know what could take down an old and powerful vampire. She didn’t get all of the answers she wanted, but certainly managed to make a little headway. When she came home, she found her mother waiting in the kitchen after preparing another meal.
Phoebe: “I’ve got a present for you!”
Alyssia: “Oooh! Is it what I think it is!”
Phoebe: “I should hope so. It’s the only thing I’ve ordered.”
Alyssia: “It is! It’s the MultiTab! Thanks Mom!”
Phoebe: “You’re welcome. Now, make sure you keep your grades up.”
Alyssia: “Oh, I will.”
The evening was spent… sort-of together. Alyssia put on a tabcast to learn photography while also practising her guitar, stopping only to move onto the next one in the series, while Phoebe made more elixirs.
The next couple of days were fairly boring. Alyssia helped out with laundry and cleaning before she went to school, usually while listening to some kind of tabcast. She was alternating between photography and writing for the most part. Phoebe just kept researching new elixirs and making any that she could, as well as dealing with her garden. The new sprinklers helped a lot, as she didn’t have to water anymore. Alyssia was very busy on the Wednesday, since she had Music club and was asked to fix the schools broken boiler. She jumped at that chance as the extra money would always come in handy.
Thursday was all go. It was the day of the full moon, so Phoebe went straight to the consignment store to drop off her wares.
Alyssia came home with Bryce, since the two of them had become rather good friends.
Alyssia: “Remember how I disappeared on Monday?”
Bryce: “Yeah, that was odd.”
Alyssia: “If Mom asks, I was at yours.”
Bryce: “…okay?”
Alyssia: “Just go with it. I don’t think she will, but you never know.”
Luckily for the two teenagers, Phoebe was much more interested in mastering her alchemy skill, which she managed to do. The next day, Alyssia woke up to a strange noise outside. Bleary eyed, and annoyed that someone disturbed her lazing in bed, she went outside to see what was going on.
Alyssia: “HEY!”
Burglar: “…uh-oh!”
Alyssia: “That’s my Mom’s alchemy station!”
Burglar: “And what are you going to do about it, kid?”
That wasn’t the smartest thing for the burglar to say.
Alyssia: “
I’m going to eat you…”
Burglar: “By the Watcher! A vampire!”
Alyssia: *nom*
Sadly he managed to get away, but the family had enough money for Alyssia to replace her mother’s Alchemy Station so she wouldn’t have to know. The young vampire slinked off to school, leaving Phoebe to wake up to an empty house, as per usual. Just after she woke up, the witch received a phone call from the local science lab. Apparently they had something for her to prove her mastery of Alchemy. They just needed a few items first. So, she went to the science lab…
…and then had to go visit the Fey Rey Arboretum, since apparently gathering a few flowers was just a test. The fact she had them on her anyway because of her alchemy apparently made no difference.
While she was dealing with the Fairies, Alyssia came home and seemed rather surprised that the house was empty.
Alyssia: “…I wonder where Mom is. Oh well, I’ll just take this out and work on my writing some more.”
And that’s what she did. She listened to a tabcast to help with her charisma, while using the computer to refine her writing skill some more.
Meanwhile, Phoebe had dealt with the fairies and was now being sent to the Vault of Antiquity, along with some metal and gems. She was quite lucky that she had some of that on her person as well, in complete honesty…
…and then finally came home with her prize.
Of course, Phoebe had no idea what she was actually going to do with the thing, but it was nice to have it regardless. The next day was the weekend, and also Alyssia’s birthday. It had been almost a week since she spoke to her friend, Dom, and so she called him just as she promised.
Dom: “Hello?”
Alyssia: “Hey. Only me.”
Dom: “Hey Alyssia. Happy birthday!”
Alyssia: “I thought you would’ve forgotten!”
Dom: “Like I’d forget my best friend’s birthday.”
Alyssia: “Thanks. It means a lot. I know yours was a couple of days ago, so happy birthday to you too.”
Dom: “Thanks, and don’t feel guilty for not calling… I know you… and I know your situation.”
Alyssia: “Alright. I won’t worry then. So… did you find anything?”
Dom: “I did. There’s a group of supernatural’s calling themselves ‘The Slayers’ and they’re taking down all the vampires your Dad made.”
Alyssia: “…wow. Seems a bit extreme.”
Dom: “Yep. I don’t know who they are yet, but it seems they aren’t happy with the fact he unbalanced everything.”
Alyssia: “So they’re trying to undo all his work. No wonder he was worried about me and Mom then… I technically count as one he made even though I was born rather than turned.”
Dom: “Pretty much, yep.”
Alyssia: “If you weren’t watcher-knows how many miles away right now, I could kiss you for this.”
Dom: “The ‘being gay’ part kinda puts a stop to it too.”
Alyssia: “Good point.”
Dom: “I’ll keep doing some digging for you.”
Alyssia: “Thanks Dom. I might be able to keep in touch a little more often soon… we’ll see.”
Dom: “Alright. Just don’t take any risks.”
Alyssia: “I won’t.” *click* “…not yet anyway.”
Going back inside, she noticed her mother was up and about. Alyssia smiled and gave her slight wave.
Phoebe: *yawn* “Morning.”
Alyssia: “Morning Mom. Plants are looking good today, but I haven’t started on them yet.”
Phoebe: “Good. We need breakfast first.”
After they ate, Phoebe sat on the sofa and motioned for her daughter to join her.
Phoebe: “So… Happy Birthday.”
Alyssia: “Thanks Mom.”
Phoebe: “I think I know the answer… but do you want a party? We’ve always had one before.”
Alyssia: “…no thanks. It wouldn’t be the same without Dad.”
Phoebe: “Thought so. We’re getting a cake at least.”
Alyssia: “Cake sounds good!”
Just as well really, since Phoebe had already bought one.
Phoebe: “Thinking of a wish?”
Alyssia: “Thinking of what to do once I’m an adult.”
Phoebe: “And?”
Alyssia: “I… want to go to University.”
Phoebe: “Oh honey… I don’t think we can afford that.”
Alyssia: “I know, but we have the aptitude tests. I might fill one out.”
Phoebe: “Alright, but don’t get your hopes up.”
The candles were blown out, and Alyssia was officially a young adult. Her first order of business was to go to the dresser and sort out her new outfits.
Followed by grabbing the aptitude test to see if she qualified for help…
…and the results were… well… rather surprising!
Then it was time for a chat with her mother.
Alyssia: “Here’s the results, Mom.”
Phoebe: “Wait… this can’t be right… you qualified for a full ride?!”
Alyssia: “Yep!”
Phoebe: “How did you manage that?!”
Alyssia: “Music club, plus using the MultiTab to pick up some new knowledge.”
Phoebe: “Wow… I’m… astonished! Prouder than I ever thought possible, but astonished!”
Alyssia: “Thanks Mom. It’s partially due to you as well.”
Phoebe: “So, when are you leaving?”
Alyssia: “I can leave on Monday, so I think I probably will.”
Phoebe: “Alright. Let’s get the cake cleaned up, then I need to work on the garden.”
Alyssia: “I’ll help.”
And that was their evening. The house was cleaned, and then both women tended to the garden in the evening. Phoebe had no idea of the plan’s going through her daughters head, and Alyssia just smirked to herself as she worked, pleased that everything was starting to fall together.
