Archive of Our Own ^beta

As soon as Bree and Nick drop Mariah back at the house, she rushes to check on Alice. Selwyn had disappeared in shadows, just like the Hunter, and Nick and Bree are off to hunt him. Before they left, Mariah promised Bree that she would find a way to save Alice. Now she just has to figure out how.

Mariah bursts into Alice’s room and sinks down beside her. Alice’s skin looks grey and clammy. She didn’t have long as it was, and if the Hunter truly could send the hounds after her, that remaining time would be cut short.

Time! Mariah curses the fickleness of time. She curses herself for wasting so much of it. Mariah was sure of her feelings not long after meeting Alice, but she told herself the timing wasn’t right. She promises herself if she gets more time with Alice she won’t waste another second.

There has to be something Mariah can do. She wasn’t prepared last time she walked into Alice’s death, but things are different now. They have to be. This is Mariah’s specialty. If she can’t reach Alice, no one can.

A thought occurs to Mariah. Her specialty. Maybe… if she could… There is no way to guarantee that it will work, but she has to try.

Mariah rushes downstairs to Hazel. “Auntie, I need you to make that tea again. The one that will let me reach Alice. I need to save her.”

“Now Baby, I’m as worried for Alice as you are, but it’s dangerous. You’ve already used so much power, it’s been a drain on you. And there’s no telling the ancestors would allow you to borrow more.” Hazel’s response is filled with sadness and resignation.

“You have to let me try!” begs Mariah.

“Mariah—“

“Please! One more time!”

Hazel sighs, “I suppose I’ll do what I can. The rest is up to the ancestors.” She begins to gather the cinnamon, cypress, sweet cicely, patchouli, and parsley.

Once Hazel prepares the necessary ingredients, Mariah gulps the tea almost too quickly, grimaces at the taste, and lays on the bed next to Alice. “I’m coming, Alice. Hold on just a little longer.”

—

The ancient forest looks the same as before, but there’s a palpable change in the air. The smell of decay hits Mariah immediately, stronger than before. The “not-wind” has picked up too, and the cries of hounds surround her. She needs to move quickly.

Mariah hikes up the hem of her heavy gown and works her way up the hill, through the briars. Although she knows she will regret it, Mariah looks over her shoulder when the howling picks up. The hounds are in sight now. They are spectral white, with glowing eyes. Will the briars slow them down too? Best not to count on it.

Hurrying onward, Mariah collects cuts, scrapes and gashes on her hands, arms, face and legs. There’s no time to slow. She has to reach Alice before the hounds do.

At the top of the hill, Mariah sees Alice again, stuck negotiating her own death. The desperation is obvious on her face. She is at her break point.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Mariah reminds herself that this is her specialty. She walks the path between the living and the dead. She is here now to show Alice the path back to life from her death.

—

Mariah watches again as Alice detonates the supersonic weapon, tosses it, and makes her way to Sel. The approaching howls tell Mariah that she has to act now. Driven forward, Mariah goes to Alice, still not sure if her plan will work.

Once again, Alice heaves Selwyn up. Once again, he is too heavy. Once again, Bree-Arthur intercepts Erebus’s attack and punches him into the Volition barrier.

Alice reaches for her friend, but it is pain and grief written on her face. She is trapped. Alice sees her death coming, and can’t do a thing to stop it.

This time though, it is Mariah that reacts. She reaches out to Alice and takes her hand. Alice’s gaze snaps to Mariah. The pair stand frozen for a moment, eyes locked.

Whether Bree-Arthur can see them or not, the scene moves on without them. Bree-Arthur throws Sel over one should and runs towards Volition.

Alice watches in shock. This is a storyline she’s never played out before, and she doesn’t know the next move. But Mariah squeezes her hand and urges her on. Together they run to the barrier with the hounds nipping at their heels.

Once they are across the barrier, they collapse on the ground together. The hounds bark and snap from the other side of the barrier. The dead’s power to protect them seems even stronger here.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” sobs Alice. “You came back for me!”

“Of course I did! I couldn’t leave you here alone.”

“But, why?”

Mariah’s eyes soften, and she strokes Alice’s hair. “Oh, Alice…” Before Mariah can say more, she’s throw back into her own body.

Mariah gasps awake, head spinning. She wishes the taste of Crossroads-Lounge-floor-tea wasn’t familiar.

She turns to Alice, still wan and thin. The silver-blue aether still comes in wisps from Alice’s mouth. Tears begin to pool in Mariah’s eyes and run down her cheeks.

The words come out in barely a whisper. “Come on, Alice. I showed you the path.” Mariah reaches out and takes Alice’s hand.

Alice gasps awake.