Aurora - Blood Moon Epilogue

"Hand on my heart."

"And what do they say?"

"That I should take as long as I need."

"Scout's honour."

"If you don't believe me Damon, you can ask 'em yourself."

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The whole street turned out to say farewell. Not to mention, 'be back soon'. Penny's younger brother, Steven, pulled the old man aside, begging him to look after her. Then her older sister, Katerina, refused to let go, until Penny physically broke free. But Penny's homecoming had come with a bitter pill, the old man didn't know what, and beneath her stoic facade he could see she was grieving. And finally they were off, like newlyweds through an honour guard of neighbours, hankies waving, eyes full of tears, well-wishes on both sides blowing kisses. With a bright, pink, helium-filled foil-unicorn, floating around in the back, setting off on its own grand adventure.

Carefully navigating the neat, suburban streets, they reached the main road and Watson hit the gas.

Dressed in denim shorts, rolled up to the thigh, and her faithful stolen grey hoodie, Penny sank low in her seat and heaved a deep sigh. Head back, she closed her eyes. "Thank god for that."

Watson shot her a look from the corner of his eye. "Too much of the spotlight?"

"I know they mean well," Penny said, "but it's just been so frikken' suffocating. Mum hasn't slept for ages. Keeps opening my door, peeking in my room, all hours of the night and day checking I'm still still there. And Dad. With his endless ramblings about me as a kid. I finally had to tell him. 'I haven't got amnesia, Dad, I've just been in jail'. Even Stevie. Following me around like I'm made of bone China, not reinforced bone. 'Can I make you a coffee, Pen? Do you want to sit down? Here, put your feet up and I'll turn on the tele'. I swear to god they all think I'm an invalid."

Watson grunted with laughter. "They're just happy you're home, Pen."

"But they've just become so bleeding... clingy... like I'm about to blow away."

"They just want to hold onto you. I know I would."

"I know, I know. Do I sound like a complete bitch, Damon?"

"Well, not a complete bitch. No. There's still a bit of work to do."

"Awesome. So I really am Eve Black."

"Well what do you expect?" Watson said, shooting her a glance. "You said it yourself, remember? Barely three weeks ago you were on a different bloody planet. Convinced you'd never get out. And now you're here. Talk about mind-fuck."

Penny sat, picking glumly at her nails. "It might be best if I go offshore after all. For everyone."

"It can't be that bad. Surely?" Watson said.

"Wanna bet?"

Watson mulled over her sullen aura and the light came on. "There's something else, isn't there?"

Penny hesitated a heartbeat then said, "No."

"Gotcha!" Watson gloated, wringing the wheel. "Come on, Penny. Out with it."

"Look. Shut it. If you don't want Eve Black climbing up your ass."

Watson snapped his fingers. "It's your boyfriend."

"Fiancé." Penny said, then let out a heart-rending sob. "Ex-fiancé."

"Ah. I see."

"He waited for years." she blubbed into her hands. "Well, a couple at any rate. Now he's married. And they've got a kid."

"Did you talk?"

"He wanted to. He tried to ring a couple of times but I told Mum just to tell him 'no'. I mean, what sort of cunt would I be? Throwing a spanner in their happy marriage?"

"Jesus, Pen. Not the 'C' word again. Please. You're talking about something I love."

Trying hard to stifle a smile, Penny punched him on the bicep. "It's not funny, Damon."

"Listen, Sweetheart, I know it must sting. But just think. Just when you least expect it, some handsome young dude is gonna sweep you off your feet. And during the court case, as you get to know him..."

Penny shook hear head. "It ain't gonna happen, Damon. Anyway, I all over young dudes. Next time I'm going after a daft old sod, full of bullshit theories, who likes smoking weed and getting lost in the rain."

"And romantic walks on the beach." Watson said, partly thrilled, partly alarmed. "A scorpio, whose favourite colour is blue and who thinks logging of old growth forests should be outlawed. Get real, Penny. There ain't no such creature."

"I mean it." Penny said, smearing her eyes. They drove in silence a few miles then Penny said, "I want to join your tribe."

Watson jerked like he'd just been stung. "Join my... say what?"

"That tribe you were telling me about. I want to join, only this time I mean it."

"But... What about your mum and dad?"

"They're probably a bit past it."

"No. I mean... you are going back, aren't you? To your mum and dad?"

"Of course I am! Now and then. Eventually. But not forever."

"You don't want to..."

"Live with them?" Penny squinted then affected a shudder. "I'm thirty, Damon, not thirteen. They'd suffocate me. Dad's already talking about how he's gonna build a flat out the back. For me to live in. Can you imagine? When I turn up with some crazy old geezer, about their same age? And disappear into my bedroom. With all that noise they'd never get any sleep. Or, 'Hi Mum, hi Dad. This is Ally and Yan. Finished using the bathroom yet? We're gonna be needing it'. No. Dad's already on a pacemaker. We'd have to hook him up to the mains."

Watson rolled his shoulders, hands gripping the wheel. Thinking, if only he had the means. Of rendering fantasy into living reality. She'd be there front and centre, naked on his beloved yacht, Aurora. But then again, he knew. The jade dragon of jealousy was a wily and determined foe, and sooner or later... "We're heading back to Australia soon."

Penny sat, frowning. "So what?"

"It's a long way from home."

"And Ab Aldafra isn't? I just want to join, Damon. Not take over the bloody thing. I'm not trying to steal you."

"Of course not, Pen. It's just that-"

Penny crossed her arms in a huff. "Nah. Forget it." she snapped, staring out the window. "I'm sorry I even opened my mouth."

"You know, now you mention it, we're in the market for a neolithic geo. To help us find the gold. And the best sort of rocks for making arrowheads."

"I said forget it. I wouldn't be caught dead with you bunch of hippies. Tribe? Circus more like it."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Watson glowered. "That'll do, Miss Black."

"Honestly? You expect me to just line up wait my turn with the village idiot? No fucking thanks."

"They usually do scissor-paper-cock." Watson said. "The winner gets Roger. The loser gets-"

"The village idiot."

"That's second prize." the old man said airily. "One night with the village idiot. Third prize is TWO nights."

"I guess that makes me a loser. Surprise, surprise."

"Oh, Blackie," Watson sighed, "you do go on."

Penny sat brooding for a while, picking at her nails, then just as Watson was about to carry on without her, she asked, "What's the pay like?"

"Shit."

"So what are the benefits?"

"Who said there's any benefits?"

"There's always benefits."

"Not in this case," Watson shook his head, "nuh. Apart from sailing around the South Pacific on a forty-five foot yacht. Pulling into islands out on the reef. Camping and fishing, running around starkers with a bunch of stunning young girls. French Champagne by the bucket, bales of weed. Fresh cray, green fish curries, international travel in a private jet. Benefits? You gotta be kidding."

Twisting, Penny pushed up in her seat, craning her neck to peer out the rear window. "Did you..." she said, "did you feel that?"

"What?"

"I... we... was that Eve Black we just ran over?"

Watson checked the rearview. "I thought I felt a bump."

"Quick. Let's back up and run over her again." Raising one arm, Penny sniffed her sleeve. "And what's that sour smell? Has Eve bloody Black been into my stuff again?"

"Well, she's about your size."

"Well, if you see that bad tempered bitch again, tell her to stay the fuck away. I'm done with her."

"Poor Evie B." Watson sighed. "I've actually got a bit of a soft spot for her."

"A quicksand bog in the Amazon." Penny said darkly. "And the sooner you drop her there the better."

For a long time Penny sat, steeped in pensive silence as the miles fell behind. About an hour from London suddenly spoke up. "Service centre up ahead." she pointed. "Would you mind pulling in?" Watson shot her a quizzical glance and she swept back her hair. "I need the loo."

Peeling off the motorway, Watson steered the Range Rover into a parking lot, shutting down outside the combination fuel station and fast-food emporium. Wanting none of it- the Big Mac scoffing, slushee-quaffing, ciggy-puffing bovines, the old man lay back, seat reclined, resting his eyes until he heard a tap on the window. Raising his seat, he unlocked and opened the door. "Where are my knickers?" Penny asked, hopping from foot to foot.

"Which ones?"

"My bee knickers."

"But... I thought you gave them to me..."

Penny rolled her eyes. "I know, I know. I just wanna borrow them. Hurry."

Bailing out, Watson raised the Rover's tailgate, then delved into a pocket of his dive bag. About to hand them over, he gave them a sniff. "Indian giver!"

Penny turned and sashayed away, giving him the finger, then disappeared inside. Ten minutes later, when she returned, he was laid back in the driver's seat again, drool tricking from the corner of his mouth. Shuddering awake, he looked around in confusion, as Penny climbed in and shut her door.

"You wouldn't catch me eating that muck." he said, watching her stow a paper bag at her feet.

"It's not food." Penny said with a hint of a smile.

"So what did you buy?" Watson asked, bringing the seat up and racking it forward. "We're almost home now."

"I'll tell you in a minute. Let's drive."

Doing as commanded, Watson tore off down the slip road, matching speed with the motorway traffic at warp factor nine. "Just so I know." he said, "Which one are you? Eve Black? Or Eve white?"

"Eve Red." Penny replied enigmatically. Thrown by the riddle, Watson sat, brow furrowed, and Penny looked at him smiling. "I just got my period."

Watson blanched. They'd been fucking like rabbits over the past few days and he wasn't firing blanks.

"You know what this means?" Penny asked.

"We've just dodged a bullet?"

"I'm whole again, Damon. I'm a woman."

"You have been all along."

"You don't understand. Remember when I said I felt something go 'pop'? That first time you came? That blast must have kick-started my menstrual cycle, pun intended."

"Which must mean you ovulated."

Penny hefted a shoulder. "Not necessarily."

"But what if you did?" Watson said, then swabbed his brow. "Phew! We were lucky to get away with it. Just imagine. If you got pregnant."

"To you?"

"To anyone."

"But to you? You better not ask how I'd feel. Cos' you probably won't like the answer."

Watson looked at her, patently nervous. "Why not?"

Penny sat back with a big, dimpled smile. "Cos' I'd fuckin' love it."

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Rolling down a tree-lined drive, the leafy colonnades struck gold by a setting sun, they shut down beside a rental Maserati. Gunmetal grey. Caddy's signature vehicle. The moving feast had relocated en-mass, out of the five-star hotel, into a sprawling country manor- courtesy a Bragg family friend- in the enclave of Primrose, clean and quiet, surrounded by parks and gardens. A lavish home of five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, an indoor pool, a sunken living room with a cinema-sized TV. With the high-rise heart of London out the living room windows, a million-dollar view for the price of a post-visit cleaning.

With Penny behind him on the flagstone landing, Watson rang the doorbell. Turning at call of a peacock, he turned to watch the creature strut by, iridescent-green and imperious. Then the front door opened and he found himself face-to-face with a stranger. A stunning young woman, around his height, in a beautiful red dress, with a head full of lustrous black hair. Penny peeked past his shoulder and the woman drew a breath. "Miss Penelope?"

Penny all but rubbed her eyes. "Aisha?"

Aisha held her arms out. "Miss Penelope?"

Penny stepped into her former jailer's embrace. "Aisha? Is that really you?"

Suddenly redundant, the old man watched as Aisha dragged Penny off her feet, bouncing her up and down in a bearhug. Turning, she disappeared inside with her newfound prize, calling the others. "MISS ALLY! LADY BECK! LOOK WHO I FIND!"

Ally appeared, drawn by the commotion. One look at her erstwhile cellmate, in her leg-revealing shorts and baggy grey hoodie, hair tied back, lipstick on her lips, and Ally's jaw sagged. "Daaa... FUCK?"

Watson raised a finger in warning. "NOT... one... word..."

Tanya turned up out of the kitchen. Her spark had dimmed and her aura was dull, but one look at the new arrivals and she instantly brightened. "Well I'll be..."

"Tan?" Watson said, gathering her into a hug. "I'm so sorry about your mum."

"Not right now." Tanya said. "We can talk about that later. But this... this... this... This is fucking fantastic."

"Penny?"

"No. You just won me one hundred quid."

A voice cried, "DOMMMYYYY!!" and Tanya stood aside. Flying across the room, Beck hit him in a flat-out run, wrapping her legs around his waist, kissing and hugging. Finally sensing the audience around them, Watson put his girl down and smeared his eyes. Caddy moved in for a similar greeting. Then Maya. Cassandra followed, taking one hand, trailed by Suong who took the other. Smart enough to understand their ranking in the pecking order, each offered a kiss on the cheek then discreetly withdrew.

Yan appeared. For a long time they just hugged, Penny, Ally, Yan, circling slowly like lovestruck teenagers during the slow number at the prom. Ally beckoned Aisha to join the 4 escapees. Bashful at first, the former prison guard and born-again beauty quickly thawed with the energy. Finally breaking off, Penny swiped her face with the back of her arm. "Umm... Beck..." she said, "here's your old man. I hope I didn't keep him too long."

Beck jammed her fists on her hips. "Well, you better have given him a bloody good wash. Did you him with petrol?"

"Uh huh. You know, he runs pretty well for a vintage model. I didn't even need to use choke."

"Do any burnouts?"

"No. But we went off-road a couple of times."

"Lucky you didn't get bogged."

"No." Penny said, offering a fist bump, "Just lost. Seriously though. Thanks for the lend."

Beck gave the offer a disparaging glare. "A fist bump? Is that all get?"

Penny shook her head. "Sorry. What?"

"Oh, come here, idiot." Beck said, opening her arms. "Give me a hug."

"Idiot?" Ally muttered, watching them embrace. "Want to know what happened to the last person who called her that?" Rounding on Watson, she looked him up and down. Snapping her fingers, she held out her hand. "You owe me one hundred pounds."

"Me?" Watson frowned. "How come?"

"I bet Tanya one hundred quid you'd never pull it off. Clearly you have. You lost that bloody bet for me, Mister."

"What makes you think it was my fault?"

Ally draped her arms around his neck and rose up on tiptoe. "You've got form. I've seen it before, remember?"

"It was all her own work." the old man scoffed. "I was just there to make the tea and light the fire."

Ally kissed him deeply on the lips. "I bet I know what sort of fire you mean."

"Stop twisting my words. I mean an actual fire. To keep the house warm."

"Pull the other one. It plays jingle bells. I never woulda' believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. You should start charging."

"That's okay. First one's free."

"Except she's not the first one. Not even the second."

Sidling under his wing, Beck put her arm around his waist. "How was the farm?"

"Very therapeutic. Eventually. Everything laid on."

Beck snorted with derision. "Laid being the operative term."

"No, goose. I mean there was French Champagne and all the joints I could eat. Free storms, mock turtle soup, and hot and cold running ghosts."

Beck hooked her hair behind an ear. "Mock-what?"

"Turtle. It's made out of wife-beaters' heads."

Head tilted, Beck looked at him, totally bamboozled. "Well one of us has lost the plot. I didn't understand a word you just said."

"Bit of an in-joke."

"Between you and Penny?"

The old man picked up a whiff of the green dragon. "Moosh, Sweetheart? All my gear's still out in the Rover. Give an old boy a hand?"

Edging away, they broke free of the high-intensity vortex and went outside. Arm around Beck's shoulders, Watson gave her a squeeze. "You okay, Moosh?"

Beck shrugged. "I guess. It's been a shitty few days. I've never stolen a body before, let alone been the getaway driver. It came as no surprise, her dying, but Tan and Caddy and Maya were still pretty upset."

"Umm..." Watson said, "did you know that Tan and Caddy's mum..."

"Is Maya's as well?" Beck said then heaved a deep sigh. "Uh huh. Maya told me. Know what? That selfish old bastard never once told Maya she loved her."

"Maya's mum?"

Beck nodded.

"Poor kid."

"The poor baby was absolutely devastated. She always hoped sooner or later one day..." Brow furrowed, beck stared into her own dark past. "Poor Maya. I know how she feels."

"Still," Watson said, raising the Rover's rear hatch, "look on the bright side. Her half-sister mum absolutely adores her. So does her half-sister aunt. In fact all of us do."

"I guess." Beck said, taking a seat on the tailgate. The sun had set, twilight bringing with it an an early autumn chill. Hugging herself, she shuddered.

Delving into his dive bag, the old man coaxed a puffer jacket from inside. "Here, Moosh, put this on."

Doing as her old man said, Beck zipped the jacket up to her neck and sat, chin buried in the collar. Watson stroked her cheek with his knuckles. "You okay?"

"I guess."

"Come on, Moosh. What's up?"

Beck looked at Watson with big pleading eyes. "It's that fucking Jade Dragon, Dommy. Each time I cut its head off it just grows two more."

"You gotta cut lower." Watson said sagely. "You worried about Penny?"

"When you said she'd gone back home I figured, great, it's all done and dusted. Then you turn up and there she is. You could have warned me."

"Sorry, Moosh, but you know how much I hate the fucking phone. And just think. The fact I called you half a dozen times without a reply. If that's not dedication I don't know what is."

"Then why did you bring her?"

"Because she rang. And asked me to."

"She must have been missing you."

"No. She was just overwhelmed."

Beck gave a derisive grunt. "Is that what they call it these days?"

Not about to fold, Watson dished up a water-tight alibi. "Her fiancé got married while she was away. He's had a kid. Well, not him, per se. His wife, I guess."

"Really? Was she upset?"

"The wife?"

"You're not so old I'm not allowed to thump you, Damon. Really? Was Penny cut up?"

"Literally and figuratively." Watson nodded. "And her poor mum and dad were trying to wrap her in cotton wool. Though I can't say I blame them."

Beck looked over her shoulder. "Looks to me like she's doing okay. You even got her into shorts."

"I'm not her fashion consultant, Moosh. She wears what she wants."

"But she was sooo self-conscious before, about those silly scars. Something must have changed."

"All growth is change, Sweetheart. You know that."

"Growth? More like a miracle. What did you do? Apart from the obvious?"

"Took her for a bushwalk. And got her lost. In the middle of a storm."

"Another one?" Beck demanded.

"Another what?"

"Lost soul in the middle of a storm. Really, Dommy, this is becoming a habit."