Thirteen

VIXEN STARED AT HER reflection in the mirror after her shower. Riley had lent her a fresh set of pajamas, and the clothes somehow made her feel younger...but also more vulnerable.

That she would stay for the night might have been a foregone conclusion as far as Rule and Riley were concerned, but what ultimately convinced her to accept their offer was when Rule himself insisted on having Salt and Light stay with them as well.

"Everything you care about, Riley and I care about, too."

When they arrived, Salt and Light had surprised her with how quickly they had adjusted to their new surroundings. They hadn't also made any fuss when she left them in Rule's library. The last time she had checked on them, the two had already settled in...which, unfortunately, was something she couldn't say for herself.

Fear still lingered in her mind, and Vixen's chest would literally start hurting every time she remembered the sight of Rule bleeding in front of her. It wasn't so long ago when someone had made an attempt on her life, but for some reason, she had been able to swiftly recover from that incident.

This time, though...

Was she finding it harder to recover because someone she cared about had been harmed?

Help me, God.

I know the Spirit of fear isn't from you.

Please help me remember I don't have to be afraid.

Vixen closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Please .

She remembered all the times He had saved her from loneliness and despair. Remembered all the times He had provided when she was in need, and what He had given her was always so, so much more. But most of all, what she needed to remember right now was that God was in control, and the pounding of her heart gradually eased as God answered her prayer.

He's with me, and so I have nothing to fear.

If He's with me, who can be against me?

What can man do to me?

Her heart was overflowing with peace by the time she stepped out into the hallway, and Vixen could only shake her head at how quickly God was able to turn things around. It didn't matter if nothing had changed yet. He had lovingly reminded her He was in control. That was all she needed to know.

Vixen hesitated outside Riley's bedroom before finally knocking on the door.

"Come in," the younger girl called out.

Riley was seated on the carpeted floor, her back against the bed, and the younger girl only watched her in silence as Vixen took a seat next to her.

"How are you coping?"

"I should be the one asking you that. You're the one who was almost attacked—-"

"But it was your dad who got hurt—-"

"I know you'd do the same thing for us if you had the chance," Riley said fiercely. "And I'm really, really glad Dad kept you from being hurt."

Vixen simply waited, sensing Riley's desire to say something else.

"What if it was really Mom?"

Her heart broke upon hearing this. "Oh, Riley. Don't go there—-"

"But what if it's really her?" Riley asked shakily.

"I know it's hard not to think about those things, but it's exactly what Jesus asks us to do in Matthew 6:34."

A few moments passed before Riley released a sigh. "I really like how you have a Bible verse for everything."

"I wasn't always like this, though," Vixen confessed candidly.

Riley's expression remained dubious. "I can't imagine you being mean ."

"Oh, I don't mean I was different that way," Vixen was quick to clarify.

"So, if you got into trouble back then..."

"I'd just fake it."

"For real?"

It was Vixen's turn to sigh. "You wouldn't like the old me at all, Riley. I was so, so good at faking everything. I'd be the life of the party, but deep down inside, I was worried and insecure the entire time. I couldn't make myself stop pretending because I didn't ever want people to think I was weak."

"And now?"

A slight smile touched her lips. "It's the opposite."

Riley was visibly bewildered. "Like how?"

"I know I'm weak, and I don't mind that other people know this, too. I'll always be weak, and that's the truth."

"So...no girl power?"

"It's more like...I may be weak, but I draw power from knowing He's in control. It's basically Philippians 4:13 at work..."

Riley didn't need any prompting this time to look up the verse on her phone. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

"Exactly."

"And you really believe that?"

Vixen's heart ached anew at Riley's wistful expression. "Those words are true for all of us, Riley."

"But Mom... "

"What about her?"

"You know —"

" Do we know anything? You heard what the police said. She's a person of interest, not a suspect."

"But she was so paranoid about you...and..."

"Unfriendly?"

"Mean."

"Like I said, unfriendly."

The shame on Riley's face finally faded, and a small laugh escaped her. "Oh, Vix."

"Your mom barely knows me, okay? So who knows? We could still be friends—-" Vixen choked back a laugh at how the words had Riley looking at her like she had lost her mind.

"Don't look at me like that," Vixen protested. "I'm serious here. Your mom and I can be friends—-"

"No, you can't. Like, ever. "

Vixen feigned a look of hurt. "Well, why not?"

"Because she hates your guts."

"Hate might not be the right word to use—-"

"You're right."

Oh, finally, some progress!

"Mom actually loathes you—-"

Or not.

"Okay, fine. I'm willing to admit that your mom might not yet be ready to be friends with me, but ..." Vixen looked straight into Riley's eyes, asking, "Do you really believe your mom to be the type of person to try and attack me?"

"Yes."

"There, you see—-" Vixen broke off mid-speech when she realized what Riley had just said.

"She's never hurt anyone," Riley said unevenly. "But sometimes, she'd get so angry, and...she'd start screaming and throwing things. When someone gets that angry, isn't it only a matter of time before they do something... more ?"