THE Pogues were back on the road the minute they were all awake. 

A orange and pink sunrise painted the sky as Heyward's truck drove down the crowded Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. The mellow glow of the sun reflected off of Eden's skin as she stared out the window, her eyes caught in the beauty the sun was providing them after a night full of mishaps and arguments—almost as if it was showing there was something bright within their near future.

Eden had been the first awake that morning, and after capturing the first glimpses of the sunrise in silence, she woke up her other friends to get a move on. The least they could do was show up to the Limbrey meeting as soon as possible after utterly diminishing the invitation time—better late than never, right? 

From beside her, JJ looked out the window too, lost in thought, "Wonder where John B. and Sarah are right now."

Eden takes her friends question to mind; What were her two friends doing? Over the past week, she hasn't truly thought about what her best friend and his girlfriend could be doing; what they have been doing. After all, while Eden was trapped in grief, they were trapped in the Bahamas. 

"Sarah probably has the hottest sun highlights in her hair, and John B. is probably sun burnt." Eden muses, picturing her friends surviving in the Nassau heat—the Routledge already complained enough about how hot it was in the OBX at times, she's sure the Cameron's heard it all by now. "I'm sure he's missing the Chateau fan, that only sometimes works, but it's better than the shitty ass humidity he's living in there."

"We should surprise him with a new fan as like a welcome home present or something." JJ chuckles. Eden couldn't count the amount of times the fan has broken down in the middle of summer, or the middle of sleepovers—sleeping up against JJ and John B. who are practically human heaters is not fun in the middle of July without any air circulation, if you were curious.

Pope sighs from the drivers seat, "I don't know how many more times I can show up at the Chateau to fix that fan at 3:00 a.m so I'm totally down for it. We just have to see this Limbrey person first." 

"Let's hope she doesn't mind our late show." Kie mutters. She's more upbeat than the previous night, but it's still clear everything her mother said is still at the front of her mind.

Eden shrugs, "We're the Pogues—we're late to everything. I mean, John B. always shows up late to Halloween at his own house somehow."  She thinks back to the countless times the Pogues have had to wait out Trick or Treating—or just walking around the Cut in their random group costume ideas—because the Routledge is still buying a piece of his costume at the Dollar Tree.

"He's always fashionably late, there's a difference." JJ defends.

"As if you would know anything about being fashionably late, J." the Bexley crosses, "You wear a t-shirt, cargo shorts and a hat everyday it's not that hard to make decisions when it comes to your fashion."

"I'm sure they'll understand our car problems...." Pope brings the conversation back, eyes on the road as he taps his finger against the steering wheel. "This person is the one last chance we have at clearing John B.'s name; at catching Shoupe's attention. I need to know what they know and why I was the one who was sent the letter out of the four of us."

JJ comments, "I couldn't tell you the last time I was sent a letter."

"Pretty sure me and John B. used to write letters to each other when we were in elementary school. Just for fun." Eden recalls, thinking back to when she and the Routledge would send letters back and forth—she'd trade in her neat calligraphy for John's slanted letters every week. "Couldn't tell you why though because we saw each other every day."

Kiara shrugs, "I mean, I guess it's cute?" 

"No need to remind me of how random I was at like, nine." Eden retorts lightly. 

JJ suddenly laughs, "Oh my God, Eden you were the random-est. I have photos of you from your VSCO girl era—"

"Oh my god, shut up!"

Twenty minutes or so later, after suffering through countless stories of Eden's awkward pre-teen era, Heyward's truck was patrolling through neighborhoods of multiple story houses with towering gates in front of them.

Houses that made Eden look like a full Pogue—a first, in her books.

The neighborhood resembled that of Figure Eight, though the houses were clearly better built and more intently designed. Each home had a set of bushes and trees neatly trimmed behind towering gates, and Eden couldn't help but get caught in the array of mansions and Kiara ranted on about the Limbrey family history she'd spent the past few minutes of the ride googling.

"Yeah, they're a bunch of fancy people." the Carrera summarizes, scrolling through Wikepedia source after Wikepedia source. "They've had, like, three governors in the family.  They've run Charleston for, like, 300 years."

"And they want to talk with Pope alone because?" Eden emphasizes as the truck slows in front of one of the houses.

JJ looks stunned as he stares at the houses—he thought Figure Eight was built for royalty. "These Kooks make our Kooks look like Pogues." The truck comes to a final stop and all four teens look at the giant house, "You sure this is the place, Pope?"

Pope slowly nods, "Pretty sure."

Eden picks up the Heyward's letter and checks over the given address, "27 King Street, Charleston....yeah, this is it."

At the clarification, the teens pile out of the truck and walk towards the towering home. They make it to the gate, which stalks over them, keeping the public away—not to mention the spikes a top the already towering facade. 

JJ lowly whistles, "Fat City, for sure. Talk about home security." He glances up at the spikes that sit atop the gate, "Are those spikes to keep people out?"

Kiara shakes her head, "No."

"The slave quarters are over there." Pope inhales grimly, "These spikes were to keep people in."

Eden frowns and looks up at the spikes upon the gate before sighing, "John B. owes us for life when he gets home. I'm talking re-buying me the Ford Explorer he totaled and everything." The girl then opened the gate, wanting to get this over with.

Her three friends share a look before following in the steps of the Bexley.

The Pogues walk through the pathway lined with shrubbery and perfectly trimmed hedges, making their way up the short steps to the entrance of the home. Pope steps forward, given he was the one invited, and places a hand on the door-knocker, a loud knocking echoing through the air as he hits it against the door frame.

Pope looks at his friends, "You think that was too much?"

"It echoed the entire house, that's for sure." JJ dryly comments, "So, they definitely heard it." 

"Maybe nobody's home?" Kiara quietly suggests, almost as if she's hoping that's the outcome now that she's seen the spiked gates and the towering facade the Limbrey's called home. 

Pope leans forward and manages to knock on the door two more times before in opens abruptly, the Heyward recoiling quickly. Standing in the doorway is a man with a five o'clock shadow dotting his face. His eyes scan over each Pogue before they land on Pope, and with a smile, the man points a finger. "You must be Pope."

"Um..." Pope trails off. He wasn't sure what to say, and looks to Eden who shrugs—out of anyone to answer the door, she wasn't expecting a man in his 30's with a shabby beard. "Are you Mr. Limbrey?"

"Ms. Limbrey—" the man corrects, Eden shifting on her heels, "—was expecting you yesterday." His tone of voice has a hint of annoyance in it, and his displeased smile only further adds to the hint. 

"Oh, I'm...I'm sorry. My car broke down on the way up here."

From behind the Heyward, JJ spoke up. "Carburetor blew up in the middle of Nowheresville."

"Took us all night to find someone to fix it." Eden adds, rocking on her heels awkwardly. "We were trying to get here on time but.....sorry."

The man looks at the two teens who had spoken before speaking again, almost in a mocking tone. "Yeah she was, uh, real upset when you didn't show up." 

"We tried to call, but there's no number on the invitation." Kiara offers, "We got here as fast as we could."

Eden speaks up yet again, "We live on Kildare Island, so it isn't exactly the ideal drive, you know...."

The man's eyes narrow on the Bexley for a moment before his jaw sets and he returns his dark eyed gaze to Pope in the center of the four teens, another annoyed hint in his voice as he states, "She also expected you to come alone."

Eden's tongue pokes at her cheek. If Ms. Limbrey wanted Pope alone, she should have explained the situation better in the letter—there was no way in hell the Pogues, let alone Eden, would allow Pope to travel to Charleston by himself like this, especially when Limbrey was nothing but an anonymous letter sender.  The Pogues stuck together—if Pope went, so did Eden, Kie, and JJ.

"I mean, these are my friends. They helped find the Royal Merchant, too—" Pope tries to explain why his other three friends were with him despite the instructions, but it's no use as the man briefly cuts him off.

"Yeah, the instructions were explicit." The man states seriously. He could care less about whether or not the other teens at the door helped find the Royal Merchant; Ms. Limbrey wanted Pope Heyward and only Pope Heyward, he was just following her rules. "Your friends can stay outside." 

He offers a sick smile, which twists Eden's gut the wrong way. She doesn't trust this man—who, if she can say, looks more scumbag than sidekick to some rich lady—or Limbrey whatsoever, especially with the zero-lenience tolerance they seem to be preaching. It made her very unsure letting Pope go in alone was the right idea.

"Yeah, no, we're going in—I'm going in with him." Eden bluntly states out loud, causing the man to stare at her, as if he's shocked she spoke up. "We all read the letter, we all want to clear our friends name, we all found the Royal Merchant, and I'm sure we all can pitch in to whatever story you want to hear or information you need. There's no reason Pope should be the only one going in." She adds, "Besides, we don't know you whatsoever. I'm not letting my friend into your home without being sure you're trustworthy."

The man raises a brow, "And suddenly you make the rules here, little girl? I'm following what Ms. Limbrey instructed."

"And it looks like I give a shit what Ms. Limbrey wants right now?" Eden sneered, saying the woman's name in somewhat of a mocking tone. She opens her mouth to speak again, "I—"

JJ cuts her off, looking at the man, wrapping an arm around Eden. "What my dear friend here is trying to say is that we're kind of a package deal, man."

"And what may your friend's name be?" the man questions, staring daggers at Eden.

"Eden Bexley." the Bexley introduces herself, crossing her arms over her chest. 

The name seems to intrigue the man and he raises his brows. Eden crosses her arms and sends him a look back—she's surprised that he seems so intrigued, given she was sure the Bexley perk only worked in the OBX.

"A Bexley? Ms. Limbrey will be pleased." the man states with yet another sickly smile. He rubs his hands together before stating, "You two can come in, but they—" he moves his gaze from Pope and Eden to JJ and Kie, "—have to stay outside. Final deal."

"Okay, deal." the Bexley finalizes.

Pope nods in agreement and looks at his friends, "We'll be good."

"Yeah." Kiara mutters, a tight lipped expression on her face—she didn't trust much of this situation. "We'll be right here."

"Keep the car running."

"Yep."

The two teens intertwine their hands and squeeze before they part ways.

With one final look towards her friends, Eden stepped into the Limbrey household with Pope Heyward behind her. The man makes sure the two are inside before shutting the door, locking JJ and Kie out. He steps in front of the Bexley and leads the two teens down a hallway, gesturing to an open room with a sigh.

"Just wait in here." the man states. He doesn't spare them another look before walking off, "Ms. Limbrey will be right with you."

Eden dryly comments, "Thank you for all of your help."

Pope tread lightly through the room they'd been led too, fiddling around with the letter envelope with his fingers, going rather meek in the presence of such nice architecture and intricate design.  

While sketchy of the situation, Eden has to admit the place is nice—the perfect cream walls and the perfectly ironed curtains make her home look wimpy. The walls are painted a light cream, the white frames around each wall detailed to every arch and point.  The curtains are an off-white and hang over the top of the window, and the room is dimly lit. There's an overhead chandelier with diamonds dangling down above. 

"I think my mom would faint if she saw such a house." Eden states, glancing at Pope who was busy staring at some of the biblical artwork Limbrey had hanging on her wall. 

The Heyward shuffles over to the bookshelf, eyes skimming over titles such as Divine Miracles and Faith and Miracles, "You call this a house? It's like....the Cameron mansion but ten times—" He stops as the sound of metal clanking is heard.

Eden's brows lightly furrow at the sound and she, as well as Pope, move back to the center of the room to watch as a woman emerges from the corner. 

She's on the older side with platinum blonde hair pushed back with a beige headband, bringing out her bright blue gaze. Eden's not surprised to see her put together appearance —a white satin shirt and a pair of beige Khakis, light brown heels covering her feet—but instead at the forearm crutches she's using to support herself. Suddenly the metallic clanking makes sense to the Bexley.

"Mr. Heyward, and as I'm assuming, Miss Bexley." The woman's voice is light and airy, as well as matronly and proper. Eden gives a small nod at her words, confirming her identity and the woman continues, "I'm Carla Limbrey."

"Uh, Pope." the Heyward boy awkwardly speaks up, walking towards the woman. They make their way to three chairs seated across from another, and he finishes, "People call me Pope."

"I'd also prefer Eden, Ms. Limbrey." Eden comments with a proper smile. She understands the formality of using her last name, but she doesn't like being referred too as Miss Bexley if she can help it—it made her feel like her mother.

Limbrey nods, "Have a seat."

The two teens do as told and sit in the two seats behind them, the blonde woman sitting down in the singular chair across. She takes off her forearm crutches and Pope holds the letter in front of him, sitting up as straight as he could. "Thank you for everything. This really means a lot to me—to us." He spares a look at Eden and she gives a nod of agreement.

"We've gone through a lot to try and clear John B. Routledge's name. We really appreciate that you're willing to help—believe it or not, you're one of the few people who is." Eden adds, thinking back to people like Shoupe and her parents, who could care less about her evidence or words.

Limbrey grabs a tea cup from the tea set on the table beside her, "Can I offer you something?"

"We're okay. Thank you." Pope firmly says. They were here for the purpose of getting evidence for John B., not for small talk and tea.

"Well, you two look thirsty." Limbrey states innocently, causing Pope to offer her a confused look. His words don't stop the woman from pouring three cups of tea, and she hands the two teens a cup and a saucer, to which they take from her shaky hands. "I think a toast is in order. To finding the unfindable."

Limbrey takes a sip of her tea but neither Pope or Eden join in. While the woman seems rather kind, Eden doesn't quite trust her yet—she could have easily drugged the tea.

"Against all odds, you and your friends managed to beat everyone to the Royal Merchant, including me." Limbrey continues staring at the two teens, "And Lord knows I tried." 

Eden slightly frowns at the comment. Carla Limbrey was just another soul who spent her time lost away in the Royal Merchant, who spent her life hunting and was surely trying to get a deal out of them—she gave them the evidence to ruin the Cameron's and free John B. and they gave her whatever she wanted from the sunken ship; the gold. Eden was right to think this situation was sketchy.

"I also know that you've since lost the gold to Ward Cameron." Limbrey finishes.

Pope's brows furrow, "How do you know that?"

"Ward Cameron and I have a long and tortured history." Limbrey replies tight lipped. "I funded his first development project, with Tom and Isla Bexley—" 

Eden's eyes slightly narrow but she's unable to comment as Pope speaks up. 

 "But he wouldn't tell you that—"

"He didn't need to." the woman shakes her head, "Ward, the Bexley's—more so Isla, may I say—and I were partners in the search for the Royal Merchant and I'm afraid Big John Routledge was not the only one Ward double crossed."

Eden frowns. Sure, she's still suspicious of this woman—especially now that she's sure her parents, or at least her mother, were beside Ward as he searched for the Royal Merchant originally—but clearly she was given the short end of the stick just like Big John.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Limbrey." the Bexley sympathetically. She knows how much of a backstabbing bitch her mother could be, especially for something that could boost her richness; her Kook reputation even more. "I'm sure you didn't deserve the short end of the stick from my mother and Ward."

Limbrey nods, "I appreciate that, Eden."

"Okay." Pope sharply inhales. "What else do you know?"

"I know that Rafe Cameron killed Sheriff Peterkin. I have proof of it." Limbrey admits.

Eden looks hopeful. "So you can clear John B.'s name?"

"Easily. At any time."

The woman pulls out a leather bound tape recorder and sets it down on the table  beside her tea cup. She hits a button and the familiar voice of Gavin starts echoing through the room. 

".....of the gun. He's protecting his son. It was Rafe Cameron who killed Sheriff Peterkin. Gotta be honest—"

"Gavin." Pope breathes.

"I know exactly what happened on that tarmac." Limbrey nods. Her eyes then waver on Eden as she continues, "I also happen to have evidence that Isla Bexley was keeping the secret with Ward Cameron and Gavin Barnstead."

Eden can't help the laugh that comes out of her mouth, "What? "

Limbrey presses another button on the tape recorder and the voices of Isla and Ward now echo through the room.

"Ward, I told you to save calls for emergencies—" Isla starts out—it's a phone call, and Eden leans forward to hear exactly what Carla Limbrey has on that recorder. It's not that she doesn't believe her mother would keep such a secret.....but that meant everything was a lie.

"Peterkin is dead." Ward abruptly states. 

"Ward, what do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I say, Isla." Ward says. "I got the gold from the Royal Merchant. I was taking it to Nassau with me and Sarah. That Routledge kid came up and tried to protect Sarah. Sue showed up and was going to arrest me for Big John and....." he took in a breath, "....Rafe shot her."

Isla guffaws, "Rafe shot Sue? You're joking."

"Do I sound like I'm fucking joking?" Ward snaps. He takes in a breath.

Isla's voice is quieter now, yet just as firm. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Isla, I....I need you to keep this a secret. I can't let this get out—not like it did with John." Ward's voice echoes through the recorder. "Gavin's disposing the gun, I've had Rafe make an alibi but I need you to make sure this doesn't slip. Just like you did with Big John."

Eden let's out a small gasp. Her mother had known that Ward was behind the disappearance and death of Big John Routledge, and the murder of Sheriff Peterkin yet kept it to herself. She'd lied and gas-lighted her own family for the sake of protecting Ward Cameron and his cash filled pockets. Pathetic.

"And what's in this for me?" Isla voices. 

"A share of the gold, money—whatever you want." Ward sounds desperate.

"Deal. You have my word—I won't let it slip but who's to say everyone's off your case? I may be willing to help you, but I am not getting dragged down for your son's actions."

Ward grimly states. "Because I'm blaming it all on John B."

"Ward, he's seventeen." Isla presses. Eden's surprised her mother's showing sympathy whatsoever—why would she keep such a secret if she felt bad? "Don't get me wrong, I don't like the kid, but are you really willing to get so dirty?" 

"Who else am I supposed to blame? Because it certainly isn't going to be Rafe." Ward retorts. His reputation meant more to him than the fate of some seventeen year old boy. "The only ones on that tarmac were Rafe, Sarah, John B., Gavin and I. If I blame him, who's going to argue against me? Who's going to think Rafe Cameron killed the sheriff instead of some Southside kid who just lost his father?"

"And what about Sarah? Are you really sure she's going to keep her mouth shut?" Isla crosses.

"I'll take care of Sarah." Ward replies. "But I need you to keep watch of Eden. I know she's always been close with John B., and I know that he'll find her and tell her and the others what really happened. I don't care whether you have to gaslight her or lock her in her room to do it—keep her home and away from her friends. Because you and I both know your daughter doesn't know how to hold her tongue and won't hesitate to tell Shoupe the truth. Don't let her with her friends until Rafe is off the hook completely."

"She'll be home by tomorrow." Isla says.

The recording cuts off and Eden is left in silence.

She knew her mother wasn't the best of people—she was your average self obsessed Kook. She didn't care for the people who barely had enough money to afford essential needs; people like John B. or JJ.

 She also knew Isla and Ward were close; they always had been. Ever since she was little, Eden had been aware of how relevant the Cameron's were in her life—she'd been playing with Sarah and Rafe since she was a child due to their parents'uptight relationship. It was clear that Ward and Isla supported one another.

But choosing Ward Cameron over her own daughter? 

If Isla hadn't already been distant in Eden's life, Eden doesn't think she can look at her mother the same way anymore knowing everything had been a lie. Knowing that her mother had been trying to gaslight her away from her friends for the sake of protecting Ward.

"So, you're telling me you had all of this and didn't do anything?" Eden speaks up, quieter than before. She knows her mother wasn't a good person so the fact that she kept the secret wasn't surprising, but if Limbrey was so willing to help now, why hadn't she turned in the recordings before? "You have proof of Rafe and that my mother and Ward were lying. Why—why didn't you clear his name. You know John B.'s innocent."

Pope's firm gaze is locked on Limbrey, "It's the right thing to do."

"My friend, the Limbreys did not maintain their position in the Low-country for these past three hundred years by giving away something of value for free." Limbrey states firmly causing Eden to scoff.

"Of course." the Bexley mutters. She knew this whole operation had been sketchy—instead of doing the right thing, she was going to make them give something up, or retrieve her own wants. She was hunting for a deal.

"It seems like your friend here has figured me out, Mr. Heyward." Limbrey glances at Eden before continuing with Pope, "Yes, I can exonerate your friend, but first, there is something that I want. It's a little thing, really. I think you know what it is." She paused before stating, "I want the key."

"A key?" Pope breathes, confused. "Like, truck keys? I have house keys. I'm—I'm sorry. I don't know—a key?" 

Limbrey purses her lips and sighs, "I'm afraid our relationship won't be very productive if we aren't honest with each other." The woman's voice is more firm as she states, "Denmark's Key." 

Eden tilts her head, "As in Denmark Tanny?"

Smile faltering upon her lips, Carla nods. "Yes."

"Ms. Limbrey, I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about." the Heyward boy begins to rant, "But for my friend, I'll....I'll go find it. I'll—I'll do what I need to do. I'll—I'll go find one if...if you need it. But I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't have it on me."

Limbrey rises and props herself up on her crutches, ushering them to follow her. "Come on."

The two teens do so with hesitancy.

Eden and Pope are led to a mahogany table, covered with different kinds of drawings and sketches.  The elder woman's shaky fingers skim over the different papers before she nimbly grabs the one in the center, handing it to the Heyward.

"Do you recognize this?" Limbrey asks.

Eden and Pope look down at the paper he'd been handed, eyes narrowing at the sight of a key sketched in the middle of a background of detailed blue design. 

"Ring any bells?"

The Bexley shrugs, "I mean, it kinda looks like the key from Coraline. The one the led her into the other world or whatever."

Limbrey sends her a stern look and turns to Pope, a more hopeful one appearing.

"No." Pope shakes his head, handing back the drawing. "I'm sorry, it doesn't."

"Hm." Limbrey hummed, smile wavering on her face at the reply. She ushers the drawing back to Pope. "You can keep that."

"Come with me." Limbrey says, glancing  between the two teenagers. "I'd like to show you something. I think....I think you'll find it interesting."

Her words sounded inviting, but as Eden turns to look at Pope, she catches hold of the sketchy man who'd opened the door. But, the Bexley didn't have time to tell her friend her unsure feelings because he was already following Limbrey out the door.

"You first, Miss Bexley." the man states, gesturing for Eden to follow after Ms Limbrey and Pope. She doesn't like the way her name rolls of his tongue.

Hesitantly, Eden does as he says, hoping she didn't just seal her fate to Ms. Limbrey and whatever key she was looking for.

mara's misc!

did i make isla even worse???? yes.  was it a 11pm decision???? maybe. do i regret it????? no. 

yeah i was feeling really goofy on monday or tuesday night and decided to make her in on the secret—isla and ward are besties fr. we'll see how i play this little plot line out when we get there.....

this update is thanks to the wonder herself mvybanksss. always here to help my girl out (i should be decorating my christmas tree but here i am writing the authors note i should have done a week ago when i finished this chapter)

me letting pope and eden actually show friendship??? i always show jb/eden & jj/eden (does kie even count???) but i rarely show pope/eden other than the small phone call in s1 (rip to s1 miss it dearly) so ur welcome. they're really those friends who don't always show affection but will always be there for each other and stand at the others defense with no hesitation

also i have been on a try guys spree???? not sure why i'm watching them as much as i have bee these past two days but oh well they slay and ned can go jump off a bridge for what he did to ariel and wes + his other son.

also also happy early birthday to the woman that is taylor alison swift. her music is what gets me through the school day and i love her so dearly even though she is 21+ years my senior. eden, jb & jj are throwing a party in an alternate universe rn .

anyways i don't have anything much more to say so....

hope you enjoyed! see you back with 37 <3