The Cornelius Saga Boxed Set

by Tanya R. Taylor

  “Why didn’t you come sooner?” Mira asked; her soul aching for the little boy Ellen had unwillingly left behind.

  “What?” Wade thought she was speaking to him. Then he noticed she wasn’t.

  “Everything that happened had to happen first,” she answered softly. “Now, he’ll be able to hear you.”

  Mira thought she understood. With a single nod, she turned and walked away.

  Wade shut the door behind them. He never saw the woman.

  11

  _________________

  Two Days Later…

  Daniel Smith remained a free man since no one from New Life agreed to file a complaint against him. The outpour of compassion and forgiveness from strangers touched him in a way nothing else quite had.

  As he stood that morning next to his bed, packing the small suitcase in preparation for his return flight to Boynton Beach, the revelations Mira had made about him personally, and her confirmation regarding his mother’s killer, consumed his thoughts. He had never imagined that Mira’s psychic investigation of his mother’s death would culminate in the shocking divulgement that he, himself, was possessed. He realized that finding out the truth about his mother would not have mattered much if he hadn’t been freed himself. The waves of debilitating depression and suicidal tendencies instigated by an angry wraith would have likely continued until he’d ultimately succeeded in killing himself.

  He carelessly wiped a tear from his eye, dropped the pleated shirt he had been folding and sat at the edge of the bed; his head lowered and his heart full – of gratitude. Just then, his cell rang and he picked up.

  “Can you come across the street to the coffee shop… like now?”

  “The coffee shop?”

  “That’s what I said.”

  “Okay. Sure,” Daniel agreed.

  He arched his brows, dried the remaining tears and stood up to leave.

  * * *

  Daniel wondered why Mira suggested they meet across the street. He always felt they had some of the best coffee right there at New Life.

  He entered the coffee shop and immediately spotted Mira, Wade and several other people sitting at a long table near the back window. Mira was waving, and he went over to them.

  “Hey, my man!” Wade stood and they did their usual manly greeting. Mira also got up and hugged him; the others were sitting down, staring.

  Mira held Daniel’s hand as they faced the others. “Daniel, I’d like for you to meet Evelyn, Elvira, Sonya, Bruce and Wayne – your siblings.” They each had nodded as she called their names.

  Daniel’s heart fluttered and his legs felt like Jello. Mira could feel his shock and gripped his hand tightly. He didn’t know how to think; what to say or how to respond.

  “Understandably, they didn’t want to meet you in the place where your mom had died the way she did, so we agreed that in here would do just fine,” Mira said.

  Tears gushed from Daniel’s eyes and streamed down his face. He was overwhelmed that they’d ever agree to be anywhere near him. As if they all could read his thoughts, each of the siblings, one by one, got up to hug him. Bruce, the youngest, hesitated a while before his eldest sister Evelyn gently nudged him over and he allowed himself to be vulnerable in the embrace of a brother he’d never known. Though everyone was drenched in tears, Daniel sobbed the loudest. The entire coffee shop, both staff and patrons, erupted in applause for the family that were meeting for the very first time.

  Wade and Mira stood nearby, smiling and crying at the same time. The love in that corner of the shop permeated the entire room as emotional strangers looked on.

  After what seemed like an eternity, Evelyn looked Daniel in the eyes; his face still wet with tears. She took his hands and gently squeezed them.

  “It wasn’t easy coming out here to meet you,” she started. “But Doctor Cullen and Doctor Cullen…” they started giggling, “…made us see the sense of doing this – against everything we’d held in our hearts all these years.”

  Daniel humbly nodded.

  “We heard what you’ve been through. And as you might’ve guessed, it wasn’t easy for us neither. But if it’s any consolation to you, my brother, I want you to know that we knew all along – including our father – what our mother had done to yours out of anger. None of this was any mystery to us. Some relatives, on our mother’s side, never wanted to accept that truth no matter how many times we’d said it, but we knew. Our mother even confessed to us, but her public defender convinced her to plead ‘not guilty’ just in case she had a chance of getting off.” She paused for a moment. “Daniel, we blamed your mother and our father for our mother being put behind bars and our family being torn apart. When I was old enough, I left the house and didn’t speak to my father for years, and only reconciled with him a few weeks before he died. I was furious even all those years later, because our mother died in prison while we were all teenagers. Bruce, our younger brother, was only twelve.”

  “I’m sorry,” Daniel said, glancing at Bruce.

  “But all that’s said and done now,” Evelyn continued. “None of us can change the past, and we don’t excuse our mother’s horrible actions neither. When the Cullens contacted us, we understood what they were saying when they said none of us standing here is to blame for the decisions our parents made. So, we should not be against each other, but instead, unified as brothers and sisters because that’s what we are. We no longer blame you for anything because you’re guilty of nothing. And, we love you.”

  Daniel snatched her into his arms and the tearful floodgates opened again. Everyone joined in, including Mira and Wade.

  In that instant, the loneliness Daniel had felt all of his life – the feeling of being an orphaned child – vanished for good. He was finally part of a family, and with every second he spent surrounded by the love and acceptance of his siblings, he was feeling more and more complete.

  12

  _________________

  Mira propped her feet up on the dashboard as Wade drove to the airport. She was on her cell.

  “I’m coming home, honey,” she told Rosie.

  “Yay! When will you be here?” She was kneeling on her grandma’s couch and looking out of that big, broad window.

  “In a couple of hours.”

  Mira smiled as she listened to all the fun adventures Rosie had embarked upon in the past few days, and how her Nana had brought home the cutest puppy she’d ever seen.

  “A puppy?” Mira was surprised. She whispered to Wade while Rosie went on. “Mom bought her a puppy!”

  Wade smiled. “What’s its name?”

  “What have you named it, honey?” Mira asked.

  “Daniel!” Rosie blurted. “Nana said we should call him, ‘Darling Daniel’.”

  Mira looked at Wade, “You won’t believe this.” She told him the name. “Did you ever tell mom Daniel’s name?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Never did.”

  “I didn’t either.”

  “This is one strange family.” Wade chuckled.

  They drove along the airport road, passing Lake Cunningham, laughing and reminiscing on old times.

  “I can’t help but wonder what’s next,” Wade remarked.

  “Me too.” Mira sighed.

  The Lost Children of Atlantis

  Cornelius Saga Series - Book 6

  1

  _________________

  ~ Water’s Edge ~

  Sunday, July 6th…

  “Here, kitty kitty!” Brandon Haygood could have kicked himself for losing sight of his precious cat during their forest walk.

  Emerging from the shade of a cluster of tall trees, he came upon a body of water he never knew was there – a long stretch of resplendent liquid as far as his eyes could see. Nothing else was noticed other than a few houses farther down and the vast forest behind him. His beloved Pearl was nowhere in sight.

  Looking out at the water, Brandon got the sense that it possessed a mystical quality, and stepping a few feet clos
er to the water’s edge, that feeling of its esoteric attributes intensified. A hundred yards down the sea shore, little Pearl with her brown and white fur was a mere ten yards away from the water. She could hear the soft, gentle voices summoning her to come closer, and for a short while, she stood and listened as her ears perked forward to their constant call. She soon advanced with several short steps and could hear Brandon calling her now too, but the voices from the water were shamelessly more appealing, more calming, and each second that sailed by, nearly irresistible.

  “Here, kitty kitty!” Brandon started walking down the stretch. There was no way with his Myopia that he could see Pearl from that distance.

  Pearl had finally made it to the water’s edge; the summoning still in full force. The water glistened beneath the rays of the sun and barely moved with the light wind.

  “Come in!” Went a loud whisper that the cat seemed to have clearly understood. One paw hit the water and Pearl pulled back. It wasn’t cold; it just didn’t feel…right. Suddenly, there was a slight ripple of the water and from beneath emerged a head of long, black, straggly, shoulder-length hair, a face hidden beneath and a hand that reached out and grabbed Pearl’s little foreleg and pulled her into the water. The cat’s meow was heard by Brandon a good ways off as the animal was yanked beneath the mysterious sea.

  “Kitty?” Brandon squinted his eyes attempting to see farther down. “Is that you, kitty?”

  He started in the direction of what he thought was a squeal, then halfway there where the ripple had been, he heard a cat’s meow. Excitement filled his veins; he was sure he was getting closer to his beloved Pearl. He turned his head in the direction of the water again. It seemed to be glistening even brighter in the sun. He thought it looked magical.

  “Come!” He heard in a whisper! “Come over here!”

  Brandon knew he had heard that beautiful, soft voice as clear as day. He was sure that body of water was somehow beckoning him.

  “Meow!”

  “Kitty! kitty! Where are you?!” He stopped in his tracks, looking more closely at the water as far out as his eyes would permit. He was sure he had heard his cat’s cry from somewhere in the midst of it. Standing there, he felt a strange gravitation and slowly, he advanced to the water’s edge. “I’m coming for you, kitty. Don’t be afraid.”

  He stepped in and immediately something grabbed his ankle and he was pulled under. His brown hat alone remained on the seashore.

  2

  _________________

  Dr. Barns held down his teenage patient’s tongue with the wooden depressor and attempted to have a good look into her throat. “Ahh…” He heard the infamous gagging sound right after.

  The girl’s blue eyes locked onto the huge tag seated snugly at the right corner of Dr. Barns’ rather large nose. She wanted to choke the living daylights out of the old guy for almost making her vomit.

  “Again…” he said. “A tad longer this time. Couldn’t see much the first time.”

  She grimaced, but acquiesced and he removed the tool.

  He continued his routine examination of gothically-dressed Mona Straub, then called in Nurse Richards to extract some of her blood for testing.

  Patting Mona’s shoulder, he said, “Great job! From what I can see, you’re as healthy as an apple. Nurse Richards will take good care of you from here. Give your mother my regards, will ya?”

  “Sure thing, Doc.” Mona opened a small, crumpled wrapper and tossed the recently used ball of gum into her mouth.

  “Take that out!” Doctor Barns barked.

  “What? Why?” She appeared confused, slowly removing the gum from her mouth.

  “I hope you followed clear instructions not to consume anything other than water before your blood tests, Mona.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “Well, did you?”

  “Sure thing, Doc. Haven’t eaten a thing.”

  He cast a look of suspicion at the willful teenager. “Should we re-schedule the blood work?”

  “For what? I said I haven’t eaten anything. Don’t you believe me?” she asked.

  Nurse Richards quietly shook her head. Mona was a regular at the clinic and everyone knew that if Momma Bear Chrissy couldn’t handle her, neither could they. The girl did what she wanted when she wanted.

  “I’ll see you later then. Take care of yourself.”

  As Barns was leaving the room, he saw Mira pass by the doorway, making her way down the corridor.

  “Doctor Cullen!” He called behind her.

  Mira stopped and waited.

  Quickly approaching, he said, “I wanted to remind you about that house call today.”

  “Yes, sir. I haven’t forgotten. Will pass there at four just as you asked.”

  Barns sighed. “You’re a life-saver. I would’ve done it myself, as usual, but that damn meeting with the auditors…”

  “I know.” Mira smiled. “It’s okay. I look forward to meeting Mrs. Brussels.”

  He started to walk off. “Uh, Mira…”

  “Sir?”

  “I think I must tell you this.” He seemed to have a little trouble finding the words. “Stefanie is a kind, old soul; a dear friend ever since she and I were in grade school, but I must warn you… she’s quite eccentric.”

  Mira’s head tilted slightly as her facial expression sought clarity.

  “I mean, from time to time, she tends to riddle on about… well… crazy stuff that no one can understand. Just don’t let her behavior throw you off. She’s really a sweet, kind lady.”

  Mira managed a half-smile this time. “Okay, no problem. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  “Okay then.”

  He walked hurriedly down the corridor toward his office.

  Mira glanced at her wrist watch before pushing open the restroom door.

  The Nurses’ Station…

  “Whew!” Sylvia Cates brushed away the invisible pebbles of sweat from her forehead. “What a day, eh?”

  Mira sighed deeply. Sylvia could see the tiredness all over her. “Don’t remember it being this busy since flu season.”

  “Darn right!” Maggie Knox chimed in. “Did you even have time for a bite?” Maggie was a bleached blonde and a little on the heavy side. She’d been a nurse for the better part of forty years and Mira always thought something about sweet, old Maggie reminded her of her own mom.

  “Not since breakfast,” Mira replied. “The day just flew by.”

  “Well, go on home, fill that tummy and relax!” Maggie exclaimed. “And give that li'l princess of yours a great, big hug from her favorite auntie.” She grinned.

  “I will, but I’m not heading home just yet. Have to make a house call for Doctor Barns.”

  “House call, huh?” Sylvia frowned. “When did we start making house calls around here?”

  “Apparently, Doc has been doing so for some time. I’m just sort of filling in for him today.” She straightened the strap of her purse and headed off.

  “See you tomorrow!” Maggie waved.

  Mira tossed back a hail while heading out the door.

  She pushed in the CD that had been left protruding midway out of the deck, and Stan Hanley’s rendition of Don’t Let Me Go started. Turning up the volume a bit, it was within moments that Mira felt an air of tranquility gradually overwhelming her. Just the thing she needed after taking care of everyone else all day. She rolled down the front windows and took in the cool breeze while cruising along the thoroughfare. “Number 13 Walnut Grove,” she muttered. “Easy peasy.”

  Winchester Estates was a suburb comprised of medium to large single-storey and split-level homes. The main street was lined with wooden lamp-poles and tall, palm trees. Mira carefully counted each side street she passed on the left. Walnut Grove was supposed to be the fifth corner left off the main road. She squinted in order to read the approaching green sign. “Yup, that’s it!” She shifted in her seat to a more comfortable position and turned the corner. After making her way slowly around the curb
, her mobile phone ensconced in a bracket on the dashboard, went off. She glanced at the number, then picked up.

  “Hi, honey.”

  “Mom, Nana asked if you could stop on your way home for some tonic water,” Rosie said, as she brushed her pet Cavapoo's wavy fur. “And oh, Daniel says hi!”

  Mira smiled. “Sure, I’ll stop. Give Daniel a kiss for me.”

  Rosie leaned in and did the deed. “I just did. He says he loves you.”

  Mira spotted house number 13 and pulled into the driveway. “Uh honey, I gotta go. I’ll be home in a little while.” She hung up, rolled up the windows and reached over to the passenger seat for her things. On turning around, she came face to face with a black, growling Doberman Pinscher scratching her driver’s side window. It had the angriest expression she had ever seen on an animal's face and its unexpected invasion of her space caused her to jerk back against her seat. Heart pounding, she took a deep breath in, realizing she was safe, and also lucky to have rolled up the window in time. While attempting to compose herself, she banged on the glass a few times hoping her reaction to the dog would send it on its way. Banging didn’t work, and unaware of whether or not Mrs. Brussels could come to her rescue, she tooted the horn anyway.

  “Get away from that goddamn car!” went a calm, yet demanding voice behind the animal.

  Mira watched as immediately the dog got down on all fours and with its head lowered and drool dripping from its tongue, it walked off humbly toward its master. An elderly woman with a cane was standing at the front door. She was tall and slim, and of a naturally tan complexion.

  “I’m very sorry, young lady. Drufus here seems to have forgot his manners.” She patted the dog as it sat down. “Go in and find Francesca,” she said.

  After tucking her purse under the car seat, Mira exited the car with a manila file and medical bag in hand. “He’d caught me off guard for sure,” she said nervously. “Mrs. Brussels?”