Engravings of Wraith

by Kiera Dellacroix

  “What?”

  “She never let them break her and she never pleaded,” Piper said. “She won, just like she always has.”

  “I’m going to miss her,” Jeremy said regretfully.

  “Me too,” Piper said sadly. “She was so much more than you could imagine, Major. She was kind and gentle, very loving, and naïve in so many ways. She was everything you wouldn’t expect her to be if you knew the kind of life she led.”

  Jeremy nodded, considering her words as Andrew approached. He waved him forward and took the cardboard tube from his hands. “Thank you, Andrew,” he said politely.

  “What is it?” Piper asked.

  “Her sword,” Jeremy said handing it to her.

  “Oh my,” Piper said, wiping at her eyes quickly before she took possession of it.

  “Are you okay?” Jeremy asked in concern.

  “I think so,” Piper said weakly as she opened one end of the tube and withdrew the sword, finding it heavier than she imagined.

  “That’s a custom piece,” Jeremy said in admiration. “There’s a note.”

  “Huh?” Piper said confusedly as she noticed a piece of paper held around the pommel with one of Bailey’s hair ties.

  She carefully removed the note and quickly extended it to the Major. “Please read it for me.”

  “Are you sure?” Jeremy asked reluctantly, taking the note from her hand when she nodded.

  Piper closed her eyes and hugged the sword tightly to her chest as Jeremy unfolded it and cleared his throat.

  “It says, To the Guardian of my soul.”

  “Oh Bailey,” Piper said sadly her eyes beginning to tear. “If you’ll excuse me,” she added quickly.

  “Of course,” Jeremy said immediately, handing her the note and walking away briskly.

  Piper put the sword back in its container and carried it over to a nearby bench cradling it to her chest, where she sat and cried quietly.

  ———

  Several hours later, Piper stared at the phone with trepidation. She had been sitting in front of it for almost an hour building up the courage to call her mother; a call that she was afraid that she couldn’t complete without another breakdown. Finally, with a deep breath, she dialed the phone and waited through three rings for an answer.

  “Hello,” Corey said.

  “Hi, Corey.”

  “Jesus Christ, where have you been?” Corey exclaimed loudly. “Nancy’s called here a dozen times and she’s tried you several times at work. They said you took a leave of absence and Bailey’s supposedly disappeared into thin air.”

  “It’s a long story, Corey,” Piper said shakily. “Can I speak to mother, please?”

  “Are you okay?” Corey asked picking up on her tone.

  “Yes,” Piper said her eyes tearing. “I’ll explain later, please let me talk to mother.”

  “Alright,” Corey said reluctantly and Liz got on the phone immediately.

  “Piper, what’s happened?” she asked.

  “Mom, I need to come home,” Piper said wiping at her eyes. “I’d like to bring some guests, if that’s okay?”

  “Bailey?” Liz asked. “You know she’s always welcome.”

  “Not Bailey,” Piper said choking back a sob. “Her mother, her brother and his fiance, also a friend from work.”

  “That’s a houseful, I thought she was estranged from her family?”

  “She was, it’s a long story. Can I tell you when we get there?” Piper pleaded.

  “Of course, we’ll be glad to have them. When should we expect you?”

  “Day after tomorrow,” Piper said, biting on her hand to keep from crying.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” Liz asked tenderly.

  “Bailey won’t be coming,” Piper said, giving up to the tears that wouldn’t be denied.

  “Why?” Liz said growing alarmed. “Did you guys have a fight?”

  “Mom, Bailey’s dead,” Piper sobbed.

  “What?” Liz yelled into the phone. “Oh my God! What happened?”

  “Mom, please let me explain later,” Piper said. “I can’t do this now.”

  “My God, Piper,” Liz said shakily.

  “Please, Mom,” Piper said. “I call when we land, I got to go.”

  “Wait, where are you?”

  “I got to go, I’ll explain later,” Piper said, hanging up the phone and launching herself on to the bed in tears.

  ———

  “This is my card,” Jeremy said to Piper at the gate. “Please keep in touch.”

  “I will, Major,” Piper said sadly. “And thank you for everything.”

  “It was my pleasure,” he said with a grin as she threw her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll see that her sword is shipped immediately to your parent’s address.”

  “Thanks,” Piper said and stepped back for Doreen.

  “Mr. Watts, I regret my early behavior towards you,” Doreen said sincerely.

  “I understand,” Jeremy said. “Your belongings are in storage,” he said, handing her a card. “Call that number and they’ll be shipped to wherever you decide to settle.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Watts,” she said, shaking his hand.

  “Most welcome,” Jeremy said as he quietly shook Ryan’s and then Fiona’s hand.

  Martin hung behind and let everyone make their way through the gate to the airplane before he approached the Major, who looked at him curiously.

  “I was told to give this to you, Major,” Martin said, handing him a document bag.

  “What’s this?” Jeremy said, taking possession of the bag.

  “It’s The Wraith’s original personnel file,” he said with a wink. “It’s for you alone,” he added and Jeremy nodded.

  “Did she ask you to give me this?”

  “Yes,” Martin said. “When it was all over.”

  “I see,” Jeremy said, placing the bag under his arm and extending his left hand.

  “Take care, Major,” Martin said, gripping his hand firmly and turning to walk through the gate.

  Jeremy stood and watched until the plane pulled away from the gate. Taking a deep breath, he turned and started making his way back through the airport, Andrew falling into pace with him as they neared the exit.

  “What did he give you, sir?” Andrew asked curiously.

  “It’s personal, Andrew,” Jeremy said sadly. “A gift from a fallen friend.”

  III

  And she said, “There look through the trees,

  The sun always shines, Always on time.”

  —G. Huntley

  Both of Piper’s parents plus Corey and Jennifer came to the airport to meet them and Piper ran into her mother’s arms when she saw her. She embraced her for a long moment before taking a deep breath and introducing her companions.

  “Everyone this is Doreen and Ryan Cameron, Ryan’s fiance, Fiona, and Martin Satterfield,” Piper said hoarsely. “This my mother Elizabeth, my father Jack, my brother Corey and his wife Jennifer, and the little one Jennifer is holding is my niece, Devon.”

  Liz went into charm mode and happily buzzed from person to person. “It’s a pleasure to have all of you,” she beamed. “I understand there’s a story to be told, but if it’s alright we’ll discuss it over dinner?”

  “That would be fine, Mom,” Piper said.

  “Great, we brought two cars if you all want to pile in,” Liz said with a smile. “Corey,” she added with a slap to the back of his head, “get their bags.”

  The cars left the airport and Liz kept up a constant stream of friendly chatter with Doreen during the entire trip back, casting an occasional worried stare at her daughter, who was unusually quiet and stared out the window sadly. When they arrived, she caught Jack’s eye and nodded in the direction of their daughter, who was entering the house alone and he immediately trailed after her. Worried, but with guests to look after, she quickly went about getting them settled.

  Finally alone in the kitchen preparing dinner,
she found herself crying for the bashful, raven-haired girl who had sat at the table in this very room and fed her granddaughter over Thanksgiving. Afraid that she would suffer a breakdown, she got herself under control with several deep breaths and a long sigh as she turned closed eyes toward the ceiling. With dinner about ready, she was unable to stay away and she went in search of her daughter and husband.

  After a quick round of the house where she informed all of her guests that dinner would soon be ready, she made tracks for Jack’s study, knowing that was where she would find them. She entered quietly without knocking and found her daughter curled up in her husband’s lap as he sat behind his desk.

  Jack didn’t bother to look up as the door opened and she crossed the room to stand next to them and lay a tender hand on her weeping daughter’s shoulder.

  “It hurts so bad,” Piper sobbed quietly.

  “I know it does, sweetie,” Liz said compassionately. “Can you tell us what happened?”

  Piper took an audible breath and squirmed deeper into her father’s embrace. “It’s a story I think I’ll only be able to tell once,” she said with difficulty.

  “Alright, honey,” Liz said quietly. “Dinner should be about ready, are you up to it?”

  “Not really,” Piper said, craning her neck up to place a kiss on her father’s cheek and disentangling herself from his lap. “But it needs to be told,” she added as she stood and wiped at her eyes. “You deserve to know her, she gave her life for me.”

  “Oh, Piper,” Liz said with a sob, bringing her hand to her mouth. A sob that she quickly stifled when she saw the tears again spring into her daughter’s eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly.

  “It’s okay,” Piper said sadly. “The sun’ll rise tomorrow whether I want it to or not. I’m going to go clean up,” she said as she turned and walked to the door where she visibly composed herself with a struggle before she opened it and walked out of the room.

  ———

  When everyone was seated at the dinner table in a somewhat uncomfortable silence, all faces eventually turned to Piper with expectant looks.

  Piper took an awkward breath. “This will take some time,” she started. “And I’m not sure I can get through it without taking a break.”

  “Do your best, dear,” Liz said sweetly and Piper nodded.

  “I guess I should tell you who Bailey was first…” she started slowly and continued for the next two hours.

  She explained everything, stopping occasionally for a small crying jag but continuing bravely on, watching her family’s expressions turn from surprise and shock to anger and eventually to tears. Liz got up toward the end and ran into the kitchen for almost half an hour before she returned and let her finish the rest of the story. Corey completely crumbled at the end and even her father looked away from everyone for a few minutes.

  A long silence encompassed the room in which the only noise were the sounds of Doreen crying into her son’s shoulder and the sniffles that surrounded the table. It was Jack that finally broke the silence.

  “I’m very, very sorry for her loss,” he said sympathetically to the Cameron’s. “I only spent a few days in her company, but she was special and I know my daughter adored her.”

  Liz got up again at his words and with a quick mumbled apology, fled the room.

  Jack watched her go sadly. “My wife was very fond of her as well,” he offered in explanation.

  “We all were,” Corey said.

  “I’d like you all to know that you’re very welcome to stay with us for as long as you wish and that my family is happy to have you here,” Jack said.

  “Thank you,” Doreen said respectfully.

  “Yes, thank you,” Martin added.

  “If everyone will excuse me, I think I’ll look in on mother.” Piper said, wiping her eyes and standing from the table.

  “Goodnight, dear,” Doreen said and Piper grinned at her and tried on a smile for everyone else’s benefit on her way out of the room.

  Piper wandered through the house without success and as a last resort, entered her own bedroom, finally finding her mother crying softly on the end of her bed. Liz looked up when the door opened and spread her arms in invitation. Nothing needed to be said, she raced across the room to enter the embrace.

  ———

  The days passed until Christmas Eve was upon them and Piper spent the entire night awake at the window in her bedroom, fondling the little box that she had hoped to present to Bailey on Christmas. She had given little thought to what she was going to do after the holidays and the time had passed in a haze of self-recriminations and grief. She blamed herself solely for Bailey’s death and castigated herself harshly for throwing a kink into the plans that Bailey had obviously worked out to succeed. She knew in her heart that if she had stayed in the office that day, Bailey would be celebrating with everyone right now. She was jolted from her thoughts when her mother quietly entered the room as the sun was rising.

  “Were you awake all night?” Liz asked quietly, crossing the room and laying her hands on Piper’s shoulders.

  “I’m not sleepy,” Piper said with a little sniffle.

  “Honey, you need to take care of yourself,” Liz said tenderly.

  “I know,” Piper said. “It’s all my fault.”

  “If Bailey were here would she agree with you?”

  “Probably not,” Piper admitted.

  “Then be quiet.”

  “But it is my fault,” Piper said wretchedly.

  “No, it isn’t,” Liz said sternly.

  “She told me once that she’d die to keep me from living in her world,” Piper said with a sob. “And that’s exactly what she did.”

  “Oh, honey,” Liz said sorrowfully. “She came and got you because she loved you. Don’t dishonor that.”

  “I miss her,” Piper said miserably.

  “I know you do,” Liz said compassionately. “What do you have there?”

  “Her Christmas present,” Piper said starting to cry.

  “May I see it?” Liz asked and Piper handed it to her.

  Liz opened the little box to find a beautiful silver-gold ring with diamonds inlaid within Celtic engravings.

  “It’s gorgeous,” Liz said sadly. “She would have loved it.”

  “You think so?” Piper asked wiping at her eyes.

  “I know so,” Liz said with a smile. “When did you get this for her?”

  “Would you believe a week after I met her?” Piper said with a sad chuckle.

  “Yes, I would,” Liz said with a smile.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  “Well, I think you should make sure her family is taken care of, you said she left all of her money to you?”

  “Yes, a little over eleven million dollars.”

  “Jesus,” Liz said blowing out a puff of air. “Did she leave any instructions on how she wanted her family seen to?”

  “No,” Piper said. “But I know she would’ve wanted me to look after them. I’ll ask them what they want to do after the holidays.”

  “What do you want to do?” Liz said.

  “I guess I’ll go back and run the company,” Piper said quietly.

  “Is that what you want?”

  “No, I just want Bailey back,” Piper said desolately.

  “Oh, sweetie,” Liz said, kissing her on the top of her head. “I know you do, I do too. But you need to get cleaned up. Nancy called last night, she’s coming over this morning,” she said and felt the shoulders stiffen under her hands. “Don’t worry, I’ll take her aside and explain everything.”

  “Thanks.”

  “She was very concerned for you, she doesn’t know Bailey’s no longer with us.”

  Piper sighed deeply.

  “Now go get in the shower, you know how Corey is on Christmas, he’s already waiting downstairs to open presents,” Liz said. “He’s the biggest kid.”

  “Okay.” Piper said with a tired smile and embraced h
er mother tightly before collecting her things and making her way out of the room.

  Liz watched her go sadly and placed the ring carefully back in its box.

  IV

  The door swings open and it’s cold outside,

  Run and hide, Run and hide.

  —L. Davis, J. Destri

  Two days after Christmas, Jeremy retreated to his den carrying a glass of brandy and took a seat behind his desk. Glad to be home, but sorely depressed over the way things had turned out, he had waited until this moment to look at her file. He pulled it from the bag it resided in and placed it front of him, frowning when the phone rang as he reached out to turn on the lamp that sat on his desk. He glared at the offensive device and waited, unmoving, through five rings in the hope that his wife would pick it up, sighing in relief when the sixth rang never came and the phone went silent. Making himself comfortable, he leaned back in his chair and sipped at his brandy, scowling in frustration when his wife poked her head through the door.

  “Yes?” he asked with forced patience.

  “You’ve got a call,” she said.

  “Take a message.”

  “She won’t leave one, insists on speaking to you.”

  “Who is it?” he asked curiously.

  “Wouldn’t say, but she’s obviously Irish.”

  “Irish?” he asked in surprise. “Alright, I’ll take it.”

  His wife retreated and he reached for the phone, figuring there must be some problem with the Cameron’s belongings.

  “Watts.”

  He sprang to his feet, the brandy flying from the glass as both of his arms shot victoriously into the air.

  ———

  Terry poured the last swallow of his Scotch into a glass and stared at it drunkenly for several minutes. His gaze eventually leaving the glass and slowly encircling his living room, his eyes uncaringly noting the accumulated refuse that created the sty the room had recently degraded to. He hadn’t showered in over a week and he was peripherally aware of how bad he smelled. He had spent every day since the Director had dismissed him, wallowing in self-pity, and racking his brain in an attempt to find the moment in time where he could have turned the tables. With no answers forthcoming, he had buried himself in the bottle and had remained there.