Darker than Dark (Haunted Series)

by Alexie Aaron

  “Bloody hell, boy, get me out of here. I have places to go. Time is of the essence.”

  Tom sat down and clicked his pen. “Tell me, what’s the hurry…”

  ~

  Murphy ran just behind the hunters as they moved camp. Steadily, they pushed eastward, not bothering with covering their tracks. If they were aware they were being followed by a white man carrying an axe, they didn’t show it. Murphy didn’t know what he would do if they stopped and confronted him.

  Mia had talked about a lost tribe that sat and festered in the bowels of the earth instead of moving on to their reward. She said a powerful negative force was prodding the entities into moving against humankind to punish them for something that happened so long ago. The very tribes that were massing were involved in the genocide of this tribe. Somehow these two events were tied. Was war about to happen or was it something else? Murphy wondered if the Illini sensed the Iroquois and the Fox or if they were too focused on something else.

  Somehow, there needed to be communication between the lost and the hunters. He just didn’t know how.

  ~

  Mia did not want to go inside quite yet. She told Ted she wanted to nose about the ruins of the old barn. Just to see if she could pick up any vibes or images that may help them to separate the imprisoned from the jailers. It was bad enough to lose your life but have your pathway to your reward blocked? This caused Mia personal distress. Her ghost mother had been trapped until Mia set her free. She wished she could have done it before the craziness set in, but it wasn’t in the cards. Would Murphy become crazy like Misty Bedford? She didn’t want to be the one to force him to move on, but she would. Murphy was her responsibility. She owed him dignity when he could no longer be dignified.

  There was movement in the snow before her. She noticed the progress of a snowdrift contrary to the way the wind was blowing.

  Mia crouched down and waited for Chenille. “Hello,” she said quietly.

  The snow moved and packed until a woman made of snow stood before her. She was taller than Mia, but most people were. Her back was ramrod straight, her stance proud.

  “I am sorry,” Mia began, hoping Chenille had learned enough to understand her. “I was ill and taken away. Were many lost when the light attacked?”

  The snow woman opened her mouth. Mia saw Blast nestled there.

  “Three and ten.”

  “Your other children?”

  “Not gone. Chief holds them so I do his bidding.”

  Mia shook her head. “Not right.”

  “His way.”

  “There are many of what I know as Iroquois and Fox in the forest where the sun sets. I do not know their intention… reason… purpose,” Mia said struggling for words.

  “Do they bleed or are they spirit?”

  “Spirit, but they have a hand in this world. Their knives cut through the veil.” Mia made slashing motions as she spoke. “They cut masks from the trees.”

  Chenille cocked her head and moved her icy body downward and formed a face in the snow. “False Face Mask.”

  “Is this bad?”

  “Ceremony. Not for war but for knowledge.”

  “Could they be communicating with the Great Spirit?”

  “Don’t know. I will think on it. Mia, will you help us?”

  “I promised, and I keep my promises.”

  “I bring you my babies when I can. You keep them from Iroquois and Fox.”

  “Yes.”

  “You keep them from man with wings.”

  Mia looked at her and asked, “Wings?”

  Chenille moved her hand through the snow. Little figures formed. She pointed to the littlest one. “Mia.” Then she pointed to the biggest one. “He has black wings. He take you. I watched through the window.” Chenille put the snow Mia in arms of the snow Angelo. She clapped her hands together, and they both disappeared.

  “I will keep your babies away from Angelo.”

  “Then I will be free to turn my people to the sun and away from the darkness.”

  “Chenille, tonight we burn the wood.”

  She nodded in understanding.

  “The fire will be hot and will destroy all that touch it.”

  She nodded again. “Keep away from the wood.”

  “Yes.” Mia heard a door opening. She turned and saw Ted walking in her direction. “I have to go in,” she said. Mia turned around, and the snow woman was gone.

  “Minnie Mouse, it’s cold out and getting dark. Come on inside. Mike has promised us pizza and beer,” he said walking up to her. “What have you been up to all this time?”

  “What did you see from the window?”

  Ted laughed. “You making a snow man.”

  “A snow woman,” she corrected. “And I didn’t make her.”

  “K.” He looked around nervously.

  “She’s gone. We had a nice chat.” Mia walked forward and grabbed his outstretched hand. “I promised to babysit.”

  “Are we talking snow babies?”

  “No, I assume Beanie, Bubba and Blast.”

  “We’ll have to childproof your house. Wouldn’t want the little tikes to burn themselves on the espresso machine.” Ted pulled her towards him. They hugged for a few minutes. “I know you need time, and we have a problem or two to take care of. I just wanted you to know that I am serious about being with you.”

  Mia put her head against his chest. “It’s something that I’m taking very seriously.”

  “I’m not handsome and we may end up with butt ugly kids, but I think we could rock this world together. I’d like us to give it a try,” he urged.

  “Do I get a sample before deciding?”

  He laughed. “A sample of what?”

  Mia teased, “I’m not buying a horse without riding it.”

  “Oh that?” Ted pulled her towards the house. “I don’t know. Why would I give all this away for free? You make me feel so cheap.”

  “I do believe you, Ted Martin, are playing hard to get.”

  “Me?”

  The back porch light went on and off.

  “Pizza is here! Come on, you have to be hungry.”

  “Starved,” Mia said.

  The table was covered with food. Chicago stuffed pizza, buffalo wings, jalapeno poppers and sundry fried vegetables to dip in ranch salad dressing.

  Mia surveyed the feast and asked, “Did you remember to buy Tums?”

  Mike chucked a plastic container of the antacid at her.

  “I love you.”

  “I know. All the women love me.”

  Burt made a rude noise as he entered the room. He held a stack of plates. “Beer’s in the fridge. Take off your coats and stay awhile.”

  Cid followed Burt with a stack of paper napkins. “Find anything interesting out there?”

  “Had a conversation with a snow woman,” Mia said offhandedly.

  “So she survived,” Burt said and took a long breath. “Is this a good thing?”

  Mia reached for a fistful of wings before answering, “I think it’s crucial that she survives.”

  “I think she pulled the plug on the power,” Ted said.

  “She’s being controlled by the chief who has her children as hostages,” Mia informed him. “As soon as the kiddies are safe, she will try to help us.”

  “You got all of this from a snow woman?” Cid asked amazed.

  Mia had a mouth full of chicken so she just nodded. She looked around the room and asked, “Where’s Beth?”

  Mike and Burt looked at each other. “She had to take the rental back. Martha’s going to drop her off here after they do a little shopping.”

  The stress in Mia’s shoulders eased and she smiled. “Girl stuff.”

  “What is it about you girls and shopping?”

  “Don’t know. Ask Ralph,” Mia said getting up. “I’m going for a beer, who wants one?”

  They all raised their hands. Mia smirked and left the room.

  “What’s going on?” Mike a
sked Ted.

  “I’m sworn to secrecy.”

  “You, keep a secret?” Mike burst out laughing.

  “Don’t tempt the boy, he’s trying to make a good impression,” Burt scolded Mike. “He can keep a secret but tends to gossip.”

  “Like you don’t?” Ted asked aghast.

  “Okay, you have a point there. Change of subject. Cid, are you going to press charges against the Looney Tunes?” Burt asked.

  “I’m being urged not to. But I have concerns that they are dangerous. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for them being let out on the world and someone else gets hurt. I have a feeling they were going to torture me.”

  “You do what you think is right. I had one of the PEEPs arrested for trying to kill me,” Mia said as she walked in carrying a six pack.

  “No.”

  “Yep, Amber. Whatever happened to sweet little Amber?” Mia asked as she tossed a bottle to Mike.

  “Ma says she’s stripping in Vegas, but when we were last there I couldn’t find her.”

  “Vegas is a big place, lots of strippers,” Ted said.

  “And you know how?” Mia asked.

  “Google, I googled it,” he said in his defense.

  “Yep that’s all Ted can handle right now is Googling his own,” Mike teased.

  Ted blushed and refused to make eye contact with Mia. She laughed and sat down.

  Burt watched her from the corner of his eye. She was carrying the weight of something big on her shoulders, but you wouldn’t notice it with the way she joined in with the nonsense of the others.

  “If I may have your attention please,” Burt said, banging a chicken wing on his plate. He waited until they all calmed down. “I would like us to raise our bottles to Cid who survived despite the color of shirt he was wearing.”

  “Here here,” Mike said, and they all clicked bottles before taking long pulls from the icy cold brews.

  Mia felt at ease among the men at the table. She traded barbs and blushed when caught saying something stupid. She really loved these guys. Cid was new, but his calmness added something to the group. She knew she would eventually have to face Beth, but until that time, she was going to make damn sure she enjoyed every minute. She pushed thoughts of Beth’s betrayal on the back shelf. Angelo too would need to be set straight, but that could wait. Right now she would just live in the moment, and this was one damn fine one.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Angelo sat in conference with two of the sages. He found them enjoying a brandy in a relic of an Austrian castle. He gave them a full report of the entities he had labeled ATzxe. Each took turns asking questions. They looked very small in the overstuffed wing chairs. There was a blazing fire in the hearth, but yet the duo looked pinched and cold. Was it the room, their age or the subject they were discussing that chilled their bones? He couldn’t tell.

  “The little girl is now clean of the contamination,” confirmed the one known as Sapientia, her wizened face serene.

  “Yes.”

  “The young woman?”

  “The images were extracted along with the repair.”

  “Was it wise to do so much, considering the damage? You may have stripped her of cherished memories.”

  Angelo shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “There was some loss but will not impede her development.”

  “Tell us about this Stephen Murphy,” Ramiro requested as he adjusted his long white braid. “Why are you hostile to him?”

  “It is unnatural to want to stay earthbound. He is open to evil in this vulnerable state,” Angelo answered.

  “He, from all accounts, seems to have done just the opposite. I think you should make him an ally instead of an enemy,” Ramiro counseled. “His observations of the Iroquois and Fox have yielded fruitful information. Their spiritual advisor has been in contact with them. He has demanded an accounting of their sins before they can hunt buffalo in the fields of their fathers.”

  Sapienta rose and put her hands in Angelo’s. “The ATzxe seems to be attached to the chief of this group of Illini. He bound the dead to him. Destroy him. Then the others will be willing to listen to the Iroquois apologies.”

  “What about the Fox?” he asked.

  “They are not in touch with the Great Spirit. Watch them, they may also be influence by the ATzxe,” she warned. She grasped his hands tighter. “Angelo, your place is not to judge. We are mere vessels created by time and providence. The young woman needs to find her own way. Free will was given, free will she will have.”

  He bowed his head in shame. “I am sorry.”

  “We are not machines, we all make errors. The important thing is to make them while you are young and have time to learn from them,” she said and let go of his hands. “Come to us if you need more counsel.”

  “Or just to enjoy a fine brandy,” Ramiro added and lifted his glass.

  ~

  When Beth arrived, the preparations for the bonfire were underway. She brought her purchases into the den and went in search of Ted. She assumed that he and she would be manning the console together. She found him set up in the kitchen. Cid Garrett sat to his right, watching the others through the split screen monitor.

  “It’s important to watch for distortions, blurring or refocusing of the cameras. They could be brought on by a number of things. Mostly insects during the warmer months. I thought we were being attacked by orbs once. It turned out that I placed the camera next to a bee hive.”

  Beth cleared her voice. “I’m back.”

  Ted nodded and pointed out something else to Cid.

  “Excuse me, I believe that is my seat,” she said.

  Cid turned around and blinked at her. “I was told to stay out of the way and help Ted out.”

  Ted pulled out an assignment list and ran his finger down it. He tapped her name and informed her, “Burt has you outside manning a fire extinguisher.”

  Beth was a bit irked, but if you wanted to be treated like one of the boys you occasionally had to do their work. “Seems to me, Cid would…”

  “Cid’s just got out of the hospital. Talk to Burt,” Ted said and returned his attention to showing Cid the various camera angles. He shook his head and touched the com. “Mia, camera six is giving us an excellent view of the tripod stand.”

  “My bad, I must not have tightened the nut.”

  “Yep, the problem is a nut is loose,” Ted started.

  “Careful,” Mia’s growl was heard through the speaker.

  They watched as the camera was righted and moved into place as Ted instructed.

  “How’s that, Major Pain?”

  “Looks good, Private Parts,” Ted replied.

  Beth sniffed.

  Ted turned around. “Problem?”

  “She doesn’t know what’s she’s doing.”

  “Excuse me, but she was here when we needed doing.”

  “Ted, come in,” Burt’s voice came over the com.

  “Ted here, Blue Leader.”

  “Has Beth arrived yet?”

  “Standing behind me.”

  “Send her out. We are almost ready to begin.”

  “Done and done.”

  Ted handed her an ear com. “If you have trouble hearing, you may have to lift your hat,” he advised. “So far Mia’s had no problem, and she’s got an Elmer Fudd number on.”

  “What a dork,” Beth said and was surprised by the look both Cid and Ted gave her.

  “I was just kidding.”

  “We take dork quite seriously,” Ted pointed out. “Nerd and wacko are acceptable, but dork and douche bag have to be applied sparingly.”

  Cid cracked up and hit Ted in the arm.

  “Whatever,” she said and went back to get her coat. She was looking for a vibe that Mia was distraught and the guys mad at her but didn’t sense anything. Maybe Whit hadn’t confessed to his girlfriend yet. If he didn’t say anything, she would. Mia had to learn that her perfect little world wasn’t so perfect after all.

  ~
>
  Mike stood back as Burt prepared the flame thrower. He and Mia dosed the wood pile with an accelerant after they dug a trench and built a stone and dirt berm around the fire pit. He was surprised at how strong Mia was. The ground was solid but not yet frozen. It took a lot of effort to make the first couple of holes, but once they got underneath the frost layer, they were able to work quite quickly. Mia challenged him to a race, betting him twenty bucks that she would finish first. He beat her by ten feet. She must have forgotten that he grew up on a farm. He knew how to dig.

  She handed over a well-worn twenty dollar bill, shaking her head. “I have to stop my gambling. It’s emptying my piggy bank.”

  “Poor you,” Mike said but took her money anyway. After all, a bet’s a bet.”

  He saw Beth arrive and Burt point her towards where they had several fire extinguishers leaning against the house.

  Her body language said she wasn’t happy about her assignment. He thought it was odd that Burt put her outside with them. Burt mentioned that considering that Cid narrowly escaped frostbite this week, he was better off inside with Ted.

  Mia walked up and asked, “Which way to the dog house?”

  “Whatcha do now?” Mike asked.

  “Didn’t tighten down camera six after I set it.”

  “You’ll learn. I suppose Ted gave you a tongue lashing.”

  “Nope. But Cid was around so he was on his best behavior. How would it look to Cid if Ted bawled out a little girl? He’d tell his mom, she would tell Ted’s mom, and they wouldn’t be allowed to play together for a while.”

  “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” he observed.

  “This, oh yes. I love the mechanics of it all. You’ve got to be tired of just being a talking head.”

  “I guess. It has been fun being teamed up with old Burt again,” Mike told her. “Don’t get me wrong, as soon as the big camera comes out, it’s going to be my pretty face America sees.”

  Mia looked at him. “I have to admit you are pretty, for a boy.”