by Nina Perez
“You what?” Dr. Tesla asked, sitting forward.
“We snuck in here and looked at your files.”
“My files?”
“You know. Your secret Bat Cave files,” Jack said, nodding his head in the direction of the bookcase. “Violet had seen you access it before. Using a locator spell, she found Ashlyn’s disc and when we saw her picture, Violet said that it was the woman in her dream. Tonight, I thought I dozed off in front of the fire and Lincoln came into my dream, but now I’m not so sure. It was like having a vision, but being in it at the same time. Anyway, he threatened the same stuff Ashlyn said to Violet - that they were coming for their souls.”
Jack gave an involuntary shudder, thinking about Lincoln lying on the gurney. “I still wasn’t convinced that Violet was right. I thought that maybe it was our minds messing with us and that we were seeing what we thought they might look like from your description. I decided to check Lincoln’s file for a picture. But this time, I also grabbed the file on Grace Bale. Not only was it Lincoln that I dreamt of, and I mean it was him, not some look-a-like based on my imagination - but I realized that Grace Bale was my mother’s boss, Sylvia Decklan.”
“At that point,” Jack continued, “it was obvious that she was the one who had been poisoning my parents and killed them, but I couldn’t figure out how she knew Violet’s family. Violet had never mentioned knowing Ms. Decklan when I talked about her. Then it hit me that it had to be someone close to them too. Someone like…”
“… a neighbor,” Kalina finished.
“Exactly. I called you and left the message and then I got a ride over to Ms. Harkin’s… well, you know, Grace’s house. I knew where to go because Violet had been going over there for… a while.”
“What do you mean, a while?”
Jack figured this is what it felt like when he and Violet interrogated Dr. Tesla. It also sunk in just how many secrets had been kept on both sides. “Violet had been visiting her after school. She liked being close to her old house and she wanted someone to talk to about… everything.”
He continued, “Anyway, when I got there, she jumped me before I knew what was happening. She used some kind of spell that had us pinned to the wall. We could barely move. She told us how she found out where we were, pretending to be our parents’ friend and then killing them. She said she needed us together so that our powers would emerge and be strong. It was the only way she could pull out our souls and return them to Lincoln and Ashlyn.”
“Did she say how she knew who you were?” Dr. Tesla asked.
“She said she had an ally on The Trust,” Violet said from the doorway.
Kalina rushed to Violet’s side, helping her sit on the sofa. Violet was wrapped in a blanket, looked weak, but otherwise fine. “Ms. Sweet said to tell you she was going to check the grounds.”
“How are you feeling, Violet?” Dr. Tesla was watching Violet closely.
“Like someone cut my stomach open and tried to suck out my soul.”
“You have no idea how sorry am I about all of this.”
“How could you guys have missed this? Hello? Crazy redheaded witch, living right next door to me.” Jack knew then that Violet was going to be okay. Her sarcasm was back.
“We didn’t know.” Dr. Tesla sighed. “We had to stage an accident to cover it up. Her body was never recovered, but we believed she’d died in the fight anyway. We knew, of course, that the twins’ soulless bodies were in containment. We were in your lives to provide guidance if powers emerged, and to genuinely help you with your studies…” Dr. Tesla gestured towards Jack,”… and other issues. We had no reason to scrutinize or investigate every person your families came in contact with.”
“Besides that,” Jack added, “She did a good job of being around, without really being around. She was in our lives, but traveled a lot. There didn’t seem to be anything off about it.”
“Um, speaking of the twins’ bodies, what are they?” Violet asked. “I mean, they look like they’re sleeping.”
“They’re in a sort of magical stasis. Physically, their bodies are still functioning, but without a soul to give it purpose or direction, it just… exists. We had them contained within the facility, under close guard, magical and medical care.”
Violet struggled to sit forward. Kalina reached over, ready to help if she needed it. “I’m fine. Ms. Har… Grace said that her ally helped her retrieve the bodies.”
“Unfortunately,” Dr. Tesla said, “that is the only reasonable explanation. She would have needed inside help in order to pull it off. We lost several good people today at her hands.”
“Did you know there was a way to reverse the spell?” Jack thought he already knew the answer to his question.
“Absolutely not. What did she say about the spell? These items?” Dr. Tesla gestured towards the bowl and dagger.
Violet answered. “Just that this ally also helped her get them and that it was very difficult to do so. She said she had to save getting Lincoln and Ashlyn for last, though.”
“Because they would be the most difficult to obtain, or at least they should have been,” Kalina said.
“Do either of you remember what she said when trying to cast the spell?”
Jack answered, “Anime dimittere ita reddantur.” He looked at Kalina’s and Dr. Tesla’s concerned faces. “I don’t think I can ever forget that.”
“Me either,” Violet said in a small voice.
“We’ll begin researching the spell and these items in the morning. Now that we know she’s alive and we have four of the things she needs, I don’t imagine she’ll be making a play any time soon. I know it may be difficult under the circumstances, but I don’t want you children to worry. You’re safe here.”
Violet stared straight ahead. At first Jack thought she was looking at him, but she was staring out the window. She said, “I’m not worried. In fact, I’m kinda pissed. How can we be safe here when someone on The Trust, the executive branch of The Alliance, is working with the crazy witch that wants to gut us and take our souls?”
“There’s no doubt Grace received help, but we have no proof that it is someone on The Trust. Their offices could be compromised, it could be a matter of coercion, or Grace could simply be lying.” Dr. Tesla said.
“I can’t believe you’re making excuses. We were nearly killed tonight.”
“I’m not, Violet. You don’t understand. Being a member of The Trust isn’t as simple as joining a club or volunteering for a committee. We take a vow that’s bound by magic. There are ways of finding out if there’s a traitor among The Trust and you have my promise, both of you, that if such a person exists, I will find him.”
“Or her,” Kalina added.
“Or her.”
“What about Gervais?” Jack asked.
“What about him?”
“Well, when we looked through Ashlyn’s file, we saw his initials on the list of Trust members. He was our parents’ attorney and handled their estates. Wouldn’t he be the most likely suspect?”
“He would be if he was on The Trust, but he’s not. His father is.” Dr. Tesla said.
“What is he? A vampire?” Violet asked.
Kalina chuckled. “Titus Gervais is no vampire. He’s a werewolf, as is his son.”
Violet looked to Dr. Tesla. “I didn’t think being a werewolf was hereditary.”
“It’s not,” he said, casting a cautious look Kalina’s way, “There was an accident. It’s a long story.”
“I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but Violet you were right… again.” Jack said, shaking his head. “You’ve been saying my visions had to serve a purpose. Maybe I am meant to see things that need to be stopped or corrected. I saw you going into Grace’s house, but I let go of the backpack before I could see her face. This could have been avoided months ago.”
Dr. Tesla looked confused, “But you said…”
Jack cut him off, using Dr. Tesla’s own words against him, “Long story best left for
another time.”
Violet asked, “What are we supposed to do while you’re uncovering who has been helping Grace?”
“Well, for one,” Kalina said, “you train.” She gave Jack a pointed look. “Now, more than ever, it’s important that you can protect yourselves.”
“No more arguments from me. I don’t need the whole healings hands thing kicking in when I’m at school,” Jack said.
“Speaking of which,” Dr. Tesla said, his face serious. Jack prepared to defend himself, to squash any thoughts that he’d been holding back about having another power. But then Dr. Tesla smiled. “That was pretty amazing.”
Jack grinned. “I know, right?”
The next day, Jack and Violet went to school like it was any other day and not the day after they were nearly killed. They rode the bus and listened as their classmates went on about their Thanksgiving break. There was talk of a mysterious house fire the night before that had left behind nothing but a partial frame and ash. The owner of the home hadn’t been found. They attended their classes and had lunch with Bobby and Sheila.
When they were alone, Jack and Violet purposely avoided talking about what had happened with Grace and what it meant for their future. They knew that their lives would never be the same, but they also knew that there was nothing they could do about it. They were safe - for now. Grace would try again, they were certain of it. And they would do their best to be ready for her when she did. There was one thing they were sure of above everything else; the one thing that both Dr. Tesla and Grace agreed on: they were stronger together than they were apart. Jack and Violet decided to embrace the good that came with having magical souls, like their new bond.
When the last bell of the day rang, Jack and Violet walked out front to catch their bus home. Stopping an insane witch from resurrecting her evil spawn didn’t excuse them from homework, and they had plenty. Immediately after their school studies they had magical training sessions with Kalina and Dr. Tesla. Considering all that had happened, he thought it best to be more hands-on in their supernatural education.
As they reached the bottom of the front steps, Jack put a hand on Violet’s arm to stop her. He pointed towards the curb where Dr. Tesla stood leaning against his parked car. He wore sunglasses, a long black trench coat, and a tense expression.
“I thought you said we should try to get back to life as usual,” Violet said as they reached the car. “Picking us up in the Batmobile? Kinda unusual.”
Dr. Tesla managed a grin. “Well, there’s been a development. Considering all the fuss surrounding the two of you…”
Jack and Violet looked at each, then back to Dr. Tesla.
“… The Trust would like to meet you.”
Epilogue
The Mystery Lady
The first snow of the season fell on Rosemont like a heavy blanket. As the salt trucks motored by Rosemont Cemetery preparing to cover the roads for the morning commute, Dr. Tesla sat in his car parked at the entrance.
Jack and Violet stood at their parents’ graves, only a few feet away from one another, gazing at the newly placed headstones. Before they’d left the house that morning, Ms. Sweet had handed them each a bouquet of flowers - pink roses for Violet because she knew they were Marianne’s favorite.
Violet bent and placed the roses by the headstone, brushing the snow from her parents’ names with her gloved hand. Jack looked down at his parents’ graves and said, “Detego.” The snow blew away from the headstone. He bent and placed his flowers on the grass.
Without looking in his direction, Violet said, “Show off.”
After a few quiet moments, they stood and together walked to the car.
Henry Tubb had never been a lucky man. With two failed marriages behind him and a drowning accounting firm hanging from his neck – all before he was forty – some might even go so far as to say that Henry Tubb was a loser. But things were turning around for Henry, and just in time for Christmas.
He pressed down harder on the accelerator of his ten-year-old station wagon; the only thing he could afford monthly payments on after paying out two alimony checks, his rent, and the mortgage on the house on Cisco Beach. He was headed to the beach house now. He’d passed Brecken forty-five minutes ago so he knew it wouldn’t be long. The town of Brecken – little more than a rest stop with a zip code - served as the halfway point between Rosemont and Cisco Beach.
Only a fool would be headed out to the Jersey shore in the middle of December so Henry had the highway to himself in either direction. A song he liked came on the radio; the song about walking five hundred miles. Henry sang along, loudly.
“I would walk five hundred miles… and I would walk five hundred more…”
He laughed to himself. He’d walk five hundred miles if he had to in order to pick up this money. Thankfully, he didn’t. Just a simple hour and a half ride (three hours if you counted the return trip) on the slushy roads and all of his problems would be solved.
A week ago, a woman had called inquiring about renting his beach house.
“You mean, next summer?” Henry asked, wondering how she’d even gotten his number. He’d given up trying to find a buyer for the house months ago and resigned himself to paying the mortgage on it until the market improved.
“No, I mean right now. Right away.”
She wanted to rent his house indefinitely and for double the monthly asking price if he agreed to accept cash. Now, you don’t live your life being as unlucky as Henry and not immediately get suspicious when something good – too good- happens. But with the rent going up on his Little City apartment, the second ex-Mrs. Tubb informing him that their ten-year-old wanted a flat screen for Christmas, and his nightly meals consisting of hot dogs and beans from a can, Henry decided that he literally couldn’t afford to look a gift horse in the mouth. The next day, an overnight delivery envelope arrived at his office. In it, double one month’s rent in cash. The lady meant business.
When she called again that afternoon Henry told her where she could find the hidden key so she could start moving her things in immediately. The hidden key wasn’t his brightest idea, but he’d gotten tired of making the three hour trip to show the house to prospective buyers, only to have them turn around and decline. Besides, Cisco Beach was safe and quiet this time of year. The most trouble you’d find were bored Brecken kids looking for a place to do things behind their parents’ backs.
Henry had to park down the road from the house. No one had bothered to salt - probably not expecting anyone to drive out this far at this time of year - and he doubted his wagon would be able to make it the rest of the way. He paused to check his appearance in the rearview mirror, fluffing his thinning hair upward trying to recreate the style he saw on all the young hipsters in Little City. The mystery lady had a pretty voice and he wasn’t opposed to having a third ex-Mrs. Tubb; especially if she was loaded.
By the time Henry climbed the front steps of the two-story beach house, his limbs, fingers, and toes were frozen and the cold wind coming off the ocean behind the house had turned his face to a mask of ice. She wasn’t expecting him for another hour or so, but Henry had decided to come early. Truth be told, his common sense had started to talk a little louder than his greed and Henry thought it might not be such a bad idea to surprise her and see what was what. There wasn’t a car parked in front of the house and the curtains were drawn too tightly for him to determine whether anyone was inside. The house seemed dark, though - empty. Henry left his wet boots on the mat outside and let himself in using his key.
It’s still my house, he reasoned.
It turned out that the house wasn’t dark, but lit by dozens of candles along the fireplace, end tables, and coffee table. Though Henry had fantasized in the past about some unexplained accident taking the financial burden off of his hands, he definitely didn’t want to see anything happen to the house now that it was about to make him some money. How irresponsible, he thought, and considered blowing the candles out when he heard a voice coming
from the back bedroom.
He debated making his presence known, but curiosity got the better of him. He quietly walked to the double-paned doors that led to the master bedroom. The doors were covered with frilly white curtains. Henry eyed the curtains. Those are new. The lady moves fast. The doors weren’t completely closed and Henry was able to peek through the split between the two.
The master suite was large; almost the full length of the first floor of the house. It had a sitting area with chaise lounges and bookshelves lined with books – both classics and trashy beach reads. There was a fireplace, a sofa and loveseat, and small entertainment center. Wooden stairs led to a loft area where the bed was located that looked down over the suite. A door off the first floor sitting area led to a large master bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub. The only thing the two ex-Mrs. Tubbs could ever agree on – besides Henry’s shortcomings - was that the master suite was the best part of the house. Directly across from the entrance was another set of double doors that led to a deck which overlooked the beach.
Already, the mystery tenant had added her own personal touches to the suite; there were more candles everywhere and the room smelled of jasmine. And there she was, sitting on the sofa with her back to the door. She had short red hair; that’s all Henry could tell about her, but it was definitely the same woman he’d spoken to. He could tell by her voice when she spoke again, into the cell phone pressed against her ear.
“Yes, I know you’ve risked a lot, and I promise you, they won’t find out about you. Not from me, anyway. But I cannot be held responsible if they figure it out on their own. So, your first priority needs to be figuring out how to beat Tesla’s test.”
Henry knew illegal dealings when he heard them. He’d helped fix books for enough businesses to know when something didn’t smell right. What was this lady’s game? Drugs? And what test? And who the hell was Tesla? Henry turned his attention to the loft area and had to cover his mouth to hold in a gasp.