The Returned

by Bishop O'Connell

  “You think?” Wraith asked, but she couldn’t keep herself from laughing. “I have, like, a zillion questions, but for the sake of time, what does all this have to do with me watching over Caitlin and Edward?”

  “The fae are only one house of the Cruinnigh,” Brigid said. “Before joining, let’s just say the fae didn’t always coexist peacefully with the other groups.”

  “You fought each other?”

  Brigid nodded. “Most famously was the war for Ireland between the formorians and the daoine sidhe. That was millennia ago, of course, but we’re all very long-lived peoples with very long memories.”

  “But you’re in the Cruinnigh now,” Wraith said. “So there was some kind of peace treaty?”

  “That’s part of the reason why the Rogue Court was formed,” Brigid said. “Suffice it to say that we’re the fae representatives in this world. The Dawn and Dusk Courts didn’t join the Cruinnigh directly, but when they come to this world, they’re bound by the same treaty—called the Oaths—as we are.”

  “And the Oaths are what keeps you from going into a house uninvited and stuff, right?”

  “Yes. It’s a set of laws we’re bound to follow.”

  “And the Fianna are like the sheriffs? Going after the fae who break the laws.”

  Brigid nodded. “That’s right. They aren’t a member of the Cruinnigh either, but they’re a recognized and honored group. Siobhan is a Fian, what individual Fianna members are called.”

  Wraith almost asked if Brigid knew Brendan, but she didn’t. She couldn’t break the promise she made to not tell anyone about him. The two of them had become friends over the last six months, and while she didn’t know the reasons behind his desire for no one to know where he was, she would respect her friend’s wishes. Not that Wraith really knew where he was either. She could find the place, sure, but she wasn’t sure where it was.

  “There was another condition to joining the Cruinnigh,” Brigid said.

  Wraith snapped out of her reverie.

  “We had to accept that some areas of the world are under the solitary control of one house or another.” Brigid shrugged. “In most cases the location is of no consequence to us, particularly those areas controlled by the elementals.”

  “You’re saying the state of Louisiana is under the solitary control of another house?”

  “The First House,” Brigid said. “And it’s not really the state as you know it, but a region that closely resembles the state in shape and size.”

  “And you’re not allowed in the state?” Wraith asked.

  “Rogue Court officials are permitted only with the express permission of the First House, and never armed.”

  Wraith thought about that for a long moment. “You’re asking me to watch over—no, to protect—Edward and Caitlin because you can’t. Right?”

  Brigid let out a long sigh and nodded. “Believe me, if there was any other way, I wouldn’t ask this of you. I can’t imagine anything will happen to them, but—”

  “It’s the things you can’t imagine that tend to bite you in the ass the hardest.”

  “Well put,” Brigid said. “And understand you can say no. It won’t change anything between us, or you and the court. We’re asking this as a favor. You’re free to refuse.”

  Wraith thought about it, then shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I’ll do it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Wraith nodded. “Yeah. They took care of my friends. I feel like I sort of owe them.” She smiled at Brigid. “Besides, we’re friends, right? You help your friends out when they need it. You’ve certainly helped me out plenty.”

  Brigid smiled. “Yes, we are friends. Very good friends, I like to think.”

  Wraith looked away and chewed on her lower lip. “Speaking of helping out friends,” she said, not meeting Brigid’s eyes, “I, uh, I’ve sort of blown through that money you gave me last month.” She looked at Brigid then. “I know you gave me three hundred this time, but I swear I didn’t blow it on anything bad, like drugs or horse races or anything like that.” She didn’t say the vast majority of it had gone to buying cheeseburgers and MREs for Brendan. She was more than capable of stealing food for him—she did that plenty for herself—but she didn’t think Brendan would approve of her doing that for him.

  “I trust you,” Brigid said as she got to her feet and went to a wall painting. She drew it from the wall on a hinge to reveal a large safe. “I figured you’d need some money for New Orleans anyway.” Brigid entered the combination and opened the door.

  Wraith’s mouth fell open when she saw the huge stacks of cash inside. Brigid picked up two small bundles, closed the safe, and handed the cash to Wraith. She gaped at the two bundles of twenty-dollar bills and the $2,000 marker on each.

  “Is that enough?” Brigid asked without a trace of sarcasm or humor.

  Wraith just stared at the money. It was more than she’d ever seen—prior to seeing inside the safe, that is—much less had in her possession. She cleared her throat. “Um, yeah. I think that should cover me for a while.”

  Brigid smiled. “Let me know if that changes.”

  Wraith tucked the money into an inside pocket in her coat, then looked at Brigid. “Before I go, can we back up to the part about Santa Claus being one of the fae?”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “Why are you and Daddy going away?” Fiona asked for the five hundredth time since being told two days ago.

  “I told you, peanut,” Caitlin said, turning in the passenger seat to face her daughter. “It’s like when you sleep over at Carleigh’s house. Except we’re going to see Daddy’s friend. Do you remember Henry and Hannah?”

  Fiona nodded. “He was funny. I liked him.” Then she made a face and looked at Caitlin very seriously. “Is that the only reason?”

  “No,” Caitlin said. “We also just really need some time away from you.”

  Caitlin sensed Edward give her a look.

  “Mommy,” Fiona said very seriously. “We both know that’s ridiculous.”

  Caitlin stifled a laugh. “Yes, it is.”

  Fiona pursed her lips. “But saying things like that can cause severe trauma for a child my age. I think that earns me another present.”

  “You better stop talking,” Edward said. “Or we’ll have to draft Santa to help us bring all her presents back.”

  “Daddy,” Fiona said and rolled her eyes, “it’s only October. Santa is still on vacation in Australia.” She spotted a Hidden Driveway sign. “It’s not a very good secret if they tell everyone it’s there.”

  Caitlin turned back around, her guilt assuaged a little.

  Fifteen minutes later, they were parked in front of Mallory and Daniel’s house. Edward was retrieving Fiona’s butterfly suitcase and TARDIS backpack. He was a big Dr. Who fan, and Fiona loved nothing more than sitting with him and watching it too.

  “Daddy,” Fiona said when she slipped on the backpack. “You’re a doctor, right?”

  “I am,” Edward said.

  “I think you need a TARDIS, a real one,” Fiona said. “Then you wouldn’t be a doctor—you would be The Doctor.”

  “Well, I’m not a Time Lord,” Edward said earnestly. “But it would be very cool to have our own TARDIS, wouldn’t it?”

  “Supercool,” Fiona agreed. “But I don’t want to see any Daleks. I don’t like them.”

  “Deal,” Edward agreed.

  Caitlin wondered, briefly, if Edward might seriously try. Then she smiled as the three of them walked to the front door. Before they’d gotten ten feet away, it opened and Mallory stepped out.

  Mallory knelt down. “Hello, Fiona, it’s very nice to—”

  “Nana!” Fiona shouted and charged at Mallory, throwing her arms around her and hugging tight.

  Mallory looked unsure for the briefest of moments, but then she smiled—actually smiled—and hugged Fiona back.

  “How is her face not cracking?” Edward asked in a low whisper.

  Caitlin st
ifled a laugh.

  “Thank you very much for letting me stay with you,” Fiona said as she stepped back from the hug.

  “What is all the commotion out here?” Daniel said in mock anger as he came up to the door.

  “Sorry, Taid,” Fiona said. “Nana and I were just saying hello.”

  There was a very brief moment of silence among the adults. Edward’s father gave him a questioning look, but Edward just shook his head.

  “Well,” Daniel said, his surprise gone, “I suppose the ruckus is understandable, then.”

  Fiona turned to Mallory. “Nana, we’re going to have to keep it down around Taid.”

  “Or we can just send him to his study while we have our fun,” Mallory said conspiratorially.

  “Yeah,” Fiona agreed.

  “Well, let’s get you unpacked,” Mallory said and held her hand out to Fiona, who took it. She led Fiona down the hall. “You’ll be staying in your daddy’s old room. Then we’re going to the park.”

  Edward looked on, dumbfounded.

  “Bye, Mommy,” Fiona said as she ran back and gave Caitlin a big hug and kiss. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, peanut,” Caitlin said. “Be good.”

  “I love you too, Daddy,” Fiona said.

  Edward bent down and hugged Fiona. “I love you.”

  Then she ran back to Mallory and disappeared down a hallway.

  Edward just stared after them.

  Daniel patted his shoulder but looked at Caitlin. “Thank you for asking us to do this,” he said.

  Caitlin smiled. “My pleasure.” She handed him a sheet of paper, which he took. “You’ve got our cell numbers, but just in case, here’s the number for the hotel, as well as Henry and Hannah’s cell numbers. If you need anything, call anytime.”

  “Of course,” Daniel said. “The same goes for you. Call anytime you want to talk to her.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that promise,” Caitlin said. “From the looks of it, I’m going to miss her more than she’s going to miss me.”

  “I’m sure that’s not true,” Daniel said. “But we’ll do our best to keep her occupied and spoil her rotten before we give her back to you.”

  Caitlin laughed and hugged him. She was surprised, pleasantly so, when he hugged her back. “Thank you, Daniel.”

  “Go on, you two,” he said, breaking the hug. “Get out of here so I can enjoy some time with my granddaughter. Have a good time.”

  “We will,” Caitlin said.

  Daniel closed the door, leaving Edward still bewildered.

  “I think I better drive,” Caitlin said through a laugh, taking the keys from Edward.

  “There must be some mistake,” Edward said, still staring at the house as he walked to the passenger side of the car.

  “What are you talking about?” Caitlin asked as she got in and buckled up.

  “Those were not my parents,” Edward said and shut his door. “They must’ve been replaced by aliens or something.”

  Caitlin started the car and headed to the airport. “A wizard has nothing on the power of a little girl,” she said. “Besides, don’t be too hard on them. Either because of them or in spite of them, that childhood is the reason you are who you are. And I love that person very much.”

  Edward took her hand and kissed it, then smiled. “You are so getting a foot rub tonight.”

  “Just tonight?” Caitlin asked. “Oh, no. There will be weeks of foot rubs.”

  “We made it safe,” Caitlin said into her cell phone. “No, Mallory, Edward is driving.”

  Edward chuckled a little as he navigated I-10, occasionally glancing at the rental car’s GPS. He was glad something of the woman he’d known as his mother was intact. He was still surprised by Fiona calling his father “Taid.” It was what he’d called his grandfather—the Welsh word for it—but he didn’t remember using it much around Fiona or explaining what it meant. He knew Fiona was smart, but he was continually surprised by how observant she was.

  “Hi, sweetheart,” Caitlin said. “Are you having fun with Nana?”

  “Hi, Fiona,” Edward said.

  “Yes, that was Daddy saying hi.”

  Edward exited the highway and started maneuvering through surface streets as Caitlin continued her conversation.

  “Okay, I’ll call you tonight before bedtime,” Caitlin said. “I love you. Bye-bye, honey.”

  They wove their way into the French Quarter and pulled into the driveway for the hotel.

  “Checking in today, sir?” a uniformed man asked as he opened Edward’s door. Caitlin was receiving similar treatment.

  Edward popped the trunk and handed the keys to the valet. “Yes, Huntington.”

  “We’re delighted to have you.”

  “Let me get those for you, ma’am,” another valet said, taking the suitcases from the trunk and loading them onto a cart. “They’ll be waiting in your room for you.”

  “Oh,” Caitlin said. “Well, thank you.”

  Edward handed the valet a five-dollar bill, then took Caitlin’s hand, and they headed into the lobby. It was massive, with crystal chandeliers and marble floors.

  “You did good,” Caitlin said, looking around.

  “The hotel isn’t bad either,” Edward said.

  “Smooth.”

  “Reservation for Huntington,” Edward said to the well-coiffed woman at the check-in desk.

  “Yes, of course,” the woman said, her smile turning up. “We’ve been expecting you. The honeymoon suite is all prepared for you.” She handed him the key cards. “Elevator’s to your left, top floor.”

  “Thank you,” Edward said.

  “This place is incredible,” Caitlin said as they walked to the elevator. “I don’t think I’ve ever stayed anywhere nicer than a Holiday Inn before this.”

  Edward smiled. “We can afford it; it’s our honeymoon, and you deserve it.”

  “You are so getting lucky tonight.”

  Edward blushed as the couple who exited the elevator sniggered and smiled.

  As they rode the elevator up, Caitlin squeezed his hand and pressed close.

  When they reached their room, he opened the door to their suite and led Caitlin inside.

  “Holy shit,” she said and stared slack-jawed at the room.

  Edward laughed.

  Together they stepped from the entryway and into the first room. It was the living room of the suite. He had to admit, saying it was lavish was an understatement. Lavish would’ve been without the fireplace and authentic eighteenth-century billiards table.

  “Oh my God,” Caitlin said when she saw the huge bouquet of roses on the table, the plate of chocolates, and the champagne chilling.

  “I love you,” Edward said as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

  “Yes, you do,” she said. She bent down and took a bite of a chocolate. “That’s good.” She fed the rest of it to Edward.

  “Come on, let’s see the rest of the place.”

  They went through the formal dining room, the bathroom—which Caitlin decided needed to come back to New Hampshire with them—the large deck with a spacious view of the city, and finally the bedroom.

  “I love the bed,” Caitlin said as she leapt onto the plush mattress of the canopy bed. She smiled and let out a long sigh. “I feel like a princess.”

  “You’re so much more than that,” Edward said, then went to the bags and started to unpack.

  “I think I’m going to have some champagne,” Caitlin said and headed out of the room. “Want some?”

  “Absolutely,” Edward said and began putting their things away.

  “The roses are incredible,” Caitlin said from the other room. “They smell amazing.”

  When the clothes were away, he put the suitcases in the closet just as Caitlin returned with two flute glasses. Edward took one, and she stepped close.

  “To our honeymoon,” Caitlin said.

  “Cheers,” Edward said. They tapped glasses and
drank. He had to admit, it was really good champagne.

  “I can’t get over this view,” Caitlin said as she walked to the window and looked over the city.

  Edward took another drink of champagne, then set the glass down before walking over to join Caitlin at the window. “Are you hungry? Want to go check out the Quarter and maybe get something to eat?”

  Caitlin set her glass down and turned around. “Sure,” she said.

  Then she tackled him onto the bed, kissed him deep, and began pulling his clothes off.

  Wraith walked along Royal Street eating a hot dog, glad it wasn’t quite the display Bourbon Street had been. She’d known what to expect, or thought she had, but it had still surprised her. All things considered, she felt a little silly being worried her pixie-cut hair, now sky blue, would make her stand out. As it turned out, she was much further on the conservative side of the scale than she was used to being. After all, she showed almost no skin, and no amount of promised beads was going to change that.

  Glancing in windows of the high-end shops, she admired the collections of antiques and oddities for sale. It occurred to her that for the first time, she could actually buy some of those things. She wouldn’t, of course. Her money—well, the money Brigid had given her—was better spent on other things.

  Her wanderings took her to Saint Louis Cathedral. Just before the large church, at the corner of Royal and Pirate’s Alley—a name that made her smile—she came upon some musicians busking for the crowd. Even in her limited time in New Orleans, only a couple of hours, she’d figured out this was hardly a rarity. There were street performers and musicians everywhere, most of whom were really good. These musicians were really, really, really good. And the crowd around them was a testament to it. A girl in a long, loose sundress was playing a mandolin like she’d invented the instrument. She kept smiling at the guy playing a small drum kit. Another two were playing guitar, but it was the singer, one of the guitarists, who really impressed Wraith. His long dreadlocks swayed, and sweat rolled down his skin as his fingers slid up and down the neck of the guitar. The motions were like the intimate caress of a lover, but his voice was clear and sweet as he sang about loss and pain.

  Wraith stood there mesmerized, and quite unbidden, she thought of Ovation. Maybe it was strange to think so often of someone she’d known so briefly, but he’d shown her kindness when she needed it most. And what had that kindness gotten him?