Never Forget (Haunted Series Book 15)

by Alexie Aaron

  Cid let Audrey off at the front of the farmhouse. She moved quickly inside without knocking. "Hello?" she called.

  "Upstairs," Ted called. "In the sitting room."

  Audrey tossed her briefcase on the hall table and ran up the stairs. She walked through the master bedroom and through the open doors into the atrium-style room. Mia was wrapped in a quilt, lying back on a chaise lounge that had seen better years. Brian was sitting on her lap, interested in a set of colorful keys.

  Mia smiled and encouraged Audrey to come closer. "I'm not sure if Brian is more interested in eating the keys or sorting through them."

  "If he takes after the two of you, then it's food he's after," Audrey said. She saw the dark circles under Mia's eyes and sensed the woman's fatigue. "Can I take Brian? It's been three days since he and I discussed which one of his books was the best."

  Brian babbled something only he understood. Ted walked over and picked up the boy and handed him to Audrey. "Son, you must tell your godmother that comic books are books. Hence the name comic books."

  Audrey held Brian and bounced him a moment before stopping. "Wait, what did you just call me?"

  "His godmother," Mia said. "I suppose we should have asked you first. We’ve just assumed since his birth that you would be the best candidate. We didn't want to make it official until we talked to Father Santos."

  "Well?" Ted asked.

  "I'd be honored. Oh my! Did you hear that, Brian? I'm your godmother," Audrey's voice was so happy that she sang her words.

  Mia and Ted looked at each other, knowing they’d made the right decision. Cid and Stephen would act as Brian's godfathers. Father Santos wasn't pleased by the choice of godfathers, but he was the one who said that Audrey would make an excellent godmother. She already was comfortable with the paranormal genes that ran through Mia's side of the family. Plus, in his eyes, Audrey was a good Catholic girl and would make sure the Martins did not raise a heathen.

  Mia closed her eyes for a moment. Audrey caught the concerned look in Ted's eyes. She motioned for him to follow her into the nursery where they could talk.

  Ted tucked the quilt around Mia before joining them.

  "That's not the Mia I saw a few days ago. I imagine the two of you have some tale to tell," Audrey said, sitting down in the rocker. Brian played with Audrey's bouncy curls while she rocked back and forth.

  "Let's wait for Cid to join us first. Before he shows up, I want to tell you that I'm worried about Mia. She's been different since New Orleans. She went and saw Judy early this morning about her leg and came back disappointed. And before we could talk about it, the circus came to town."

  Brian jabbered to Audrey, moving his arms out wide. "Afeen Afeen," he said.

  "That's his word for elephant," Ted told her.

  "So elephants were involved. I can't wait to hear about your day. I'm on pins and needles," Audrey said to Brian. She looked over at Ted and promised, "I'll talk to Mia privately if it will help. She's one determined lady, but she will listen before making up her mind about whether she’ll allow Angelo to help her."

  "Thank you, Audrey," Ted said sincerely.

  Cid opened the door quietly and stuck his head in.

  "Sssss," Brian said, clapping his hands.

  "Little dude!" Cid said and walked over and helped Brian make a fist before he lightly tapped it with his. "I just looked in the sitting room, and Mia's out cold."

  "She's had a hard day. First, Ralph insisted she try on her matron of the groom outfit, and, also, be fitted for what Ralph claims is going to have Mia finally giving up her cargo pants."

  "I like her in those pants. Man, they can carry a pack-load of stuff," Cid said.

  "Ralph insists that she dress more like a mom."

  Audrey's sharp intake of breath surprised them all. "Sorry, but it's not what you wear that makes you a fabulous mom. It's what’s in here." She patted her chest. "And, Brian, your mommy has the biggest heart in the world. She is amazing and very, very special." Audrey sniffed and wiped a tear away. "Sorry, I just get so worked up when anyone takes a potshot at Mia, even the ones that love her."

  "Ah am ah am," Brian babbled.

  "Yes, we all love your mommy," Audrey said, lifting Brian into a hug.

  Ted felt Cid's hand on his shoulder. Cid, his brother by another mother, would always be a part of Ted's support system. No one was more loyal than this man. Ted gained the strength he needed just by being near the guy.

  He stood watching her sleeping face. She was hurting and whimpered a bit in her sleep. He wanted to stroke her face and hold her tight to him as she had done when he was in need. But Mia was another man's wife, and even though he'd had plenty of time to get used to it, he couldn't. He may have accepted and understood her strong words to him, but he couldn't block how he felt when she lifted an eyebrow at something he'd just said or when he was beside her battling for the innocent and the lost.

  He moved over to the window and looked out, not seeing his reflection in the glass. He was dead, and yet, he could still feel. Was this the madness Mia warned him about? She promised him that if he went batty like her mystic mother, she would personally send him on.

  "A penny for your thoughts?" she said from behind him.

  "Just thinking," he said.

  "Murph, I'm sorry about taking you for granted. I know what it cost you to bring me back. I'm not really worth it, you know."

  He spun around.

  Mia saw how angry he was. She held her words until he had his say.

  "I don't want to think about this world without you. Who would keep my head on straight? Who would remind me that I'm just a dumb farmer?"

  "An axe-carrying dumb farmer," Mia corrected, using a very soft voice. "I don't want to be the one that hurts you."

  Murphy moved to her. He knelt down and took her hand in his. "It's better to hurt and feel than to exist in this void where I feel nothing."

  "You've rejected the light again and again. What are you waiting for?"

  "You."

  It was a simple three letter pronoun, but it cut through Mia like a knife. Guilt washed over her. "I don't know what to say. I hear the light whisper to me. It, or someone in it, calls to me, but I'm not ready. I want to live a life here. I want to see Brian grow up and be Ted's wife as long as he can put up with me and..." Mia looked into Murphy's steely gray eyes and said, "Us."

  "Tell me about the whisperer," Murphy said, releasing her hand.

  "Remember the thing that saved us from the soul eater?"

  "Sticks?"

  "No. He saved me, but the flying thing that held on to you Murphy."

  "The birdman?"

  "It wasn't a birdman. It was something else."

  "Go on."

  "In the light, live beings that the religious communities call angels. They are mighty, winged creatures. When I used the Gris Gris bag, I called one to help me. I saw him again at the library. He spoke to me today, and he called me sister."

  "Good, he's not courting you. I can't fight with an angel; my mother would pull my ears."

  "Why would you fight... Oh, give me a break. The angel isn't interested in me that way. Honestly, there are more things in life than, well, you know..."

  "All us guys can't help falling in love with you," Murphy teased. "Sticks, Angelo, Whitney Pee Pants, Burt, Ted."

  Mia blushed. "First of all, Sticks, that was, well, primal I hope. I didn't do either of us much good in that first encounter. Mia said, pushing off the quilt and raising the leg of her sweatpants.

  The burn had become a festering brand.

  "Judy couldn't help you?"

  Mia shook her head. "She thinks the Gray Ladies can in the aerie, but that means..."

  "Angelo. Mia, he doesn't want to hurt you. He just wants to own you."

  "Gee, that doesn't make me feel any better. I asked Judy, if I got there myself, would the ladies help me?"

  "And..."

  "They will, but she said, with the present condition of my leg
, I'll never survive the climb."

  "I could carry you," Murphy offered.

  "It would mean a long flight over the ocean and then the climb. You are a dear man, but I can't ask you to go through that kind of torture."

  "Then you have to ask Angelo for help."

  "I know. But can I trust him?"

  "I've learned that he is a man of honor."

  Mia looked at Murphy a moment. "If you trust him, then I'm willing to take a chance. There's one thing though that may have Angelo not want to help me."

  "I don't understand."

  "The demon gene has attached itself, and even though Ted is alright with it, I'm not sure that Angelo will be."

  "The judge said it was only a small part of you. You are part birdman too," he reminded her. "Feathers or no feathers, you and Angelo are kin."

  "I wonder if all humans can tap the potential that is moving aimlessly through their cells."

  "Cid would be able to become Superman, flying through the clouds," Murphy said.

  "Did I hear my name?" Cid said, walking into the room from the direction of the guestroom hallway.

  "Murphy and I were just mentioning how cool it would be if you could fly, Clark," Mia said.

  Cid blushed. "Audrey called me Superman today. I'm going to get a big head, and that's the last thing we need."

  "There is only room for one overinflated ego here, and that's me," Ted announced from the master suite doorway. "Audrey is going to take care of putting Brian to sleep. I've invited her to spend the night - if it's alright with you, Mia?"

  "I'd like that. I think it's time we talked to Cid and Audrey about..." Mia pointed to her leg.

  Cid's eyes locked on the wound. He moved quickly to her side. "We've got to get you to the hospital."

  "It's not going to help," Mia said. "Doc Walters is probably going to want to hack it off with a dull knife."

  "Cid, if you could, I'd like some help downstairs. Ted's been carrying me around all day, and he's dead on his feet."

  "Only if you guys tell us what you did today," Cid bartered.

  "Seems to me you've been holding back on your day too," Mia said.

  "I’ll tell you what. I'll take you downstairs, and you can watch me make a midnight feast, and we'll exchange stories."

  "Deal," Mia said.

  "Deal," Murphy echoed.

  "Come on, you wheeler-dealers, time to get moving," Ted said, standing back as Cid picked Mia up and carried her through the door.

  Murphy moved to follow, but Ted held up his hand. "You and I need to parlay."

  Ted waited until he was sure that the others had descended the stairs before talking. "I can't stop you from loving Mia. No more than I can stop loving Mia. I only ask that you don't turn her against me."

  "I am a man of honor."

  "Thank you for reminding me. Thank you for not taking her today."

  "It wasn't me, you had to worry about. The angels are whispering to her. We have to get her some help."

  Ted wasn't surprised. "I heard her side of the conversation. She intends to stay."

  "She may not have much choice. You've seen her leg."

  "I know. I guess we have to convince her to call Angelo."

  "Yes."

  "You know, I think she wouldn't be as stubborn about asking him for help if it wasn't for her fear of how you and I will react," Ted said sagely.

  "I told her Angelo was to be trusted."

  "I don't think so, but I have a different view of the man."

  "Mia loves you. She isn't interested in the birdman or in this ghost man."

  "Yes, but for how long?" Ted asked, not expecting an answer.

  Murphy didn't offer one.

  Chapter Eleven

  Mia was enchanted. "Please let me see the footage again."

  Cid played it for her.

  "Sirens," Mia said. "Is that what you said Father Alessandro called them?"

  Cid and Audrey nodded.

  "I heard the girl singing, and it transported me into a memory," Cid said.

  "Whoa, I've never heard of such a thing," she admitted. “There’s so much that I don’t know. I’ve got goose bumps.”

  "Thank God she wasn't singing, ‘YMCA,’" Ted said. "Remember that, Cid?"

  "You dog, I'd forgotten that until now," Cid complained.

  Audrey and Mia looked at the men expectantly.

  "Oh no, I'm not telling you that story," Cid said.

  Mia and Audrey then fixed their combined gaze at Ted.

  "Come on, Teddy Bear, tell us," Mia said sweetly.

  "You tell them, then you're dead to me, dude," Cid warned.

  Ted scratched his head. The pull of the story was a strong one, but Cid would be humiliated. He drew an imaginary zipper across his lips.

  Mia's phone vibrated before Jake started playing "YMCA."

  She passed the phone around so the others could see Marvin doing the arm motions. "Bravo, Jake!" she said.

  Murphy, unfamiliar with the song reference, leaned back against the wall and watched the group. Mia was two beers into a good time. He admired how she could be in such emotional and physical pain, yet she could ignore it and enjoy her friends.

  Mia looked over and asked, “Murph, have you ever come across anything like sirens before?”

  He shook his head.

  “He hasn’t,” Mia interpreted for Audrey’s benefit. Mia yawned. “Sorry, long day. I hate to be a kill-joy, but I better get to bed. Brian keeps farmer’s hours.” She rose and managed not to wince.

  Ted moved to get up, but she waved him back. “Stay and enjoy yourself.”

  Murphy followed Mia, watching her closely. He was there when she couldn’t take another step and sunk to the floor. He scooped her up and took her up the stairs. Maggie followed him and laid a concerned head on the bed as he pulled the covers up.

  He returned to the kitchen. He moved to the head of the table and politely tapped his axe on it. When he had the three’s attention, he said, “Call Angelo.”

  ~

  “How long has it been like this?” Angelo asked, examining Mia’s leg.

  “It got worse when I left New Orleans,” Mia said.

  “You said you did this to yourself. Please explain,” he said, his dark brows knitting together.

  “There I was, upside down, being carried up into this large tree. I was frightened. I didn’t know if the creature was going to eat me, skin me or what. So I concentrated and used my telekinesis to make him let go. It got hot, burning hot, and he let go.”

  “You said the demon was male.”

  “Sticks is a teenager according to Father Peter.”

  “Demon burns are tricky, but, Mia, he didn’t burn you.”

  “No, I don’t think he would have harmed me intentionally. I didn’t know that then.”

  Angelo sat on the edge of the bed, oblivious that Ted and Murphy were in the room. “Little bird, there is more. You have to open your mind. Let me in.”

  Mia looked over at Ted, and he nodded. She held out her hands. Angelo ignored them and instead pulled Mia upwards until her head touched his.

  Ted felt the weight of a hand on his back and expected to see Cid there. Instead, it was Stephen Murphy giving him comfort. Together they watched as the beautiful, large man, dressed in one of Cid’s robes, held onto Mia as if she were a child.

  Mia opened up her mind to Angelo. He took in the incident in the woods and move quickly and absorbed the whole adventure. He was at first puzzled by Mia’s emotional state, but it became clear as he witnessed the conversation between Mia and Judge Roumain. He gently lay Mia back down on the bed. He placed his hand gently on her face, and she closed her eyes. He looked over at Murphy and Ted. “She’s still afraid of me. After everything I done to show her that I’ve changed, she cowers inside when I’m near.”

  “I think, when she found out about the demon part of her, she assumed that you would want to dispatch her.”

  “Nonsense. All of you humans have this def
ect. I, myself, am tainted by being partly human. When my ancestors were soaring the skies, your kind were rolling in the mud. How easy it would have been to become one with the demon order. Some of your kind were kept as pets by the superhumans, and a treasured few were caressed and mated with angels. You can see it in Sabine more so than Mia.”

  “Yesterday, before Murphy regulated Mia’s heart, she was being called into the light by an angel,” Ted told him.

  “I saw that. But that’s not what was happening. Yes, the light was there as she was near death, but the angel had his own agenda.”

  “He saved us,” Murphy said.

  “But only because he was called. Normally, these guardians would forget about the humans as soon as they took flight, but this guardian is different.”

  “He’s a warrior.”

  “Yes, Stephen, he is. Angels were the first made. They are complicated beings. Lately, they’ve been getting a bad reputation in books and the visual arts. Their dark sides are being shown. They had a purpose once upon a time, just as my kind did. Right now, they face a world that not even they can control. Like me, all they can do is help, or harm, depending on the angel.”

  “What about this angel?” Ted asked.

  “I couldn’t see him clearly. There are so many of them. Orion may know. He’s older and studies the breed.”

  Ted marveled at how comfortable Angelo was with talking about a breed that his mother named him after. Scientifically he was right. Angels, demons, superhumans, birdmen and humans were all just classifications of beings. But still, an angel should be given a higher regard. Surely they had earned that?

  “What about Mia?” Murphy asked. “Can you save her?”

  “From being partly a demon, no. From this,” he said, running a finger over the brand, “Most certainly. What Judy mistook as a demon burn is actually a promise. Mia inadvertently promised herself to Sticks. He’s young and stupidly accepted. Normally the brand is on the lower back. I’ll have to take her back to New Orleans and have a discussion with the youth. Perhaps Judge Roumain will act as moderator. Once she is released, I’ll fly her to the aerie, and the Gray Ladies will be able to heal her.”