by Alexie Aaron
Ted walked up. “I’ve got to bring the truck down. Burt’s too lazy to climb the hill.”
“Where’s Mia?” Cid asked.
“I expect over the Atlantic by now,” Ted said and fell into silence.
“What are you thinking?” Cid asked him.
“That I’m not sure it was me that okayed him taking her or if it was Beth. Either way, there’s not much I can do about it now.”
“I don’t think it works like that, but I know you made the right decision,” Cid said.
“I hope so, or I’ve got some explaining to do to Brian, and… Oh my god, she better be back in time for Ralph’s wedding!”
~
Mia opened her eyes to see a few familiar faces over her. She smiled and tried to rise. Idra held her down.
“Stay still, Mia,” Elizabeth said. “We were just checking to see if you could be brought around. You have some very interesting things going on.”
“Orion had to do some field healing,” Mia said.
“I can see that. Now sleep.”
“So how long had she been fighting with the witch tree spike in her side?” Elizabeth asked Angelo.
“I caught her in midflight, and I think she fought for an hour after that.”
“It’s worked its way dangerously close to her heart. It’s a good thing you brought her to us.”
“This time I had the permission of her husband,” Angelo told Elizabeth who looked visibly relieved. She motioned to Angelo. “We found this,” she said, holding out Mia’s left wrist.
Angelo studied the tiny feather.
“That’s a scribe marking,” he identified.
“Orion,” Idra identified.
“If you say so. He’s her blood if this has happened,” Elizabeth explained.
“Is he her biological father? No, Amanda is not his type. Grandfather, maybe,” Angelo worked out.
“What do you want us to do, Angelo?” Elizabeth asked, moving away from the table to consult apart from the others.
“Heal her, return all that has been taken from her, including what Refugia has taken. I want Mia to have a choice in the direction she takes her life.”
“What if she doesn’t choose us?”
“She will have to learn how to control her body, just like we did.”
“Elizabeth, come,” Idra called.
She moved quickly to Mia’s healing altar.
“Look,” the healer said, pointing to the exposed ribs. “They’re marked.”
Angelo looked over the women’s shoulders and saw what had caused so much excitement. The witch tree spike was blunted at the end. It had been stopped from penetrating Mia’s heart by an energy field. This field was being generated by the strange symbols recently etched into Mia’s ribcage.”
“Angelo, that’s angel armor,” Elizabeth identified. “We can’t remove the ghost’s handprints on her heart or repair the damage that has been done to her before the armor attached itself.”
“I’m not sure what you mean?” Angelo asked her.
“Before, we were able to lift her sorrow. We can no longer do so because the armor prevents it,” she explained.
“I was wrong to ask you to do that before,” Angelo admitted. “Mia needs her sorrow; it makes her understand things better. In some ways, it makes her stronger.”
“We will heal her physically, but she will have to heal herself emotionally,” Elizabeth told Angelo.
“Do your best. I have to seek out a few answers, but I will return soon to take her back to her husband and son.”
“Yes, I think that is best. May I suggest you or I counsel her before she leaves on her situation?”
“Maybe you would be the best for the task. Mia’s trust in me is tentative at best.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“So am I.”
Angelo prepared himself to enter the vault. He stripped off his robe and bathed his skin in holy oil. He knelt in prayer, asking for forgiveness and strength before he walked into the place of storage and the place of learning.
He found Orion already there updating Mia’s page.
“Shouldn’t we start another book for her? There is too much to say on that one page,” Angelo commented.
“Humans rarely need more than a page, Angelo.”
“Mia isn’t exactly human, is she?”
“So you know,” Orion said.
“Yes. Mia is your granddaughter. But did you know she has angel armor?”
Orion was visibly surprised. “How?”
“Sariel gave her weapons that were sized especially for her,” Angelo reported.
“Mia thought it was a joke. She told me she asked for his sword to fight Roumain with, and he laughed as she tried to hold it. He put… Angelo, he put his hand on her back. Sariel gave her the armor when he gave her the strength to lift his sword.”
“If it were just for the moment, he would have taken it back,” Angelo reasoned.
“I think Sariel sees something in Mia. It could be kin.”
“I hope that is all it is,” Angelo said jealously.
“Angelo, you have to let Mia go. She’s made her choice not once but twice. She has chosen Ted. You had your chance, and you let it go.”
“How do I stand by and watch her age, live her human life, and see her die an old woman?”
“I think Stephen asked himself the same question, and the answer is, you have no choice if you love her.”
“Is he the one?” Angelo asked Orion. “Is Stephen Murphy the one she truly loves?”
“I don’t know. My money is on the human, but a woman’s heart is a mysterious thing. They have the largest capacity for love. She could be loving all of you at the same time, but with Sariel’s armor around her chest, we will never know. Only Mia knows the answer.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Mia moved to the shaded bench under an olive tree. She drew her robe around her, feeling a chill from the cool mountain breeze. She heard Angelo’s footsteps on the path. She scooted over, giving him room to sit on the bench. She patted the seat, inviting him to sit.
“It’s a beautiful night. The stars call to me,” he said.
“This place is so beautiful, Angelo. You are lucky to have it as a home.”
“It could be your home.”
“Thank you, but I prefer the farm.”
“Has Elizabeth spoken to you?”
“Yes, she told me. It’s a lot to take in. Thank you for requesting that I be made whole.”
“You will have to learn to control it.”
“Will you teach me?”
Angelo turned, putting his hand on his heart. “Mia, I would be honored. When?”
“Soon. I have a lot of things to sort out, and I will want to bring Brian with me. Is that alright?”
“You’re not leaving Ted are you?”
“No, but I will need to mend my marriage before I can leave him for more than day.”
“He could come too.”
“You would bring a man of science into the aerie? No, Angelo, I wouldn’t do that to the Gray Ladies.”
“How about the countess of Sardinia’s villa?”
“That may be better. You’re alright with Ted?” she asked.
“I, like Murphy, have no choice.”
“One day you’re going to figure out that you just have a crush on me.”
“What is a crush?”
“Oh, it’s a painful obsession humans get when they’re young. My crush was for Whitney Martin.”
“He was not the man for you.”
“So you said.”
“Sariel has given you a special gift, Mia.”
“I didn’t ask for the gift.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s still there. The extra protection will come in handy. You are very clumsy.”
Mia laughed.
“Mia, I have changed. You have changed me. I will teach you, and you will teach me. Together, we will learn to be better beings.”
M
ia raised an eyebrow skeptically.
“You look like your grandfather when you do that. Most irritating.”
Mia laughed. “Do you know how much joy it gives me to have a grandfather?”
“No, tell me.”
“I grew up in a strange household. My trips to my grandmother’s house were highlights. I didn’t know then how my parents restricted her actions during the visits. She couldn’t teach me magic, but we did have marvelous talks. To have someone older and wiser to converse with is such a joy.”
“I feel this way with the sages.”
“I envy you that.”
“I will take you home tomorrow, first light,” Angelo said.
“Thank you.”
Angelo left her staring out at the stars.
~
Mia stopped to look in at Brian before she tiptoed into the master bedroom. Mia looked at Ted’s closed eyes and saw the rapid eye movement. Ted was dreaming. Probably inventing something in his sleep, Mia thought. She didn’t want to wake him so she slid into bed beside him and fell asleep.
“You’re not snoring,” he said, waking her up.
Mia opened her eyes and stared up at him. “Hello to you too,” she said. “Did you miss me?”
“Maybe.”
Mia pouted.
“Okay, I missed you lots. Brian gave me hell. He’s no longer happy being one of the guys. He’s a mama’s boy.”
“I’m too selfish to be disappointed at this, Teddy Bear.”
“Is the birdman around?”
“He’s not here. He dropped me off and went back to his penthouse.”
“He’s a strange bird.”
“I don’t want to talk about Angelo. I want to talk about the wonderful patch you put in my head.”
“It wasn’t my best work. I thought about it, and I could have…”
“You did just fine. The Gray Ladies were impressed.”
“Of course they were. After all, I am a genius,” Ted said. “What did they do to you?”
“Healed me. Put back things that were taken away. Found a few things. Raised my left boob.”
“They touched lefty!”
“Yes. Oh, and I can toss my reading glasses.”
“Somehow, I get the feeling you didn’t like being a naughty librarian.”
Mia laughed. “Theodore Martin, it has come to my attention that you have been talking too loudly in the library.”
“I have.”
“I think I will have to teach you to be quiet.”
“You will.”
“Come here for your first lesson,” Mia said, pulling him over her. “Shush, not a word. Time for you to do a little research.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
~
Cid was whistling when Burt entered the office.
Burt looked at the investigator, his neck encased in a cervical collar. “Why are you so happy?”
“Mia came home early this morning.”
“How do you know?”
Cid tapped his ear. “They tried to be quiet. Ted was remarkably restrained, but Mia…”
Burt’s memory of Mia had him sympathizing. “You need a set of noise-cancelling headphones,” he suggested.
“I do. What brings you here so early?”
“I wanted to see if I could patch together enough film for an episode. Audrey has recommended that the owners demolish the mall. She said that there was no redeeming feature to the building. That mold and rot made it a hazardous place to be in, let alone heal in.”
“What about finding out about the prisoners and the architect?”
“She said she was going to work on that project with Orion when he had the time. He has communicated with her and said something about having to visit the Dark Vault. Evidently it takes a long time to get permission, and he has to prepare himself to enter it. It could take some time before we have any information to act on,” Burt said, sitting down. He brought up what he had so far and stopped at the live action sequence. “Now this is amazing.”
“Jake said it’s number four on YouTube right now. Number two is the BBB contest.”
“For a girl who doesn’t like the limelight, she sure is a fame whore,” Mia said from the doorway.
Burt turned around and impulsively rushed over and picked her up and hugged her. “You had us so scared. I thought for sure Angelo talked you into staying.”
“Aerie food isn’t as good as Cid’s, or I probably would have stayed longer,” Mia said, gently withdrawing from Burt’s bear hug.
“Hey, Cid. How’s the neck?”
“I have a small crack along…”
Mia walked over, peeled off the cervical collar, and placed her hand on his neck.
Cid felt an odd tingle. He could feel the stability returning. “How the hell did you do that?” he asked.
“The Gray Ladies had time to teach me one trick,” Mia said, winking. “In our line of work, I thought bone healing would come in handy.”
“Amen to that. Mia, how do you feel, really?” Burt asked, looking her over and wondering why she looked younger than when they met.
“I’ve lost a lot of my anger, but I have more questions than answers. I’m sorry I bailed on the cleanup. I bet Dupree is pissed.”
“Yes,” Burt said. “But he’s used to it.”
“Cid, I was going to take Brian for a walk up on the hillside. I can’t seem to find the old stroller.”
“Ted was working on it. I imagine it’s in the shop.”
“Thanks. It’s good to see you guys,” Mia said and walked into the barn. She found the stroller. Ted had repainted it. Mia tested the areas and found them dry, so she pulled it off the workbench. Something fell out of the basket. Mia bent down and picked the items up. They were little wings to attach to each side of the stroller.
“They’re Brian’s training wings,” Ted said from behind her. He had Brian dressed, ready for their outing.
“Oh how cute!” Mia exclaimed as she slid them into place.
“I thought that, if his great grandpop is a bird, then…”
Mia hugged Ted. “You’re wonderful.”
“I know.”
~
“And then Mommy was carried off into the sunset by your daddy,” Mia said as she pushed the stroller up the path.
“Ooooh,” Brian said as Murphy arrived.
“Hello, Murph, how’s it hanging?” Mia asked.
Murphy wasn’t sure he liked Mia’s slang greeting. “You were missed.”
“You were missed too,” she said, putting her hand on her heart. “What do you think of Brian’s refurbished stroller?”
“It has wings,” Murphy said, looking at Mia. “Just like you.”
“Is that going to be a problem?” she asked.
“No,” he said, not really meaning it. “You’re a clumsy girl. Probably get stuck in a tree.”
Mia laughed. “Ted and I talked. I don’t think we’re going to build up here. It’s too pretty to spoil.”
“Good,” he agreed.
“I’m going to do my best to make Ted and I work.”
Murphy nodded.
“Thank you for sticking by me.”
“My pleasure.”
“Brian and I were thinking of going fishing. Do you think you could teach me to row a boat?”
Murphy looked at Mia and scrunched his face up, thinking of all the disasters that could occur with Mia at the oars of a boat. “You practice first, then take Brian.”
“Yes. I think that’s wise.”
Ted stared up at them. Cid walked over and patted him on the back. “So you got your wife back.”
“Yes I did.”
“Any strings?”
“Not that I can tell.”
“Do you want to know what they’re talking about?”
“I wish I wasn’t so insecure,” Ted confessed.
“Rowing a boat.”
Ted looked at Cid. “But Mia is incapable of the task. We’ve all tried to teach her.”
“Poor guy, we might want to warn him,” Ted said.
“Nah, I think he knows. Murphy just likes to be around Mia.”
“We all do,” Ted said and sighed.
Chapter Thirty-two
Angelo’s penthouse sparkled. The guests were amazed at how just crossing the threshold made them feel as they were transported back in time. The invitation requested that the mode of dress would be 1920-1940s formal.
A white-jacketed man played on the Steinway grand piano in the corner of the large living room. Guests moved past waiters offering them a pre-ceremony cocktail of sparkling champagne or a martini and expensive hors d’oeuvres.
Audrey, dressed as a Ginger Rogers in The Gay Divorcee, held on tight to Matt’s arm as he navigated her around the room.
Mike winked at her from the bar as she floated by. He was dressed in a tux with tails, his hair slicked back. His date for the evening was his mother, Glenda, who at seventy plus was doing justice to a Rosalind Russell gown.
Gerald was deep into an argument with Bev at the first table they passed as they entered the large outdoor patio. Tonight, it resembled a dinner dancing club with a stage you would find on the set of a Fred Astaire movie. A dance floor had been laid over the expensive, imported tiles. There were dozens of white-clothed tables for six, offset so that you had to wade through them to get to the front.
A young man asked for their names and guided them to their table.
Cid and Burt were already there, sitting uncomfortably and pulling at their collars. Audrey couldn’t help herself; she took off her elbow-length gloves so she could straightened both men’s ties before she sat down. “Just until the ceremony is over,” she said, smacking Cid’s hand as he attempted to take his tie off. “Everyone looks so handsome and beautiful,” she said, hugging on to Matt’s arm. Ralph and Bernard have such interesting friends.”
As if on cue, Angelo walked up with Maria, the countess of Sardinia, on his arm. He was breathtakingly handsome in a double-breasted black suit. The countess had on a flowing cream-colored gown. She had around her throat an emerald necklace that matched her earrings. Angelo stopped and introduced himself to Matt and then introduced Maria.