Mind Fray

by Alexie Aaron

  Murphy nodded in sympathy.

  “I let the team down.”

  Audrey, who was standing a few feet away taking pictures of the sand fountains, cleared her voice, “Cid, you didn’t let anyone down. You did as you were asked to do. You created a diversion. How about being in my shoes for a moment. I was fed phony information and paraded in front of those mind readers. I’d feel more put out, but I realized that was my job. It was my part in the entrapment of Cezar Gabor. Right now, I’m feeling pretty full of myself and hungry.”

  “Speaking of hungry, where’s Mia?” Cid asked.

  “I think she’s lying down. This whole process is taking a toll on her,” Audrey commented. “I’m baffled by the amount of time it takes to eradicate a spirit from the premises. Matt called, and I missed out on a home cooked meal.”

  Mike strode over and patted Cid on the back. “You’re going to have to snap out of it. Burt’s fighting with Jake. I think you should take the com from him.”

  “I thought Ted was in there,” Cid admitted.

  “Nope, last I saw was him running over to the house,” Mike said. “When I tried to go in to check on both of them, Ma met me at the door and said the two were knocking boots and were not to be disturbed.”

  Audrey blushed. Cid retreated to the trailer, and Murphy pushed back his hat.

  ~

  Mia handed Ted his socks. “You have a horrible wife. Look at these! As soon as we can afford it, I’m going to get you another pair, maybe two.”

  “Let’s not get extravagant. We have a haunt to pay for,” Ted reminded her. “Let’s be glad we’re not paying by the hour. How long has it been?”

  “Let’s see, Angelo had time to cross the ocean and back. I brewed a whole pot of coffee and made love after a wonderful floor show, thank you very much. I think two hours. We’re losing light,” she said, opening the drapes and looking out.

  “I better get over to the command center and start putting together my mini-mega lights.”

  “Can I help?”

  “No, you’re too much of a distraction,” Ted stopped and swiped Mia’s earcom off the kitchen table. “Better put this in. I have a feeling we’re not out of the woods yet.”

  Mia rubbed her arms before accepting the com. “You get the Bella Lugosi award for that comment.”

  ~

  “Wake up, Bev,” Mia prodded her aunt. “You’re drooling.”

  “And you look too damn happy. You’ve had sex,” Bev accused through narrow eyes. “You’re going to wear it out.”

  “What exactly is the it I’m going to wear out?” Mia challenged.

  “Ladies, we can’t be having a catfight while we are patiently waiting for Cezar to…” Gerald turned to Orion and asked, “What’s supposed to happen? I hope he’s just not suspended up there for eternity.”

  “That would drive property values down, not that this sandpit is going to help,” Orion replied.

  “What about Anatolie, Lee Heinz and the other eleven victims?” Mia asked.

  “Hopefully, we can cross them over after,” Father Santos said.

  “Do you want to know what I think?” Mia asked.

  “No, but you’re going to tell us anyway,” Bev droned.

  “I think we should cross them over first. It would disengage the thralls from the master, and he will have nothing else to keep him here.”

  “I think Mia is right,” Angelo said. “I could reel them in, and, Father, you could cross them.”

  “Gee, assembly line crossing. Henry Ford would be so proud,” Bev smirked.

  “Ignore Beverly,” Gerald requested. “She hasn’t eaten in hours.”

  “None of us have,” Mia informed him. “I think there may be some junk food left in the…”

  “Nope, we raided that while you were… otherwise detained,” Orion said flatly. “I’ve eaten my first and last Zebra cake. How disappointing, no zebras inside.”

  It took Mia a moment to get the joke. She was the first to laugh. “You had me going there, Orion.”

  “I have arranged for a feast to be brought here,” Gerald informed them. “You see, I know a guy…”

  “Who knows a guy,” Mia couldn’t help saying.

  Bev jumped in, “That knows a guy, who…”

  Angelo couldn’t resist, “Knows a guy.”

  Orion looked at them as if they were mental.

  “Alright, you guys, I get the point,” Gerald said good-naturedly. “But really, this guy owns a food truck.”

  Mia forgot herself and spun around clapping. “Hotdogs, hotdogs, we’re having hotdogs!”

  “Before you make a fool out of yourself, Orion, these aren’t canines but sausages served on a bread roll,” Angelo explained.

  Burt and Mike stood watching them from across the lot. “Mia’s having a good time it appears,” Mike pointed out.

  “This is like a game of red rover. You remember, red rover, red rover, let so and so come over, don’t you?” Burt asked.

  “Yes, I remember the game. Why? Oh, you’re thinking there are definite sides here. The all so powerful OZ and PEEPs.”

  “I’m wondering where Mia’s loyalties lie?” Burt questioned.

  “Right now, whoever is supplying hotdogs. Come to think of it, red rover, red rover, let Mikey come over…”

  “Them and us?” a gruff voice sounded beside Burt. He turned, and no one was there.

  “Murphy, is that you?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Am I being paranoid or are Father Santos and Gerald Shem poaching Mia right now?”

  “Mia’s heart is with PEEPs,” Murphy assured him. “She’s having a social.”

  “You mean she’s socializing,” Burt realized.

  “Yes.”

  “Head’s up PEEPers,” Ted said in his best fairground announcer’s voice, broadcasted to all channels. “Anyone wishing to participate in, or witness, a crossing over, head to the far side of the lot. Be careful, there are still vibrations being picked up. Murphy, it was suggested that you remain with me and Jake in the trailer, over and out.”

  “Did you hear that?” Burt asked.

  CRACK!

  “Good. I’m going to film this thing. Who knows, it may just come out okay.”

  Murphy shook his head. If Burt wanted to take pictures of the light, so be it. He, on the other hand, was going to stay as far away from its pull, and Father Santos, as possible.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Orion paced back and forth, occasionally looking up at the suffering, but still in existence, Cezar Gabor, wizard level eight. Could the book been wrong? Did the mentalist advance beyond the eighth level?

  “Are you okay?” Mia asked, timing her paces to match Orion’s.

  “I can’t understand why this is taking so long. Clearly the elixir is hurting the entity. He’s lost all of his possessions…”

  “Not all of them,” Mia reminded him. “I see a string of spirits needing our help.”

  “Strings that are possibly attaching him here still,” Orion pondered. “I’ve never seen a crossing over.”

  “I find that surprising.”

  “Mia, the Brotherhood of the Wing isn’t just concerned with the paranormal world. Some of us fall under the education wing, pardon the pun, and we record the history that can’t be written. We work on real life conflicts in real time. The warriors may have more flash, but it’s the scribes that do the most good. If it weren’t for a scribe, I wouldn’t know how to defeat Cezar. Some people say it’s not the words, it’s the actions. Or actions speak louder than words, but in this case…”

  Mia watched as a sudden realization crossed Orion’s face. “What is it?”

  “I forgot the damn words!”

  “I heard you say, ‘Cezar, dark wizard of the eighth level, I condemn you to death.’ Weren’t these the right words?” Mia questioned.

  “If he were alive in the first place! How could I have been so stupid? Angelo! Stop! Step away from the spirits!” he said exc
itedly. “I need a moment with Cezar first.”

  Mia looked upwards and pondered how this was going to be achieved, when a humming bird flew past her ear, followed by a large black bird. She turned around and saw male clothing tossed on the ground behind her. A stunned Audrey and traumatized Cid stood looking at the spot where Mia assumed the two birdmen had shed their garments. “These guys drop their pants faster than I can change my mind,” she joked, hoping to lighten the situation. She walked up to Audrey. “It’s a penis, a very large one but still just a penis,” Mia said, lightly shaking Audrey. When Audrey blinked, Mia moved on to Cid. “Come on, that’s just not natural. Women are looking for more than size,” she patted him on the back. Mia touched her ear. “Teddy Bear, Superman has found his kryptonite, over.”

  “Really, was it bigger than a breadbox?”

  “If it holds French bread, then no,” Mia answered. I’m going to have Audrey take the fella back to the command post. Oh dear, I said post, he’s gone all pale again,” Mia said, studying Cid’s face. “Audrey, a little help here?” Mia asked.

  Audrey walked over. “Did you see the…”

  Mia frantically waved her off. “No, I didn’t, and neither should you. Now take Cid back to Ted. I think he needs to lie down. Angelo can be a bit intimidating naked.”

  “Angelo? Hell, Mia, it was Orion. I want an Oompa Loompa now!” she whined, imitating Veruca Salt.

  “Oh, damn, I’m sure that seven levels of being politically incorrect have been breached,” Mia warned. “That’s a level thirty wizard, a…”

  “Humming bird, how cute is that?” Audrey blurted out, mesmerized by what was taking place above them.

  “Shush, you’re in shock, be quiet.” Mia took both investigators by the hand and started to drag them across the field. “Ted, I’d appreciate a little help here.”

  “I’m giving you as little help as I can.”

  “Tom, where’s Tom?”

  “On his way. What’s an Oompa Loompa?” Ted asked. “Oh, Jake’s showing me… Nah, the guy’s not orange. Mia, is Orion orange?”

  Mia swallowed her annoyance. “No, he’s not orange. Have some decorum. There is a battle of wizards overhead, and I’m missing it, all because I have two people shell-shocked by dicks!”

  “Oh, Mia, we Martins don’t use that word, shame on you,” Ted scolded, barely able to keep from laughing.

  Tom met her halfway. “I’ll take them from here. You go and enjoy yourself.”

  Mia smiled weakly. “You can see them, the paranormal, can’t you?”

  “Yes, the sight hasn’t left me.”

  “Then why aren’t you over there watching?” she asked.

  “Because it’s not my job,” he said simply. “I’m repaying my favor by being crowd control.”

  “I have a feeling by the end of this, I’m going to owe you.”

  Tom winked at her. “We’ll talk about that later.” He cleared his voice and took on an authoritative tone, “It seems, Mr. Garrett, I’ve had trouble with you before. And who’s this young lady, your accomplice?”

  Mia watched as the deputy took control of Audrey and Cid with a practiced ease. She admired the way Tom could compartmentalize. She could learn a lot from her friend.

  Orion morphed into a small but mighty birdman. Angelo hovered beside him. They moved closer to the twisting spirit.

  “Cezar, my apologies for the torment of the last few hours,” Orion said. “I had no idea my error would cause you such pain. Because of this I’m going to offer you an option. If you sever your bonds with the darkness, I will release you to go into the light.”

  The mind reader lashed out, and the two birdmen only escaped the mind blast by milliseconds.

  “That’s not very sporting of you,” Orion said, firming up the foundations of his mind block. “I take it you don’t wish to take the plea deal.”

  Cezar gained energy and began to bubble.

  Mia watched as the spirit line began to rise. She ran and willed herself to hold Lee Heinz’s hand. “Come on, you have free will. He can’t hurt you if you stand up to him,” she pleaded.

  Bev saw Mia’s body start to rise with the twelve. She ran over and grasped hold of her niece, hoping their combined body weight would hold the line. When her feet left the ground, she called out, “Shem, if there ever was a time to ride in on your white horse, it’s now!”

  Gerald closed his eyes. He tried to connect with Cezar, but that doorway had been shut and sealed securely. Instead he pushed into Anatolie’s mind house. He ran down the corridors and found what was left of the mentalist cowering in a far corner. “Get up. You started this, you must finish it,” Shem ordered.

  “I can’t. He’s too powerful,” Anatolie whimpered.

  “Are you not a Gabor?”

  Anatolie looked up and nodded.

  “You’re from a long line of great mentalists.”

  “Cezar is too strong.”

  “Cezar is a carnival act compared to you. He bargained to get his power. You developed your own.”

  “Uta said…”

  “Uta is a liar. Come on, Anatolie, don’t be made a fool of. Use your God-given abilities. I know you can do this.” Gerald reached out a hand.

  Anatolie took it and stood. “You must be a great wizard to spend so much time in a dead man’s mind.”

  “I’m no Gabor. I’m going to leave you now. You’re going to end this once and for all with your cousin. You are stronger than him. You are from the noble part of your line. Do not let the name of Gabor always be tainted by your cousin. Come out into the light, and conquer the darkness.”

  Gerald pulled out of Anatolie’s mind. He was weakened by the excursion, and if it weren’t for an alert Mike, he would have fallen. Instead Mike gave him his arm.

  “Hang with me for a while,” Mike offered. “I could use your sight. All this light show is puzzling. I can’t tell the good guys from the bad. For instance, it looks like three pulsating lights up there circling around each other. Mia and Bev are holding on to what looks to me like a string of Christmas lights. Oh wait, look. One of the strung lights is rising.

  “Anatolie has found his mettle,” Gerald said with satisfaction.

  Orion saw a slight change in Cezar. It looked to him like the wizard was weakening. The effects of the potion seemed to be taking hold.

  “Cousin Cezar, I, Anatolie, request that you let go of the souls you have enslaved.”

  Surprised but determined not to show weakness, Cezar spat, “How dare you talk to me, you weak little nothing.”

  “No, you are mistaken. I’m not a weak little nothing. I am Gabor the Great!”

  “A sideshow magician,” Cezar spat. “You dishonor the great name of Gabor with your theatrics.”

  “NO! You dishonor us. Your treaty with the darkness destroyed our family. Your liaison with Uta has sullied the good name of the women of our family. You have taken away our heritage, reduced us to peasants.”

  “If I was so horrible, why did you call me, cousin?”

  “I was greedy. I wanted more. I listened to Uta when I should have shown her the door. I brought on my own tragic death, but I’ll not exist in this nightmare anymore.”

  “So leave, seek out your light. I have more that would gladly take your place.”

  “No, you will release them. They are not your thralls, but victims of your power. Release them. I command you!”

  Orion watched as Anatolie raised his hands and directed his mind power through his fingertips. Sparks flew as the friction of the two realms of light and earth fought each other as he blasted towards Cezar.

  Cezar had to use all his might to deflect the mind blast. In doing so, he lost the spectral energy tie.

  Mia and Bev fell as the spirit line was disengaged. Mia landed on top of her aunt, still holding the hand of Lee Heinz. He looked at Mia and said, “You did it.”

  “It wasn’t me. Look up,” she instructed.

  “Get your bony ass off me,” Bev complained. �
��You’re ruining the crease of my sweats.”

  “Who the hell irons sweatpants?” Mia asked getting up. She kept her gaze upwards as she negotiated over the sprawled body of Bev.

  Bev chose to stay down. Laying there, she had an excellent view of what was going on. Mia sat down next to her aunt. “Thank you for the assist.”

  “I couldn’t help myself. I saw my future nephew in danger. Who’s going to take care of me in my old age, I asked. Certainly not Sabine’s girls. They are already in La La Land. With this kid, I stand a chance of a good quality retirement home.”

  Mia shook her head at the lack of sentimentality Bev was expressing. “Well, on behalf of your next meal ticket, I thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now back up, you’re in my way.”

  Orion saw the loss of the energy generated by the lost souls was weakening Cezar.

  Anatolie reached out with his mind and physically turned Cezar to face him. “You are ceasing to be, cousin. Take the deal and go into the light. Don’t waste your last chance at redemption. You’ve hurt so many people, but yet you can be forgiven. Just reach out and…”

  Cezar shot out a powerful blast of power. It encircled Anatolie and pulled the spirit towards him.

  “He’s going to cannibalize his cousin,” Orion shouted.

  Already anticipating this scenario, Angelo flew into Anatolie, knocking him from Cezar’s grasp. The birdman took a full hit to his wings and plummeted towards the ground.

  Mia stood up, reaching out with all that was in her, sending arms of protection to catch Angelo, stopping his fall. Little wisps of smoke signaled heated feathers. Mia set him down gently. She grabbed Angelo’s jacket, ran over and beat out any tiny flames that had caught hold. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she repeated over and over as she extinguished the fires.

  Angelo caught her hand and said, “I’m fine. I can’t fly though. Orion is all alone.”