Relics

by Wilson, Maer

  She probably didn't realize that she had spoken for Devon, but I bet he would have nodded in agreement had he been there.

  I smiled and promised her I definitely would. She gave a small wave before popping out.

  I filled Thulu in on what she'd said.

  “That went much better than I expected it to.”

  “Ain't love grand?” was his answer.

  “Indeed.”

  Next I called Seung Kang. He appeared after a few moments, dressed neatly in a short sleeved white shirt and dark slacks. I caught the scent of some spice from him, but didn't identify it right away. I invited him to sit in a chair next to us. Rather than drag it out, I explained right away what was going on with his relic, the panel Jones had taken. I gave him details on the portals and different relics, explaining who and what Jones was and who he’d been in the Tang Dynasty.

  Seung looked startled when I relayed that information. “He was one of the sorcerers?”

  “Yes, and he is the one who commissioned the panels to begin with.”

  “Do you believe him?” was his pointed question.

  I looked into his eyes. “Yes, Mr. Kang, I do believe him.” I explained that Jones intended to banish the Light Ones and close their portal with the relics.

  “I have seen one of these Light Ones. I like that name better than 'angels,'” he said thoughtfully. “I did not like the way the air felt around him.”

  “Anything you can share with us? Your impressions would be very helpful.”

  He thought for a long moment. “We have always been taught that angels are good. I do not think the being I saw was good. He came to find me after I was dead, asking about the panel. I told him it had been stolen after my death, and I was not sure who had it.” He looked up at me. “This was truth. I might have suspected who had it, but I did not know for certain. I also did not know of the relic shown on the panel.”

  He paused again. “This being frightened me. It may seem odd for someone who is dead to be afraid, but I was. I am not sure what he could do to me, but I am certain it would not be pleasant. He was called away at that moment. He told me to contact him if I received any information. His name is Gabriel.”

  He stopped again, took a breath and went on. “This was before I met you. I did not tell him much of anything. I'm glad he left me alone after that.”

  “How long ago was this, do you know?”

  He shook his head. “I am not certain. After I was dead.” He paused. “So you have some mysteries to solve. Some are from a very long time ago. How do you plan to proceed?”

  I shook my head. “Mr. Kang, we're not sure exactly.” We hadn't told him about the Masons, just that there were others involved and our leads were slim.

  He was silent for several minutes.

  “I will do what I can to try to get some information for you.”

  To say I was surprised would be an understatement. Two ghosts in a row offering their help? And clients of ours that we were supposed to be helping, but had failed. Mr. Kang smiled at me.

  “You are surprised, Mrs. Thulukan, but you should not be. I will tell you now that I do not want this Gabriel coming after me, but I also do not want him in a world where my family lives. I must give this some thought, but perhaps I may be able to lend assistance.”

  “Mr. Kang, thank you. We will greatly appreciate any help you can give. Thulu has had some twitches but nothing concrete about the relics. We would be in your debt.”

  He smiled. “Quid pro quo.” He stood and gave a short bow. “I will keep you updated.” He left with a small flourish that seemed almost jaunty.

  “That went way too well.” I don't trust things when they go too smoothly. In spite of portals to other worlds, things had mostly been going smoothly. It wasn't natural.

  I gave Thulu a hug and put my head against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, something I always felt calming. He put his arms around me and laid his head on top of mine. We sat there for several long minutes.

  The phone sang, and I reached into my pocket and gave Thulu a quick kiss before answering it. It was Nana Fae. I put her on speaker and sat back on the sofa.

  “You guys okay?”

  “Yeah, Nana, we are. Are you?”

  “Yes, dear. I just wanted to be sure all was well. This layer of calmness is interfering with my ability, I think.”

  “Really? Thulu and I were talking about that a bit ago. I don't trust it.”

  “I'm not sensing anything diabolical about it, Fiona. Just some weirdness. Well, keep me posted if you find anything new.”

  I promised to call if there was any news. I ended the call, stood and stretched.

  Thulu moved to the computer. He had that preoccupied look he got when he was sensing something.

  “I'm going to jump in the shower if our guests are done.”

  I went upstairs, saw the door to the guest room was shut and went to our bathroom. I pulled a towel from the cabinet. Going to my vanity, I did a quick facial, checking my skin for blemishes or anything that might need special attention.

  After throwing my clothes down the laundry chute, I turned the waterfall on and all the showerheads, including the wands.

  I got in the shower, closing the door behind me. I walked across the pebble floor, through the spray of all the nozzles, to the waterfall. I stood under the cascading water and let the music of falling water soak into my mind. After I'd bathed, I curled up on the seat behind the waterfall, resting my head against the smooth rocks of the wall.

  I must have lost track of time because I heard a voice say, “You're going to turn into a prune.”

  “Mhmm,” I answered.

  The door opened. A cool draft of air wafted my way, swirling the steam in the shower. I peeked out to see Thulu shutting the door behind him. It was a great view.

  “So, have I ever mentioned that I'm a soul reader?”

  I moved forward to clear the small waterfall and gave him a suspicious look. One never knew with Thulu.

  “No, I don't think you've shared that bit of information.”

  “I'm quite good at it, actually.” He sat on one of the side seats and motioned to the one across from him. I moved to the other seat.

  Nodding, he continued, “I'm quite surprised you didn't know this. In some circles, I'm known as the Great and Wonderful Reader of Souls.”

  “Oh, really? I'm shocked that this could have escaped my attention all these years.”

  “Well, this is the perfect time for me to read yours. Being that you're all pruney.”

  I looked at my hands. They were pretty pruney. I shrugged and held out my hand palm up.

  “Oh, honestly, love. Not your hand. Give me your foot.”

  I giggled. “Okay you meant 'sole' reader.”

  He nodded. “Absolutely. The lines in the sole of the foot can tell a lot about a person's future,” he added wisely.

  “Uh-huh, I'll bite.” I lifted my foot and rested it on his knee. Thulu peered intently at it for a moment.

  “Aha! I see that tomorrow your adoring husband will let you sleep in and then cook a wonderful breakfast.”

  “Thulu!” I protested. “You can't predict things that you can make happen. It doesn’t count.”

  He looked at me in mock disbelief. “Do you question the Great and Wonderful Reader of Soles?”

  “I'm just saying it doesn’t count to say something is going to happen when you know very well you are the one who can make it happen.”

  “Does that mean you don't want breakfast?”

  “I didn't say that.” I backtracked a bit. “Just that you are making a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

  He ignored me and peered at the bottom of my foot once again. “I also see in your future –” He looked in my eyes, then back at my foot. “There's some fog here. No, wait a moment. I don't think it's fog. I think – yes, I'm sure of it. I see shower steam.” He looked up again, dimpling at me. “I foresee, in your very near future, fabulous shower sex.”
>
  I watched him closely. He raised an eyebrow.

  “Aren't you going to make a smart-ass comment about more self-fulfilling prophecies?” he asked innocently.

  “No, I think I'll just let you fulfill that prophecy.”

  And he did.

  Chapter 30

  I woke up at my usual late time the next morning. Thulu had fulfilled that prophecy, too. I showered and got dressed in comfy shorts and a T-shirt and went downstairs to the kitchen. Romeo and Juliet sat on encyclopedias at the kitchen table. The kids were in their usual mid-air positions. Thulu came back in the door from the dining room as I came in from the hall. He was on his cell phone.

  “I'll let her know. She's awake now.” He ended the call and returned the phone to his pocket.

  He looked at the kids. “Hey, Parker, Jenna? Would you mind checking on our office again? Just to be safe?”

  They smiled, agreed and then popped out. Thulu waited to get the all-clear from me.

  “They're gone.”

  “That was Reo. Carolyn's awake. Understandably very upset, but dealing with it. The story they told her was that she had been sedated for her own good. She hadn't been able to handle Jenna's death and tried to kill herself. Reo thought she was surprised and embarrassed and seems determined to not freak out this time.” Thulu rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “He wasn't happy at having to lie to her. I don't think any of us are, except for Jones, but right now I don't have a better idea. She's not talking about their move from Chicago, and for now they're still using the Thomas name, since that's what's on their ID. They're just car accident victims, as far as she's concerned.” He joined Romeo and Juliet at the table. I followed after getting my morning coke. I helped myself to bacon and eggs and buttered toast as I listened to Thulu.

  “She remembers the family going out to do some sightseeing out of the city, when another car sideswiped them. Their car rolled at least twice down an incline before it smashed into something. She remembers her child limp in the child seat in the back and her husband unconscious with blood on his head before she blacked out. That's the last thing she remembers before she woke up. She doesn’t remember waking up before.”

  “Geez, no surprise there, since she didn't wake up before.” I was disgusted.

  Thulu found the lie as distasteful as I did. “Reo tried to read her mind to find out what she knew about the dagger. He asked how long she'd lived here to trigger those memories. He and the other telepath found out she knows about the dagger, but not where Matt hid it. She wonders if the accident is connected to it.”

  “Sounds as if Jones did a good job of brainwashing her,” I said acidly. “What about Matt?”

  Thulu shook his head. “Reo said he and the other telepath were able to connect, but that Matt was very resistant, refused to form any sort of environment and would barely talk to them. The other telepath felt they shouldn't push just yet. They did let Matt know his wife really needed him and planted the car accident story.”

  “I'm telling you that lie is going to come back and bite us in the ass. I just know it.” I shook my head and Thulu looked at me unhappily.

  “La Fi?” said Juliet. “I know this is unpalatable for you, but the truth would be far worse right now. Sometimes, a little peace is worth the lie. Why burden these people? Let them deal with the death of their child.”

  I thought about that. I turned my coke can in my hands, wiping the condensation off the can. “I guess so. I just hate lying. Protecting Jones on this seems wrong to me. I hope someday we can tell them the truth.”

  “I know you don't know me or Romeo or any of us. Please believe this, though. I've known Belus and Aurelia for centuries. They are both close to – Jones. Aurelia especially counts him as a friend, and she doesn't give her friendship easily. That tells me Jones has something about him that's worthwhile. And maybe it's not a bad thing for these people to think they had a car accident. It might even be kinder, in the long run.”

  “I'm a believer in the truth, Miss Juliet. No matter how bad it is. I don't like lying is all. It's just something I was brought up to not do.” I felt a chill and looked around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. I wondered how I'd feel if I lost a child. Would it matter how, other than giving me a different focal point for the anger at my loss? I really didn't know, but decided to let it go for the moment.

  Juliet nodded. “I understand. This is an uncertain time.”

  “Was there anything new on TV?” I asked, changing the subject as I finished my breakfast. I got up to start packing up for the barbeque.

  “Same thing as before, except without the open portals, there's not a lot of new stuff to report. Although, Juliet's previous owner has gotten some attention for having a goblin as a pet,” said Thulu. “She said she was sorry to lose such a good dog and doubted she'd find another one as smart or well behaved.”

  I laughed, “You think?”

  “Oh, and the jeweler called this morning, too. He said he can repair the damaged half. He can have it ready on Monday. He'll call us to let us know when we can pick it. As far as he knows, we've let Jane know it was found and that's all. “

  “Cool.”

  I got my tablet out of my purse and opened it to check my email and look over my notes.

  Things worldwide were status quo. Finally peace on Earth, and here I was unhappy with it. Or at least, not trusting the “gift.” It still bothered me, but since there wasn't much I could do about it, I shunted it to the back of my mind. I was doing a lot of that.

  Most of my email was family and friends sending jokes, exchanging ideas for what to bring for the get-together and typical family notes. There were also a lot of questions about the portals. I sent out a family email, saying we'd explain at the barbeque.

  Thulu pulled the tablet to him and checked his own email, while I got out vegetables to make a tray and the makings of a nice spinach dip. Juliet offered to help, and I gave her carrots to peel and cut into strips.

  We chatted about the family gathering, and I filled them in on the different family members. They seemed impressed at how close our entire family was.

  I asked about their family, and Juliet said they had three children, all in their third century. She wasn't sure which generation of great, great whatever grandchildren they were up to, though.

  Romeo said they didn't often see their own parents and children, but that they did communicate occasionally. He explained that most goblin parents were very attentive while their children were young and needed them, but tended to let them fly from the nest and kept in touch thereafter sporadically.

  “It isn't as though we don't love them,” added Juliet. “We do very much. It's just that we tend to be happiest in pairs. We work in groups and get along, but we mate for life. There's a special connection between husband and wife. You rarely see single goblins. It's not a lifestyle we adapt to easily.”

  “That special connection is how I knew my Juliet was alive here somewhere. I would have known instantly if she had not survived,” said Romeo.

  “We have a similar, but far lighter connection to our children. I know they are alive, well and happy. I don't need to see them to maintain that connection.

  “Even as a dog, I often chose couples, with no children living with them. The big family events always fascinated me, though. I'm looking forward to today. It's a fantastic opportunity to show Romeo firsthand how humans interact in large families.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “He's a human behavioral analyst, you know. That's one reason he was chosen to be part of the delegation.” She looked over at him proudly.

  “She's being modest,” said Romeo. “She's one, too. The day she got lost, we were experiencing the redwoods to see what humans found so fascinating about them.” Juliet nodded in agreement.

  “I've gotten quite a bit of field work in,” she laughed.

  I was vaguely disappointed. “So you're here to study us?”

  Juliet gazed at me calmly. “Just as any cultural anthropologist mi
ght study those from another culture – by experiencing the lifestyles for themselves.”

  That made sense. “Oh, good point. Well, I'm sure my family will be enchanted with you both.”

  Things got pretty busy after that. The kids came back to say all was well at the office.

  A few minutes later, Aela and Ceil showed up. Aurelia, Belus and Kareem had sent their regrets, which was no surprise.

  The tiny fairy and pixie had been given permission to attend the gathering. I didn't ask how they had known where we lived. I was sure the answer I got would be “Magic.”

  I wondered if they were doing field work by studying humans, too. I decided I didn't care. I was just as curious about them, and so it was probably going to be mutual. They watched with interest as I packed the cooler with the plastic containers full of food.

  Aela was dressed in a bright red tunic with black embroidery on the bodice. I could barely make it out, let alone know what it depicted, without a magnifying glass. She wore tight fitting black leggings. She had tiny sandals laced to her feet. I suspected the red was to match her nails, which were still polished, and the sandals were to show off her tiny painted toenails. I wondered what kind of brush she used on nails tinier than pin heads. She still carried her little bow and quiver, along with her bag. She gave me a broad, closed mouth smile, her lips very red, which was probably due to lipstick.

  Ceil was in turquoise and silver today. She'd gotten on the nail polish bandwagon and sported a glittery polish that matched her mid-calf length dress. It was made of some thin material – the word gossamer came to mind – and there were a lot of layers to it. I noticed she wore leggings and sandals, too. I guessed if you were going to fly and wear a dress, best to have leggings on underneath.

  She carried a bag that seemed a bit large for her. I asked her if she needed help with it. She gave a smile, revealing very white fangs, and said that she could manage it. Her wings were a sunny yellow today, and her white hair was left down, with the top brushed behind her ears and fastened in back with a small clip.

  The fairy exclaimed over Ceil's nail polish, and they sat comparing colors and admiring each other's fingers and toes. They both seemed excited about the barbeque.