He let go with a rough twist of his hand, then stepped back from the bed to join the others. "We'll be back," he said. "Soon. But you won't know when. Neither will your mommy. But don't tell her. Not unless you want us to cut her into little pieces instead."
They all began to laugh again before they formed a single file and began to squirm out the window. It might have been comical if they hadn’t been so brutal and horrible.
Master paused before his exit, his face splitting into another broad grin. "Take care," he said. Then he was gone.
Heaven awoke, tangled in her covers, her pillows bunched around her. She sat up quickly, eyes bulging, but her room was empty, and the window was closed.
She lay there, shivering from the cold sweat that covered her. Wrapping herself in the sheet didn't seem to help. The fear was too intense. She thought for a few moments she couldn't breathe until the grip of fear relaxed enough to let her lungs function again.
She didn't try to scream. That would only disturb Mommy again, and she didn't want her to worry. She also didn't want the Gnelfs to hurt Mommy the way they had said they would.
She didn't know what she could do, but for now she would have to keep things a secret. She would have no more outbursts like the one at Miss K'ina's. She had overcome that at Mr. Tanner's. Those tapes had not been expected. This time she knew what she had to do. She would hide things. For Mommy's sake she would have to.
Chapter 6
Rain poured in New Orleans as the sleek silver Greyhound pulled from the station, but the downpour could not ground a bus as it could planes. The storm seemed to be following Danube, washing spring down the gutter.
As the bus began its journey north, he watched the clouds on the horizon. It could be a natural phenomenon, but he found himself wondering if his presence had been detected by other forces, those of the supernatural kind.
Nothing was to be ruled out. Not in war, and he had been a warrior for a long time. Unwilling though he might be, he had learned to do what was necessary.
As he let his head fall on the headrest, he found himself wondering again what he would find in Aimsley. He had heard mention of the area before. Bad things happened there, things that men could not explain in simple, tangible terms.
He tried to think back to when the world had seemed simple, but his thoughts could not grasp that time now. Too much had transpired, too many pains, too many agonies.
He had traveled too many miles and seen too many nightmares. He knew what lay beyond reality and, worse still, what humans could do to each other. He had witnessed it all, and he had no escape.
The bus made its way onto the interstate, then onto the endless stretch of the bridge. He looked out across the water. The rain continued to slash down from the heavens, and the sky turned to a drab gray. For a while he fought the drowsiness that tried to overtake him. He did not want the dreams that would come with rest, yet he realized he would have to sleep soon. He could not face what was ahead in a state of exhaustion. Weak, he could be dragged into a fate worse than his present one.
~*~
After picking up Heaven at school, Gabrielle made a stop by Benson's Super Foods, putting forth an extra effort for her dinner with Tanner. He would hear that it was just something she'd thrown together, a simple meal. Letting him know she'd slaved would be akin to tipping her hand, letting him know she was interested. That was against the rules. If he thought he was doing the chasing he would continue the pursuit. If the situation reversed, he might run away.
She selected a shopping cart and shoved it along the broad tiled aisles, her daughter strolling casually behind, in no real hurry. Heaven had no concept of being in a rush. She was busy scanning the shelves for things she might beseech her mother to purchase.
Keeping her in peripheral sight, Gab made the best time she could, selecting fresh-looking vegetables and seasonings she usually passed over for the store brands. Then she hovered over the meat display, gazing across the lines of roasts, small reddish brown lumps sealed in cellophane and stacked in neat rows. Dave had always claimed there was an art to making the selection.
She always aimed for picking one that was not spoiled. She knew the older cuts were kept on top, so she shoved a few aside. Lifting a package, she winced at the cost per pound. Tanner had better be worth it. She'd probably have to water Heaven's milk to afford this.
Bad joke. She knew she would never skimp on anything for her daughter. She felt guilty over even joking about that.
As she got back behind the cart and seized the handle, she realized Heaven had wandered off. Time was a major factor if she was going to pull this dinner off, and her daughter was doing a disappearing act. She gritted her teeth as she shoved the cart forward along the rear aisle. With luck, she'd locate Heaven at the toy rack.
The hunch paid off. She rounded the end of the aisle where the cheap novelty items were displayed beside the hardware rack. Sure enough, Heaven was standing there peering up at the display.
“We need to get a move on, Hev," Gab said as she wheeled the cart forward.
Heaven didn't move. At first Gab thought her child was being stubborn, but as she drew closer she realized Heaven was mesmerized by something on the rack.
Stepping from behind the cart, she walked to her daughter's side. Heaven didn't respond. She just kept on staring intently. Gab traced her daughter's line of vision to the plastic bag of toy Gnelfs dangling from one of the metal hooks.
There were about a half-dozen figures including Gnelf Master and his buddies. Holding hoes and spades, they were molded into gardening poses, and the painted card that sealed the bag shut showed them working in a garden full of brightly colored vegetables.
"Heaven, let's go. These won't hurt you."
Heaven continued to stare, her eyes wide. Reaching down, Gab took her shoulder and shook her lightly.
"Heaven." She looked around to make sure no one was looking on. "Honey, come on. They're just toys. The Gnelfs won't hurt you."
Heaven drew a tense breath, and a shudder seemed to course through her small body. There was no indication that she'd heard Gab speak to her. She seemed mesmerized.
Gab cast a quick glance around to make sure no one would see and misunderstand. The aisle was clear, so she shook Heaven again, trying to get through to her. She could feel the vibrations of fear. Heaven did not seem to want to budge, cemented in her tracks, as if the tiny plastic figures held some control over her.
Gabrielle snatched the bag down and tucked it behind some other items, out of Heaven's sight. That seemed to break the trance. Heaven blinked and came back into the real world, shivering, perspiration breaking out on her brow. She recognized Gabrielle and hugged her.
"Mommy."
"What is it, honey?" Gab grabbed her and held her close. "Are you all right?"
"Fine, Mommy."
Gab released her and gripped her shoulders. "Are you sure?"
She seemed a little disoriented and the shivers continued, but she nodded. "I think I'm okay. I guess I was just daydreaming or something."
"You were lost to the world, Heaven. What happened? You were staring at the Gnelfs."
"Toys?”
Gab nodded. "Did they scare you?"
Heaven's eyes widened again, and for a moment she seemed about to reveal something. Then she shook her head. "I don't think so."
A small, elderly woman rounded the end of the row, and started to push her cart toward them. Moving Heaven out of the way, Gab let the woman pass. Then she carefully headed her own cart up the aisle, Heaven at her side.
The checkout seemed endless, but finally they cleared the register and made their way to the car.
Strapped into place, Heaven seemed to quietly slip back to normal. Gab kept looking over at her, but she could spot no other sign of a problem. She'd never heard of a child experiencing anything quite like what she'd just seen. Her daughter had been in an almost catatonic state.
"Heaven?"
"Yes."
"Wou
ld you like me to ask Mr. Tanner not to come tonight? Is that why you were upset? I could call him and tell him you're not feeling well."
"No, Mommy. I like Mr. Tanner. You can have him over."
"Honey, you're sure Mr. Tanner doesn't frighten you or upset you?"
"No, Mommy. He's fine." She settled down in her seat and folded her arms. Her chin tucked in against her chest, but she wasn't pouting. She seemed to be contemplating something. If five-year-olds contemplated.
A call to Katrina was in order, no question about it. Gabrielle pressed the gas pedal a little harder, eager to get home. On arrival, she hauled the groceries in quickly and, leaving the bags on the kitchen table, snatched the wall phone from its hook.
Katrina answered on the third ring, and Gabrielle blurted out what had happened. "Have you ever seen that happen?" she asked.
"Not to that extent," Katrina said. "Kids can be moody, I can tell you that."
"It wasn't like she was pouting. She was staring at these things."
"I can't understand her fixation," Katrina said. "What is it about these little green bastards? My kids love 'em. Did her daddy ever buy some for her?"
"I think I bought her first Gnelfs. I don't know what it is about them. They are sort of ugly."
"Sort of like bad elves or something if you think about it. Could be she's looked at some traditional children's stories where the green, pointy ears are bad and it seems creatures with these have infiltrated her home. Maybe subconsciously she thinks they're just pretending to be friends."
"And that could be because her father left. She may think he betrayed her, so these friends will too. But hell, we could speculate all night. I guess it's time to get Marley to find somebody for her to see. We might as well get this all out now so she won't have to spend years in therapy later."
"Tomorrow we'll figure something out," Katrina said. "For now you'd better get your dinner cookin'."
"I guess it's too late to tell Jake not to come. She says he doesn't upset her."
"It may do her good to have him there, especially if she's missing her daddy."
"I hope you're right," Gab said. "And I hope he's understanding. I'm not going to have much time to bother with dating if Heaven's going to need attention. She's got to come first."
"If he's worth a damn he'll stick it out," Katrina said. "Now cook a good dinner."
"I guess I'll try," Gab said. She'd lost her will to be a gourmet.
~*~
Tanner, naturally, was prompt. And dinner, naturally, was not. Gab had him sit in the living room where Heaven was playing while she rushed into the kitchen. Everything was almost ready, but there was no way to rush the cooking. She briefly checked the roast to make sure it wasn't burning.
She'd already changed into a dark blue denim jumpsuit which bridged the gap between elegant and casual. It allowed some comfort for kitchen work and, she hoped, still looked just a little sexy.
After allowing herself a moment to smooth her hair, Gab pushed through the swinging door into the living room, where Tanner was making an effort to converse with Heaven. Apparently he knew the importance of hitting it off with someone's kid, but he wasn't having much success. Heaven was doing little talking. He obviously thought that was because she didn't like him.
"Sometimes Hev keeps her thoughts to herself," Gab said, sweeping past her and trying to sound upbeat. Just let them have a good evening, then she could break the news to him quietly and hope he was understanding.
She sat near him on the couch, one leg tucked under her in an effort to appear relaxed, knowing he could probably detect her apprehension anyway. He probably studied people so he could work their behavior into his fiction.
"Did you do a lot of writing today?" she asked. Let him talk about himself for a while. She'd have plenty to say later.
It went a little slow today," he admitted. "Sometimes I plot myself into a corner. It's hard to do the playing fair business and not actually give everything away to the reader at the same time. You have to reveal things without letting people see what you're telling them.”
"Sounds a little like Zen."
"Ah, is that one of your interests?"
"I read some of it in college. Enough to skim the surface, not enough to help me stay calm in adverse circumstances or anything."
"I've always found it a little confusing, but I guess you're right. Novels are a little like Zen.”
"Is any of this new one set around Aimsley, or is it all in New Orleans?"
"More down in Avoyelles. I have a murder on the levee down there, and Gaston has to deal with all of the Cajuns who don't like to talk about things."
"Is there much action?"
"Quite a lot of it in the end. There'll be a manhunt through the swamps and that sort of thing. They have to take out the crawfish boats."
They talked for a while longer about his novel and other books, the conversation drifting to authors they liked and genres other than mystery. Tanner had recently developed an interest in Arna Bontemps, a black author from Alexandria, a town a short distance away. Although the writer had died in 1973, efforts were underway to preserve his legacy and that had sparked Tanner's interest. He'd been reading Bontemps's novel God Sends Sunday.
The oven timer sounded, its harsh buzz filtering through from the kitchen. "I think it's about time to eat," Gab said.
She slipped off the couch and rescued the meat from the rack, quickly spinning on her heels and putting it on a serving platter already set out. Then, clearing the swinging doors, she placed the platter on a hot pad.
"Delicious," he said, once they were eating, his tone almost coy.
"Glad you like it," Gab said. "It's something I just threw together." Her smile this time was to let him know she was being coy as well.
Something positive was clicking, that indefinable connection that somehow converts easily into love. Gab had felt it only a couple of times. It had been there with Dave but it had not lasted.
Maybe this time it was real. The conversation flowed, and they kept talking long after the meal. Then they sat, grazing across the table at each other, occasionally locking on each other's eyes.
Heaven soon excused herself and retired to the living room. Her play was quiet and became a soft background as she hummed and spoke softly to her dolls. Tanner reached across the table, placing his hand atop Gabrielle's.
She let it stay, enjoyed the warmth of his touch and the stirring it evoked.
"Are you a romantic, Tanner?"
"Deep down."
"How come you don't write love stories?”
“Mysteries have love stories in them."
"I thought detectives bedded every girl they set eyes on. That's not exactly a love story."
"Gaston is different. He's something of a romantic himself. Tough as nails but soft inside.”
"Is that you?"
"I'm not tough at all. I guess Gaston has a lot of me in him, but he's not really supposed to be an extrapolation of me."
"Right."
"Honestly. I am not my own hero. I'm just an average guy who makes his living at a keyboard."
"Ah, a man of letters caught in his own mystique."
He grinned and absently touched his forehead with an index finger. "Touché."
She thought he might be blushing a little. She had to discuss the matter of Heaven, but she let the playful banter continue a while. Their exchange would make it easier when she had to make explanations. She began to steer the conversation toward Heaven, first mentioning her schoolwork and her difficulty in adjusting.
"It's tough to be a kid," Tanner agreed. "I was always bookish. Wound up being picked on."
Maybe, Gabrielle thought, that background will help him understand. She was hesitating, about to say something, and trying to find the proper words when Heaven's scream shattered the silence.
Her head and Tanner's jerked in the child's direction as the shriek continued.
Heaven was now standing at the center of the living
room, arms in front of her, tiny fists clenched under her chin in a defensive pose.
Her head was twisting from side to side, and her eyes were full of fear. She seemed to be looking at something, somethings perhaps. Yet there was nothing to be seen.
"Don't hurt me," she pleaded.
Tanner rose from his seat, ready to move toward her, but he was contused. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Gab was hurrying to embrace Heaven, but before she could reach her, something slashed through the air, and as if an unseen knife was striking, a tear appeared in one leg of Heaven's slacks.
"Mommieee!"
Gab didn't know what to do.
~*~
Heaven could see them. They were surrounding her, a half-dozen Gnelfs. Shirtless, dull green skin glistened with perspiration, and patchworks of old scars lined their flesh. Lips peeled back over their yellow fangs in sick, grinning twists; they waved their weapons about as evil seemed to emanate from their tiny, cruel eyes.
Gnelf Master stood directly in front of her. He looked like a pirate with the cloth tied around his head and the tarnished ring dangling from the lobe of one pointed ear. It was the sweep of his scythe which had made the slit in her pant leg. Now he chuckled. "Mommy can't see us," he said. “She doesn't know what's the matter."
Then he brought the scythe forward again, sweeping as he would to cut wheat.
~*~
The second gash tore cloth over Heaven's left calf and cut into skin. Blood stained the fabric around the wound. Gab screamed and rushed toward Heaven who was now turning about.
Before Gabrielle could reach her child, another tear appeared in her sleeve, another cut on her upper arm.
~*~
The other Gnelfs were joining the Master in making harassing slashes. Some of them carried needlelike stilettos which they jabbed at Heaven, while others swung swords and scimitars. They laughed and poked at her, foul breath almost choking her when they moved in and slashed before darting back to their circle.
~*~
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