Who By Water

by Victoria Raschke

  Fuck. That went well. Jo looked up. “Sorry, Helena.”

  “I don’t think she can actually hear you.” Maja was standing on the grass below the deck near where Matjaž had been standing. “You blew that.”

  “Thanks.” Jo turned facing the railing again so no one inside could see her talking to herself. “How long have you been there?”

  “Long enough.”

  “Suppose we work out a signal, so I know you’re here or if you need to talk to me or something. Now. Would you like to explain your obsession with Rancid to me?”

  Chapter 18

  Jo was a Portal. That fact explained a great deal; it also presented a new array of questions and uncertainties for Jo. She knew so little of her own family’s lore, and nothing at all of the lore of Voices and Portals. If discovering this gift of speaking and interacting with the dead caused her to doubt her sanity, what would she make of her second, more dangerous, gift? Leo would honor his word to Lichtenberg, despite his misgivings. But he felt compelled to check on Jo.

  He stood in front of Vesna’s door. Vesna opened it before he knocked.

  “Your aura was drifting under the door.”

  “Is that even possible?” He chuckled at the absurdity of a shadow he couldn’t see announcing his arrival.

  “Not with everyone. Your aura, I don’t know, sticks out farther than most people’s. It kind of billows and ebbs.”

  “What color is it?”

  “Do you really want to know?” The sitting area she led him to was nearly filled by a couch that must have been born in the flat. Leo had to admire his niece’s ability to find something to cram into every space in the room. “Not if it’s bad.”

  “It isn’t bad.”

  He nodded.

  “Orange and red.” His niece held his gaze a few beats, then looked away.

  Although he couldn’t see the colors that swirled around people, he knew that they meant. Orange was the color of physical power, but also of addiction or desire. It was the color of someone who wrestled with an inner demon. Red meant that, for now, he was winning.

  She motioned for him to sit. “You asked me.”

  “I did. We can’t hide from ourselves. It appears I can’t hide from you either.”

  “Is it really something to hide?” She sat in a chair nestled against the end of the couch. An orange cat jumped into the chair behind her.

  “I took vows.”

  “You chose to.”

  “It wasn’t as simple as that, but I didn’t refuse.”

  “And now there is Jo. I haven’t seen the two of you together, but I can only imagine.”

  “I’d prefer not to discuss it. She is in a great deal of danger and my personal struggles are the least of your worries, or hers.”

  “It’s something more than talking to dead people?”

  “Yes. Your friend is a Portal.”

  Vesna flinched, though most would have missed it. She was made of stern stuff. She raised her eyebrows and waited for him to continue.

  “I didn’t believe Portals existed. Once, talking about lore he felt was being lost, Father mentioned them. He believed every legend and story had a kernel of truth, and said it was best to be prepared for anything that might emerge from the gates of hell.”

  His niece flinched more noticeably, with a tinge of disgust.

  Leo rested his forearms on his knees and looked up into her cross face. “I don’t believe as he did. You know this.”

  “I know you aren’t as backward. But, never mind. Continue, please.”

  “Portals were supposed to be women who stood with one foot in this world and one in the next. The dead could return to life through them, or angels or demons could enter the world as mortal beings, throwing off eternity and all its many burdens.” He paused. It was probably better to tell her everything, including the parts he still didn’t believe. “Father cited the belief that it was possible for a god to use a Portal to enter the world.”

  “It doesn’t sound like you believe it.”

  “I don’t know that I do, but Father did.”

  “Have you told her?” Anger and accusation edged into her voice.

  “No. Lichtenberg will tell her.”

  “Lichtenberg? The guy who lives upstairs? Why?”

  “He’s an Observer. He knows more about it than I do.”

  “An Observer lived in this building all this time, and you didn’t think you should tell me?”

  “I didn’t think it had anything to do with you. I thought it was about me and your father. And you didn’t tell me you were a seer.”

  “It wasn’t any of your business. An Observer spying on me and my friend is definitely my business.”

  “I apologize. I don’t like that he’s here either, but he’s useful and knowledgeable.”

  “And he probably wants to put Jo in a cage to poke and prod her to see how she works.”

  “No. I don’t think so. For whatever reason, he seems to care about her. He wants to be certain she’s safe.”

  Vesna snorted. “You mean ‘in a safe’.”

  “I promise you that won’t happen on my watch. Is she in?”

  She shook her head. “Helena’s funeral is today.” She pulled the cat out from behind her and brought her up to her face like a baby. “Why is it dangerous to Jo to be a Portal.”

  “She’s a threshold that can only be crossed once. It would be her life for the one she brings in. Father believed in God and Jesus, but didn’t believe the Bible was complete and accurate. He said if Mary had been a Portal, she wouldn’t have lived.”

  Vesna stopped petting the cat and watched as she jumped to the floor, indulged in a lengthy stretch, and disappeared into the bedroom. “So what do we do?”

  “We let Lichtenberg tell her. We let her aunt teach her how to protect herself and we find whatever demon has possessed one of your friends.”

  “I can see if someone is possessed. There isn’t anyone.”

  “Lichtenberg thinks it’s a revenge demon.”

  “I can’t see those.” He could almost hear the gears spinning in her head, trying to work out a way to protect her friend. “I should get her to leave Ljubljana. Let you and Lichtenberg find the demon and dispatch it back into whatever it came out of.”

  “How far are you willing to take her? She’s a lighthouse. I can’t see auras and even I can sense what she is.”

  “As far as we need to. Antarctic cruise. Whatever.”

  “I appreciate your loyalty, but she can’t live there, or at least I doubt she’d want to. She needs to know what she is and she needs to learn to control it.”

  “Her aunt will be here on Saturday. Maybe she has some family ritual to protect her.”

  He leaned back into the enormous couch. “I doubt it. From what little I could find, the last Portal died in the 1930s.”

  Vesna sat up. “There’s really nothing you can do?”

  “Unfortunately, Lichtenberg is more likely to be able to come up with something.”

  Disgust flitted across her face again. “That’s not very reassuring.”

  “Vesna, you know as well as I do that our family would never have tried to help someone like Jo in the past.” A horrifically vivid image of Jo’s face, agonized and wreathed in flames, raced through his mind.

  She nodded. “Well, thank whatever gods there may be, none of those backward idiots is around now. But you, you have to figure something out.” Her agitation washed over him.

  “I agreed to look for the vessel. The sooner we locate that and determine who the demon’s using for a mule, the faster I can guarantee Jo’s and everyone else’s safety.”

  She nodded.

  “And you…,” he added. “Keep an eye on her. At the very least, don’t let her go wandering around by herself.”

>   Chapter 19

  The ride back to Ljubljana was quieter than the ride up had been. Jo had more questions for Maja but they would have to wait until they were alone. Gregor didn’t seem to want to push Jo to talk. She was grateful for his consideration.

  Aside from a few answers, she wanted nothing more than some tea on Vesna’s couch with a cat curled in her lap, followed by a very long nap. Not an option. Not with Maja and Helena’s killer still roaming about town. She still had Maja’s funeral to deal with, which should be a hoot as Maja had pledged outside to offer nonstop commentary for it.

  Jo had half-expected to see Investigator Klančnik with an officer in tow at Helena’s funeral, or wake, whatever it had been. Apparently in life, the pieces don’t fall into place quite as easily as they do in a Nancy Drew mystery.

  The teahouse was dark as she crossed the courtyard to climb the stairs to her apartment. They would close until the funeral, when they would hold a small reception at Maja’s mother’s request. The whole staff agreed that Jo needed a little break; only the women understood how much she needed one, and why.

  Jo scraped her keys into her lock. The door behind her opened and Vesna’s face peeped out of the door of her flat.

  “Jo, would you join us?”

  “Us?” Jo turned the lock back on her own door.

  “Uncle Leo is here. He came looking for you.”

  Maja would have to wait.

  Jo settled into the opposite corner of the couch from Leo, who was not wearing the monk’s habit she expected. He looked disconcertingly normal in dark jeans and an oatmeal sweater. Cleopatra jumped into her lap, kneading and turning round on Jo’s belly pooch before settling down and purring quietly.

  Leo waited for the cat to finish her ritual before speaking.

  “I’m worried about you.” He moved closer to Jo on the couch.

  “You and everyone else apparently.” Jo leaned back into the leather.

  “This is all new for you. Maybe it feels like a game, but I can assure you there are things you are not prepared for.” Leo made the same mom-face as Vesna, but Leo’s involved more stern eyebrow action.

  “I don’t think it’s a game. If I did, I’d have taken my marbles and gone home by now.”

  “Vesna told me Maja has been to see you more than once.”

  “Yes. My aunt thinks she might be my new spirit guide. Apparently those come with the territory.”

  “Have you learned anything from her?”

  “No. We really haven’t had much of a chance to be alone since yesterday morning. I asked her to check out any rumors that might be circulating in Dead Ljubljana, or whatever you want to call it.” Jo shifted and Cleopatra dug a claw into her thigh.

  “Let me know when you speak with her. I think it’s related to the museum.”

  “Why?”

  “Something was stolen from one of the exhibits the night of Helena’s murder. A doll or figurine. Did you see it at the museum? Was anyone especially interested in it?”

  “I did see a doll, but I wasn’t looking for anything particularly weird. I mean, that was before…”

  “If you think of anyone… In the meantime, I think you need to stay home and not get any more involved. I’m not sure what we’re up against, and you don’t know what you’re capable of yet.” He patted Cleopatra’s head. “Or what your limitations are.”

  “You sound like Vesna.”

  “She’s right, then.”

  Vesna brought a tray with tea and cookies from the kitchen. She sat on the edge of the chair next to Jo’s end of the oversized couch. “How was the funeral?”

  Jo nodded as Vesna handed her a cup of tea.

  “Weird.”

  Leo and Vesna both waited for her to continue. “I mean, Helena was not exactly a conformist, so no surprise she would have unconventional ideas about how she wanted to be mourned.”

  “How unconventional?”

  “She wanted a party. Rosé champagne and canapés. A room filled with people she’d slept with plus a family member or two.” Jesus. She hoped there wasn’t a crossover between the last two groups.

  “Didn’t you go with Gregor?” Leo seemed dubious. “Helena doesn’t seem… his type.”

  Jo shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t ask him that.”

  “How long will you keep the teahouse closed?” Leo took a sip of his tea, grimaced at it and reached for a small pot of honey on the tray. “I’ll never understand the appreciation for tea that tastes like grass clippings.”

  Jo admired his deft change of subject.

  “We’ll reopen on Monday. Jo’s aunt is arriving tomorrow so they’ll have time to catch up.” Vesna did not make a face on tasting her tea.

  “Good. Sounds like you’ll be busy all weekend. Should keep you out of trouble.” Leo took another sip of his honey-laden tea, also without making a face.

  Vesna closed her door and Jo said goodbye to Leo at the top of the stairs. “You promise you’ll call if you find out anything?”

  “Yes. And please, call me after you talk with Maja.” He turned and started quickly down the stairs with a wave.

  “Leo.”

  He stopped and turned around.

  “What does it mean when the stone you gave me vibrates?”

  “Why? When did that happen?” He walked back up the steps to the landing and towered over her.

  “Today. At the party for Helena.”

  “At her brother’s house?”

  She nodded and put her hand in her pocket. The stone was still, cool to the touch, and fit right into the hollow of her palm.

  “I don’t think it means anything good. Please, stay home and stay away from Helena’s family.” He turned and walked more slowly down the stairs. She could almost see the huge black cloud of concern above his head.

  Maja was leaning against the wall next to Jo’s door. Her blue hair clung wetly to the plaster, but the wall was dry when she straightened up and spoke.

  “Guess we better debrief or whatever. Not sure if it’s interesting.”

  “So none of the deads want to have anything to do with the museum or the Roman house. Apparently they stay far away from all the ancient Emona stuff, at least since they started the renovations in the basement at the museum and especially since Helena was killed.” Maja leaned back in her chair. She was corporeal enough to tip it, but soundlessly.

  Jo shook her head. “The demon was trapped in a vessel that came from the Roman well in the basement of the museum. They had an exhibit case of items… Fuck. Olga. Olga was the one looking so intently at the stuff in the case.”

  “What could Olga possibly want with a Roman demon?”

  “The doll had these creepy ass eyes. Like they were following you, but they were just scratched into the clay. Olga was fascinated by it.”

  “Sorry.” Maja straightened her chair. “Why would Olga want to kill Helena, or me? That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Maybe not. Nothing else makes much sense to me either though.”

  Maja laughed. “I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Olga who hip-checked me into the river.”

  “You said you didn’t remember everything.”

  “Not everything, but whoever or whatever came at me was bigger than Olga. Bigger than me. Maybe Olga’s fascination was a MacGuffin, or whatever it is you call it.”

  “I think you mean red herring. But yeah. Possible.”

  Jo’s phone vibrated in her jacket pocket.

  Faron texted her. “Meet me at the tea house? 10 mins. Urgent.”

  Jo thumbed a reply. “Y. Everything okay?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Maja peered over the table but couldn’t see the screen. “Who was that?”

  “Faron. I need to go downstairs.”

  “Want me to come?”

&
nbsp; “No… Yes… Does it matter? You’re going to anyway, aren’t you?”

  “Most likely yes. It’s not like I have a lot to do.”

  Faron met Jo at the door of the teahouse just as she was turning the lock. He had Ivanka in tow and Maja disappeared as the two approached. Jo waived Faron and Ivanka into the shop and closed the door behind them, the bells jangling against the wood.

  “What’s up?” Jo ran her hand through the top of her hair.

  Faron took Ivanka’s hand. It wasn’t a possessive gesture, but one that made it clear they were more than friends. “Can Ivanka stay with you tonight?”

  “Sure, I guess. But why?”

  Ivanka shifted away from Faron and stepped toward her a bit. “I had an awful fight with my mom and I just… I can’t go back. Not tonight, at least.” She looked down at her ratty black Converse sneakers.

  Jo looked at Faron. “Can’t she stay with you?” She doubted it would be Ivanka’s first overnight there.

  “No!” Ivanka lowered her voice, “That’s the first place she’d look.”

  Indeed. “That bad, huh? Do you have your stuff?”

  “Veronika’s bringing it later.” She looked down at her feet again.

  Jo had an overwhelming urge to pull the girl’s chin up with a crooked finger so she could look her in the eye when she spoke. “Do you guys want to go up now?”

  “No. We’re going to meet Veronika at her friend’s place.” Faron was the one in charge here. Jo wasn’t sure she liked it much, but maybe he thought Ivanka needed a protector.

  “I can stay–” She started to say “at Milo’s” but caught herself and backtracked. “I can stay at Rok’s tonight. You two can stay here. Just no smoking — anything — inside.” She gave Faron a raised eyebrow for emphasis.

  Faron nodded. “Are you sure? About staying with Rok, I mean.”

  “Yeah. The flat’s tiny. I need to confirm with him, but if not, I’ll crash at Gregor’s. Still have your key?”

  “Yep.” He patted his pants pocket.

  Faron and Ivanka left. Jo sat down at the table nearest the door and called Rok.