Restitution (Haunted Series Book 17)

by Alexie Aaron

  “Mia has enchanted you, Ted. She’s nothing more than a disease that needs to be cured. Come with me, and I’ll show you what a real woman feels like.”

  Murphy watched as the elemental moved into Beth’s shadow. She had the setting sun at her back. Her shadow was almost touching Ted. He moved quickly and hit the ground in front of Ted with his axe.

  CRACK!

  Ted jumped back. Beth recalled the elemental.

  “Are you aware you have an elemental stuck to you?” Mia asked from the porch where she now stood. “Do you need our help?”

  Beth looked over at Mia. Gone was the awkward guttersnipe. She wasn’t the insecure wife fighting for her husband either. Instead, a proud beauty stood with her hands on her hips. She stood there in the half-light on the cold porch with bare arms. Beth called out, “You had no right to take him from me. You’ll pay in hell for your deceit.”

  “Mia didn’t take me from you, Beth,” Ted said. “I was never yours. I should have shut you down the first time I sensed that you liked me, but I don’t like hurting people. Plus, I’ll admit it was rather cool to be sought after. It was like stepping into Mike’s shoes for a while.”

  “How dare you use me!” Beth spat. “You horrid PEEPs men. I do all the fucking work, and you take all the credit.”

  “I thought you weren’t ready to handle a haunt,” Burt said. “Mia was the first to point out your good qualities, and look where that got her.”

  “She belongs in a cage. She controls all of you with sex. You’ve seen her aunt. The Cooper women are all whores.”

  “Ouch,” Mia said and couldn’t resist laughing. “I offer you my help if you want it. Having a close relationship with an elemental can change who you are. Did you realize this when you called it forth? They bring with them boils and rashes. The unclean touch you, and your skin festers,” Mia cautioned.

  Beth glanced at her infected arm and pushed the sleeve of her jacket over it. She pushed away her vanity and concentrated on her revenge. “Yes, I called for it. I studied long and hard, but I found something that could destroy you, Mia. First your son and then you. I want Ted to suffer and come crawling to me on his knees.”

  “That will never happen. Our child is safe. If you want a piece of me, you can try, but you will not succeed. You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into. If you challenge me and fail, I will have to rip that elemental out of you. This could cause you harm. I don’t wish for you to be in pain, Beth. Father Santos can help you. There are places and people that can help you through this. Don’t make me kill you,” Mia warned.

  “Did you hear that, Ted? Your wife just threatened me,” Beth said and laughed maniacally. “She’s just a sensitive with a trained ghost. What about him, Ted? How many times has he been in Mia’s bed? Or maybe you prefer a threesome?”

  “Beth, you need help,” Ted said calmly.

  Murphy had moved behind Beth and was evaluating the elemental. It wasn’t a negative elemental, but it was dangerous. It could grow quickly and do damage to the humans that stood in its way. “Mia,” he called. “It’s time you got in front of Ted. There is danger here.”

  Mia thanked him, pulled out her shield and drew her sword as she strode forward. She sent her request and explanation into Ted’s mind silently. He took a step back and let her guard him.

  “Hiding behind mommy’s skirts.”

  Ted watched as Mia activated the black tattooed feathers. He knew she didn’t want to expose her winged self to Beth, but she would do so if he was in danger.

  “Beth, I ask you this for the last time. Let us help you. A misunderstanding was compounded by actions on both sides. I don’t hate you for believing I stole your man. He has explained to me that he was never yours, but even if he was, fate has determined that he and I were to fall in love and create a beautiful child together. Ted is a brave, smart, funny man. I can see why his loss would hurt you. But I need him. I am nothing without him. He is my world, and I’ll protect my husband with everything I have. Turn around and leave this place of peace. Your being here has corrupted the very ground on which you stand.”

  Beth looked down and saw the dead grass. Mia saw her question herself for a moment.

  “Beth, you and I were friends. Can’t we put this behind us? I forgave you for trying to take my husband, for calling my fidelity into question, and I will forgive you for threatening my son. This isn’t the proud, funny, sweet woman I worked with when PEEPs asked me for help.”

  “I loathed you. You and Amber. At least Amber didn’t hide her agenda. Both of you wanted the spotlight. You slept your way into PEEPs just like she did.”

  “Amber is a real sensitive, Beth. She has moved on quite successfully,” Mia said. “I’m proud to call her a friend. Can’t we be friends, Beth?”

  Murphy watched as the elemental moved away from Beth, using the increasing darkness. Glenda put on the yard lights which slowed its progress. The massiveness of it frightened Murphy.

  Ted could see the expression on Murphy’s face. Ted backed up and messaged Cid with hand gestures that they better seek out the safety of the house, that all of them were in danger. If they could be smart and stay out of harm’s way, then Mia and Murphy could concentrate and defend them. If Mia lost her concentration because of a foolhardy move on his part, she could be killed. He knew that Mia would sacrifice herself for him and for any of the people behind him.

  Audrey and Glenda had broken out the salt and begun securing the interior of the farmhouse. Mike had called the Marriott for reinforcements. Tom was staying there with Father Santos. Burt stood on the porch calculating what he felt would be Beth’s next move.

  “I don’t want to be your friend, Mia. Why would I sully myself with you? You’re not even educated. Can you understand what Ted is saying when he talks to you? It must be so boring for him. Aside from the bedroom, you and he have nothing in common.”

  “I disagree,” Mia said and tapped her wrist. “You see, Beth, Ted may be Batman, but both he and I have wings.”

  Beth’s eyes opened as the massive wings appeared. They lifted Mia off the ground. She extended them, shielding Ted as he ran back to the house, jumping over the salt line Cid had poured.

  “Leave, Beth,” Mia ordered.

  “How is this possible?” Beth asked. “Angelo? Have you been fucking Angelo too?”

  “I get so tired of the assumption that what I am now is because of a sexual liaison with a male. Your chauvinistic attitude doesn’t suit you. Leave, and take the elemental with you,” Mia demanded.

  Beth dropped her poker face and looked at Mia with absolute hatred. “You die now!”

  Chapter Three

  The elemental shot upwards. Mia raised her shield as she rose off the ground with the merest twitch of her shoulders. She calculated the mass and tried to find the soft spot of the bubbling, twisting form. She knew she was outgunned, but she could keep it busy, giving Ted and company a chance to get away.

  The elemental formed into a dragon. It was a mighty winged beast. The scales shone with power, and the long tail was split into two spikes at the end. The dragon opened its demon eyes, watching Mia while licking its drawn lips. Mia could see the rotted corruption of the underworld in its teeth.

  “That’s what a real dragon looks like, you anime freak,” Beth called out.

  Mia maneuvered as she saw the creature’s lungs draw in air. Within moments, it sent a burst of flames towards the farmhouse. Mia used her shield to divert the flames back to the ground and onto the car sitting in the drive. Beth’s car exploded. The blast wave sent Beth flying. She landed in the field.

  Mia shot forward, pulling a lot of air with her. The dragon coughed at the overabundance of oxygen. Mia took out her sword and hacked at the tail, successfully taking off one of the spikes. She grabbed it and flew to the front of the creature. She brought the spike down through the nose, through the palate and out the bottom of the lizard’s mouth, sealing it shut.

  The tail whipped around, cat
ching her in the side. She pulled herself off the spike before she used her sword to separate the last of the spikes from the demon creature’s tail. She flew away from the farm, watching as the wounded but mad dragon followed her.

  Meanwhile, Beth got to her feet and started chanting, calling forth an additional elemental. Murphy found her before she could complete the summons. He had never killed a human before, and he wouldn’t do so now. He took the blunt end of the axe and tapped her on the head. He dragged her unconscious body into the Duprees’ yard. He whistled to Cid who had ventured off the porch to see what was happening to Beth. “Gag the witch. She can call more demons,” he warned.

  Glenda tore her apron into pieces as she ran to help. Together they gagged Beth, making sure the unconscious woman could still breathe. Glenda tied Beth’s hands with her apron strings before putting Beth in the recovery position.

  Ted searched the dark sky, looking for any sign of his wife.

  Mia moved upward as the dragon started to gain on her. The elemental was repairing itself, but it needed the piece that Mia held in her hand. If it recovered the spike, it would become a fully functioning dragon again. And if that happened, Mia doubted she would be able to sustain the assault.

  “Misfit, the heart is centered in the chest but only accessible from under its arm. Your short sword isn’t going to be enough,” Sariel warned as he appeared above her. “You get it to reach for you, and I’ll deliver the death blow.”

  Mia nodded and flew in front of the dragon and held out the spike. “Are you looking for this, worm?” she asked, displaying the spike.

  The dragon clawed at her with one hand while reaching for her with the other.

  Sariel shot upwards from underneath the creature, holding his sword before him. He hit the dragon hard, his sword sinking deep into the beast. With his free hand, he reached in and pulled out the black heart. He flew backwards, catching Mia with his other hand.

  The dragon imploded, drawing inwards everything within a hundred yards of itself before exploding outwards. Sariel caught a little of the turbulence, but he hung on to Mia, folding his wings around them protectively, as the two glided away.

  Sariel stopped in a freshly harvested field of Nebraska corn and set Mia down before him. “And that, Misfit, is how you kill an elemental dragon. He handed her the heart.

  “It still beats,” she said, looking at the black mass as it moved in her hand.

  “It’s still useful. Watch.” Sariel scooped up some of the black blood. “Turn.”

  Mia did so. Sariel ripped open the side of her top and applied the blood to her wound.

  Mia screamed as it penetrated her.

  “Look at me, Misfit,” Sariel ordered.

  Mia did, and soon the pain ended and the healing began. She lifted her eyebrow. “Can this help your blindness?”

  “I don’t know.” He turned around and lifted his hair.

  Mia could see where the fire had burned into the archangel. She called forth the mightiest of the birdman mages. Together, they applied the dragon’s blood. Mia cut a piece of the heart away and shoved it into the old scar. She released the mage and handed what remained of the heart back to Sariel.

  He divided it in two and handed half to Mia. He looked at her and bit into it. “Eat.”

  Mia made a face but joined him. It didn’t taste like chicken, but it did nourish the ancient genes that floated throughout her body. “If you tell anyone I did this, I’m so going to pluck your feathers.”

  Sariel laughed. “Time to go back, Misfit.”

  “How did you know I needed you?” she asked as they flew slowly through the night back towards Kansas.

  “I was having a drink with Tom Braverman and Paolo Santos. We were having a guys’ night out when Mike called. Misfit, why didn’t you call me yourself?”

  “How?”

  “Inside you, I have placed a feather. Concentrate on it, and say my name. If I am in this dimension, I will come.”

  “Good to know. How will I know when you need me?” Mia asked boldly.

  Sariel reached forward and plucked a feather from Mia. He placed it alongside one of his and bound it together with a strand of his hair. “Now, I can do the same. Mia, this binds us together. Are you sure you want to be my shield maiden?”

  “Yes, Sariel.”

  He took one of his feathers and handed it to her. She took a strand of her hair and wound it around it and one of her feathers. She felt a weight descend upon her. She adjusted for it.

  “That is me. You now carry me with you, and I you. When we are in battle, we can move between the other for the greatest advantage.”

  Mia smiled. “Thank you.”

  He smiled shyly. “Little sister, it is I who must thank you. I have already regained most of my missing sight. You have done the impossible. You have healed an angel.”

  Mia felt a warmth of satisfaction move through her.

  They landed in the drive. Ted ran over and picked her up before pumping Sariel’s hand in thanks.

  “She was doing fine when I caught up to her,” Sariel said. “Mighty Mouse, I believe you call her.”

  Ted looked at Mia’s face. “What is that all over your face?”

  Mia wiped the dragon’s blood away.

  “Chocolate,” Sariel said quickly, sensing Mia’s distress. “She insisted it’s how she celebrates all her dragon kills.”

  “You’ve been conned,” Ted said, hugging Mia.

  Sariel twitched his wings. “Misfit, we will work on your timing soon. Take care, Ted.” He shot upwards and disappeared into the night sky.

  “What an exit,” Ted said. “You’ll have to work on yours, Sweet Pea.”

  “Aw, Popeye, I’ll just run into a flock of geese,” Mia said good-humoredly. “Where is Beth?”

  “Inside with Father Santos.”

  “What happened here?” Ted asked, catching hold of Mia’s flapping top.

  “I got stabbed. I’m thinking, maybe you and Cid could work on a Kevlar vest I could wear? It was cold flying back with my boobs, well, you know…”

  “No, I don’t know. I suppose Sariel…”

  “Don’t start. It was field medicine.”

  “Kevlar vest and a chastity belt.”

  Mia hit him.

  Beth moaned when she saw Mia walk through the door with Ted. Her last hope of the elemental killing Mia had vanished. It was bad enough that Father Santos had taken away her power, but to have it all have been for naught was crushing. She had sold her house and drained her bank account in order to achieve the things necessary to enact her revenge. She had seen the christening notice Ted’s parents had put in the local paper and knew Mia was coming to her state. This should have given Beth the advantage. She was going to cripple them by taking their baby first, but they were one step ahead of her, and the child had been secreted away. Beth suspected Angelo, but she wasn’t certain.

  Still, Beth knew that the demon she had conjured was more powerful than Mia. It was smart and had fought many battles, or so the Other who sold it to her professed. Beth had found these creatures quite useful. Roumain had opened doors for Beth during the time of the Judas Hex. She was smart enough to keep them open after Roumain had shut his door to her.

  “Your dragon is dead,” Mia said.

  “When did you become such a murdering cunt?” Beth asked.

  “It gives me no pleasure killing, but I warned you. You just couldn’t let it go,” Mia said. She shrugged out of her scabbard. Cid took it and the weapons away, while Audrey helped Mia on with a sweater. Mia was experiencing quite a lot of pain from the wound. She forced herself to appear uninjured for the sake of all concerned.

  “What happens now?” Mia asked, looking at Father Santos.

  “She’ll be taken away to be evaluated by experts. If they determine that Miss Bouvier is possessed, she’ll be healed. If she is, as I suspect, just a spoiled, evil woman, then she will face an earthly tribunal. I don’t know what the sentence will be.”

/>   “How will her disappearance be explained?” Mia looked over at Tom. “I’m sorry you got drawn into this.”

  “I’m not,” Tom said. “We caught a little bit of your dragon action on the way in. Way cool, Mia.”

  Mia blushed.

  “What’s left of her car will be taken away,” Father Santos said. “I have good friends here.”

  Mia looked around at her friends and asked, “Where’s Murphy?”

  “Hiding from me,” Father Santos said, laughing.

  “Orchard,” Cid said. “He’s the one that subdued Beth before she raised another of those things.”

  “Thank God for that,” Mia said. She took a last look at Beth before she left. The boils were spewing puss now. This reminded Mia that when you indulge in evil pursuits, it leaves its mark. Mia tried hard but could find nothing to say to Beth that hadn’t been said a hundred times before.

  Ted opened the door.

  Mia waited for him on the stoop. “Aren’t you coming?” she asked.

  “I didn’t think I’d be welcomed.”

  “You’d be wrong. Come on.” Mia tugged at him.

  They found Murphy in the orchard. He smiled at them. Mia walked up to the farmer and bumped fists with him. “Way to go. If she had raised another dragon, I would have been cooked.”

  “Tell me what happened up there?” he asked.

  “Ted, would you like to hear how I helped kill a dragon?”

  “Hell yes.”

  Murphy watched as Mia told her tale. Ted caught his eye and nodded a thank you to the ghost who had kept his wife safe on the ground.

  “He reached in and drew out the dragon’s heart, and then we hightailed it away because…” Mia used both of her hands to illustrate the implosion first and then the explosion.

  “What did you do with the heart?” Ted asked.

  Mia told them how they had used the blood and a piece of it to heal each other. She didn’t tell them about eating the flesh of the dragon. Somehow she worried the two men in her life would be disgusted by her barbarism.