by Alexie Aaron
“Cycle the house,” he said simply. “It must have slipped off its mark over time.”
“This house has changed since you built it. My husband is trying to bring it back to your original design. He could use some help.”
Thorn looked at the group in the attic. “I’d like my remains moved first. Cycling could crush them.”
“Where would you like them interred?” Mike asked.
“In the subbasement under the wine racks. There is a hatch…”
“We thought that was to keep Dr. Rose out. His dimension does ooze out of the hatch. I assume that the subbasement is in some way connected to Thornrose,” Cid said.
“It may be now. After we cycle the house, it won’t. The other dimension will either be sealed off or cease to be. Is there anyone you want to retrieve from there?”
Mia shook her head, looking a bit green.
“Ran into the cannibals… no, the incubi,” he guessed. He looked over at the group in the attic. “Help me, and I’ll help you.”
Mia didn’t like this wheeler-dealer attitude. She sent a thought into Murphy’s head. “Watch him, he’s up to something.”
“Sending Orion and Audrey up with a body bag. Over,” Ted broadcasted to the team.
“Since when do we carry body bags?” Mia asked.
“Since your father recommended it,” Ted said. “He got us a deal.”
“Mia, will you do the honors?” Burt asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay, Mr. Thorn, we’ll get you moved as soon as we can. Chicago is facing a severe weather event presently. We may have to hold off cycling the house.”
“Why?”
“We can’t safely leave the building.”
“If you stand where I dropped the chandelier, you should be safe enough. Or in the basement where the machinery is. Outside is better. Isn’t there still a carriage house?”
“He’s lying,” Mia transmitted to Murphy and then to Orion who arrived in the attic with Audrey. “I suggest, before we cycle the house, we get everyone out. He’s a very singular entity. He wouldn’t want any witnesses to his big errors. I believe he would send all of us to Thornrose.”
“I agree,” Orion said.
“I’ll shadow him,” Murphy promised.
Mia and Orion worked carefully and managed to slide the bag under the body, negating the need to raise up the fragile mummified corpse. They stopped at his head. Audrey handed her a small keyhole saw with a metal cutting blade. Mia severed the nail from the wood, leaving it intact in the skull of Richard Thorn. After that, they finished sliding the remains into the bag and secured the open end. Audrey passed over the PVC poles, and they slid them in the exterior loops built into the bag. Mia and Orion lifted the bag up and inched their way to the solid flooring.
“Let’s put this down. I’d like to inspect the area,” Mia told Orion. “I’m puzzled as to why the body fluids didn’t seep through the ceiling.”
“Mia, Cid and I’ll carry it the rest of the way down,” Mike offered.
Mia waited until the body left. Thorn followed his corpse, uncertain how far away from his body his spirit could roam.
Orion and Mia rushed over to the space. Orion found what Mia’s slight-of-glove took from the corpse and handed to him to hide. Thorn’s personal notebook.
“Read it. If it’s too corrupted by time, I’ll hold it,” Mia offered. “I don’t trust that ghost around my husband.”
“I think you’re wise not to.”
Mia pulled the rest of the insulation up from the attic. She found the missing tools, several first editions in remarkable condition, and Dr. Rose’s treatment log. Mia flipped it open, and penned in careful copperplate was the list of the unfortunates who had perished under his care. “Why would this be hidden up here? Mia asked. “Thornrose burnt down.”
“Thorn could have had it,” suggested Orion. “Maybe Renee brought it out, as you brought out the Morrison journal.”
Mia handed it to Orion. “This belongs in the Dark Vault.”
“I’m going to head down. You coming?”
“I’m going to replace the insulation. I’ll be down soon.”
Orion left, carrying the items they found in the attic. Mia started at one end and methodically replaced the insulation she had torn up. While she worked, she thought about the situation they were in. The wind howled overhead. It occasionally gusted, and the wind slammed the house. “No wonder the place moved.”
“Why do you think it lost its seal?” Judge Roumain asked.
Mia looked at the judge and set the fiberglass blanket down and patted it into place before walking over. “I’m starting to doubt myself,” she admitted.
“Can we go somewhere else?” the Judge asked.
“As long as you slow things here. I’m worried about Thorn, now that I’ve released him from his remains.”
“You should.”
Mia put her head down, and when she looked up, she was standing by a familiar river. She took off her gloves and used them to smack off the dust and fibers. “Ah, New Orleans…”
“I made some errors here. Let me have another chance?” Roumain asked.
“Why not, you’ve given me enough,” Mia said. “Did Dieter contact you?”
“Yes. I was hoping you would take on the boy. If only until he finds his footing.”
“He can stay as long as he wants. Tell me how I have failed again,” Mia said in a defeated tone.
“Who are the monsters?”
“Dr. Rose and, I suspect, Richard Thorn.”
“Yes. Dr. Rose has been taken care of by his babies. You have Richard Thorn to deal with now.”
“We could just bleed the energy away and leave him floating,” Mia said.
“He needs to be judged.”
“Who, you?”
“I’m in a difficult spot,” he admitted.
“Orion?”
“Come on, Mia, stop passing the buck.”
“He’s lying to us, but why?” Mia asked.
The judge looked at Mia and saw that the last few days had taken their toll on her. Roumain knew that Mia needed to step up. She needed to have this experience for what was coming. “Take in all the evidence. Let him work with Ted and cycle the house. Give Ted this to wear,” he said, handing Mia a cross on the end of a silver chain. “Thorn plans on possessing him after the pocket dimension is secure. He has been watching Ted since he arrived.”
“Roumain, we were we led here. Was all this a setup?”
“You have good instincts. It wasn’t me or the Council. It was the same people who financed the growing of the witch trees.”
“The Cynosura. But why?”
“I think, they thought that Renee would kill you. If she failed, then Dr. Rose, and if not him, the final try would be made by Richard Thorn.”
“Why me?”
“You’re not only a healer now, but you’re in the position to influence a Nephilim.”
“But Quentin isn’t on our side.”
“He isn’t on any side any longer,” Roumain said. “He has found his family. This cripples them.”
“Enough to stop them?” Mia asked.
“No.”
“What is the end game? Am I even on the right side?”
“I can’t answer that.”
“Why have you been able to give me all this counsel?”
“I found a loophole.”
Mia laughed. “Thank you. If I make it through this, I’ll take care of Dieter like he was my own son.”
“I’m counting on that.”
“How is your wife?”
“I took your advice and let her see my hair.”
“And…”
“That is a conversation for another time. Wait a moment, I want you to see something before I take you back.” Roumain gently turned Mia towards the water. Floating down the river was an old tree. On top of the tree was Sticks.
“What’s he doing?”
“He’s preparing. For what I h
ave no idea. He spent a lot of time with Wyatt.”
Mia smiled. “I told Wyatt that Sticks had the makings of a hero.”
“Then that’s what he is preparing for. Mind you, Sticks is a demon, Mia.”
“I know,” she said, her voice echoing through the attic space. She put on her gloves and finished her chore before running down the stairs in search of her husband.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Mia caught her husband as he was handing over the headset of power to Audrey. “Could I have your help with something?” she asked sweetly.
Ted followed her into the first floor bathroom. Mia wiggled her finger to bring Ted down from his height. He thought he was going to get a kiss; instead, Mia put the cross around his neck.
Ted pulled it away from his chest. “A cross, Mia? I thought you didn’t cater to any one religion.”
“It’s to safeguard you from possession,” Mia said and delivered the wanted kiss on her tiptoes.
“What’s that for?”
“Fun,” Mia said. “Careful, Thorn is using us. I just don’t know to what end.”
“The storm is over. Mike has ordered a snow removal company to dig us out. I’m not going to let anything happen before we evacuate the house,” he promised.
“You, I trust. Thorn, I do not. I’m going to help the team pack up, and then I’m going to see our son at Ralph’s. Can I fly you there?”
Ted was quiet a moment. “I want to go, pumpkin, but I also feel the need to be here, watching things.”
“I understand. I’ll let him know.”
“Are you disappointed?” Ted asked.
“Brian will be, but he’ll understand. If anything odd happens, call me. I can be here in minutes.”
Ted kissed her tenderly. He tucked the cross into the neck of his tee. Mia put her hand over it, feeling it secure underneath the cotton. “Keep him safe,” she said.
“Hurry back,” Ted said. “We need you here.”
“I’m a mom first, and I sense our son needs me,” Mia said.
Ted left the bathroom, and Mia changed into the sweater dress outfit, Ralph and Brian had gotten her, before she walked into the kitchen. “Anyone have a grocery list?” she asked.
Mike looked up. “I’ve ordered supplies. They’ll come in with the snow removal guys.”
“Ah to be rich…” Mia said and opened the back door, jumping back as a load of snow fell on the porch. “Whoa.”
Mike laughed. “I expect the west side of this house would have some nasty overhangs of snow. Be careful so you don’t get buried,” he warned.
Mia step carefully into the fallen snow and slid off the porch. She maintained her footing. She looked around before extending her wings and taking off.
~
Brian was overjoyed to see her. Ralph looked a little worse for wear. Mia took him aside and asked if he needed a break. “I’ll take Brian to the farm. Judy and Ed would love to have some Brian time.”
“Nonsense. I said I would watch him, and I’m going to fulfill my promise.”
“When you promised, you didn’t know you would be snowed in,” Mia pointed out.
“True, but Brian is such a dear. He is, however, getting bored of Ralphy Gee.”
Mia looked over at the blanket fort her godfather had built and the amused little boy inside, and shook her head. “No, he’s very happy. I remember our blanket forts. We made Playdoh worms and tried to serve them to Bernard between two slices of bread.”
Ralph looked at Mia and was truly captivated. “You remember that?”
“Yes, I do. Bernard refused, so you chased him around the apartment. He finally took a bite. He walked into the kitchen and open the refrigerator and got out a bottle of ketchup. He…” Mia broke into laughter. “He then took a bite and said, ‘That’s better. Ralph, tell Mia I always have my worm sandwiches with ketchup.’” Mia collapsed in giggles and hiccups.
Brian crawled out of the tent to see what the commotion was about. His mother was sitting on the floor hiccupping. He toddled over and put a calming hand on her back. “Mommy’s sick.”
“No, Brian, Mommy laughed herself into hiccups,” Mia admitted, “HIC!”
Brian looked at Ralph and he nodded. “Come on, let’s get her a drink of warm water.”
“Worm water?” Brian asked aghast.
“Warm,” Mia corrected, but the thought of worm water sent her into fits of laughter again. “Whew! I’ve missed this. Things are a bit serious over at the investigation. Come on, Brian, why don’t we play in the fort and let Ralphy Gee take a nap?” Mia suggested.
“Yes, Mommy.”
“Brian, I would like to tell you about a big boy that will be coming to stay with us,” Mia said.
Ralph stopped in his tracks at the end of the hall and tiptoed back to listen.
“His name is Dieter.”
“Dee Ter.”
“Very close. Anyway, Dieter doesn’t have a safe home to stay in, so he’ll be staying with us in the room down the hall from yours.”
“Does he like to read books?”
“I don’t know. He’s pretty smart. You can ask him.”
“Where is his mommy and daddy?”
“In heaven. Do you mind sharing Daddy and me for a while?”
“No, Mommy. Dieter can play with Maggie.”
“Oh, she’ll love that. You are a very generous boy. I’m proud of you,” Mia said.
Ralph wasn’t sure how much a one-year-old would understand, but he thought Brian could pick up a lot from Mia’s voice inflection.
“Would he like to go to Bernard’s field?”
Mia was stumped for a moment. “Oh, the Field Museum. I don’t know. You can ask him.”
“Is he afraid of old bones like you are?”
“No, Dieter is braver than Mommy, but not braver than Daddy.”
Ralph tiptoed to his bedroom. He knew that Mia would be fielding questions for at least another half an hour before Brian moved on to something else.
~
Baxter looked in on Quentin. He was busy looking for something in the library.
“Can I help you, Quentin?”
“I wanted to see if I could find something age appropriate to give to Mia’s son. He is going to be one year old on the 19th.”
“That’s a tall order. Does he read yet?” Baxter asked, very aware that being both the offspring of a genius and a crossbreed could make gift giving a problem.
“I don’t know. I thought maybe something with pictures.”
“We could go to the bookstore when the weather lifts,” Baxter offered.
“I wanted to give him something special. Something that says ‘you’re my grandnephew.’”
“The Tale of Peter Rabbit?” Baxter suggested. “It’s a little book for little hands.” Baxter found the book. He handed it to Quentin. “I think this used to be yours.”
Quentin sat down and read the book.
Baxter waited patiently.
Quentin looked up. “It seems to be a book best read to the child first.”
“I agree.”
“Do you think Mia will let me read to the boy?”
“I think so.”
“Do you think I’m silly to want to be part of a family this late in my life?”
“No. We all want to belong.”
“Do you think Mia respects me?”
Baxter took a moment to think this through. “When Mia was extracted from the wall, she had such a look of pride on her face when she was looking at you. I would say yes, she does.”
“Her husband is a friendly fellow. Very talkative.”
“Yes. You’re pretty talkative yourself.”
Quentin smiled. He handed Baxter the book. “Please find a box for this. I must lay down.”
“As you wish, sir.”
~
Ted and Thorn worked side-by-side. Thorn wasn’t able to move things on this side of the ether, so he basically instructed Cid on what needed to be done. Cid took this with ve
iled irritation. Murphy stood back and watched the ghost. Thorn was very aware of this and silently vowed to destroy the farmer with his own axe as soon as he was able.
Ted was a wealth of information. He firmly schooled Thorn on where he thought he went wrong. “I’m looking at this from over a hundred years of innovations,” Ted prefaced. “But I think we need to involve the computer. Each lever must be primed and timed or this house is going to come down around us.”
Thorn thought about how he would soon control the man. He’d learned a few things from Renee and Dr. Rose. He would seem to settle in and wait until he had enough power to assure the final transformation. Then he, Richard Thorn, would become Theodore Martin, inventor.
~
Mia and Brian moved like ninjas. They put away the toys and took down the fort, folding the blankets the best they could, suspecting that Ralph would fold them again, his way, when Mia left. After, Mia walked into the kitchen and sighed. Ralph usually never left dishes in the sink. Brian sat at the table coloring while Mia did the dishes, put together a casserole, and put it in the oven. It wouldn’t be a Ralph or Bernard masterpiece, but it would be hearty.
Brian yawned.
“Are you tired, sweetheart?” Mia asked.
“Ralphy Gee wears me out,” Brian said in a very grownup voice.
Mia held in her laughter and managed to nod, keeping a straight face. “He loves you and is afraid of you being bored. Tell him, sometimes you need quiet time for independent study.”
“In deep dent?”
“In dee pen dent,” Mia sounded out. “It means to do something by yourself. Some people say, ‘quiet reflection.’”
Mia worked with Brian until he could say quiet reflection, and then she asked what Brian thought it meant.
“Talking to yourself in your head with your mouth closed.”
“Very good. Brian, when you talk in your head, does anyone talk back?” she asked.
“No, Mommy.”
“If someone does, tell Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Cid or Murphy, please.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
“We want to make sure that we know who is talking to you,” she explained.