The Return (Haunted Series Book 21)

by Alexie Aaron

  Ted grabbed a paper towel and a pen. He started working on some figures. He drew a diagram, looked at the prosthetic, and made some changes. “What if we used a poly-Kevlar cuff. This way, it can expand with the swelling but return to size when the swelling goes down?”

  “I think that sounds like a plan,” Lazar said, very pleased with himself. He knew he needed to get Ted’s mind on something else for a while. “Why don’t you go and work on it. I’ll call you if I hear anything,” Lazar promised. “Here,” he said, handing Ted the leg. I’ll use my old one in the meantime.”

  Ted walked out studying the leg.

  Magda walked over with Varden. “You have a way with the mad scientist.”

  “He’s not often angry. He just feels helpless. His wife is a warrior with very strange friends. Some of them Ted doesn’t like. He is very aware that her friends would like to be more than friends.”

  “Is she promiscuous?” Magda asked, putting Varden in his carrier.

  “No. All his problems are in his mind. And maybe in the minds of the friends. You’ll see once you meet her. She is hard not to like.”

  “Have you fallen under her spell?”

  “No, Mama, I have not.”

  “Good. I think it’s time to put Varden down for a nap,” Magda said, looking at the yawning baby.

  “Upstairs first door on the left,” Lazar directed.

  “I will fetch your old leg first,” she said and raised a hand to silence his objection. She returned, her face was guarded. “They have made you quite a home, haven’t they?”

  “Yes, Mama, they have been very generous.”

  “Housekeeping is…”

  “No, it’s not women’s work. It’s everybody’s work. Here I feel important, not a burden.”

  “Your father needed help on the farm, yet you chose to stay here?”

  “My body wasn’t the only thing that was damaged in the explosion. My mind is troubled, too troubled to be a good son right now.”

  Magda put her cool hand on Lazar’s brow. “Babcia can help you if you let her.”

  “Her magic is old world magic. I must live and thrive in the new world. Ted is helping me to find physical balance. This family is helping me mentally and financially. There is so much love here, Mama.”

  “New world, old world, the thing that drives magic is still the same. I think you lie about this Mia. I will have to have a talk with her.”

  Lazar felt defeated. His mother, although very wise, could be so stupid at times. He wasn’t in love with his boss. “I care just as much for Ted as I do Mia. They are opposite sides of a coin. Science on one side. Magic on the other. But what joins them together is amazing; there is no stronger bond.”

  “So it’s the husband you’re in love with?” his mother asked. “I see television. I read. I know things.”

  “You’re not listening,” Lazar said, frustrated. He put on his prosthetic leg and plucked a sleeping Varden out of the carrier. “I’ll take him. You, you do something else,” he said and moved with as much dignity as he could out of the kitchen.

  Ted set the prosthetic down for a moment. He pushed the mechanics from his mind. He turned around quickly, sensing someone in the room with him. “Who’s there?”

  “Dad, it’s me, Dieter,” the young man said, walking out of the darkness.

  “Why were you hiding?” Ted asked, concerned. “I’m not mad at you.”

  “But it is all my fault. If I hadn’t neglected my schoolwork, then Mom wouldn’t have been at the library and…”

  Ted walked over and took Dieter’s arm and escorted him into Murphy’s area of the large barn. “Sit down a moment.” Ted waited until the youth had done so. He drew up Murphy’s rocker and sat at the edge so he could look into Dieter’s face. He started, “I’m a man of science and do believe in cause and effect. You feel because you didn’t study, you were forced to do this poetry project which took you on the path that recently brought you to that old library. But you see, your mother believes in fate and magic. She would be the first to tell you that because you were supposed to be at that library or bookshop or wherever, fate may have nudged you not to study. You know you have choices regarding fate, so I won’t waste our time on that subject.”

  “If I was supposed to be there, why is Mom hurt?”

  “Maybe it wasn’t you who was supposed to be there? Maybe it was Mike or Brian, maybe Varden. I don’t know, but you were there, and Mia did what Mia will always do. She fights.”

  “She protected the boys until she could no longer stand,” Dieter said. “Mike had to yell at her so she would lie still. She was still trying to save them, save us, with her dying breath,” Dieter recalled. “The bird, the bird was the turning point.”

  “What kind of bird was it?” Ted asked.

  “It was a raven. Like the poet I’m studying. Dad, supposedly this bird types out his prose and flies them to this human who puts them in a book. Before Mia was attacked, Mike and I found pamphlets of the raven’s work. We assumed, incorrectly, that it was several poets using the idea of a raven to sell their poetry, but I think it’s the same bird. If so, this bird is many hundreds of years old.”

  “Is it a birdman?” Ted asked quickly.

  “He didn’t transform. He stayed a bird and flew in the face of the ghost. After, he watched over the van to keep the boys safe.” Dieter scooted forward and whispered, “I think Varden called him.”

  “I thought Varden called Victor?”

  “Could be. But the bird arrived first,” Dieter pointed out. “Victor did not come until at least five minutes later. He had already discarded his warrior clothes. Victor was prepared to transport Mom to the Aerie. Mike says that all who go there have to arrive naked so that the place isn’t contaminated.”

  “How did Victor know?” Ted asked.

  “I’ve been trying to figure that out,” Dieter said. “You should have seen it when the birds came in full force, Dad. I got chills.”

  “I’ve seen it before,” Ted said, distracted. “Angelo was leading them?”

  “Yes. He must have been called into action by Victor,” Dieter presumed.

  “Strange course of events,” Ted said, trying to find more words of explanation or of comfort. His own distress was starting to unravel his orderly brain. The bonding hummingbird tattoo on his shoulder burned, yet he took comfort that it was still there. “The birdmen are like starlings; they communicate silently…” Ted stopped speaking as the wall beside them dissolved and a brilliant light filled the barn.

  “It’s rather scientific,” Sariel said, walking over to the two. “In each being, there are all these items in the cells that communicate with other cells, hormones that act as messengers. The human body really is an amazing machine.”

  The unannounced arrival of the angel didn’t frighten them. It was the possible news the archangel had brought that terrified them both.

  Ted’s face was ashen. “Is she dead?”

  “No, close. If it wasn’t for your feathered guardian, who was smart enough to take her to where there was a natural defense against the light, she would be gone. Broken back.”

  “We moved her! Did we break her back?” Dieter asked, horrified.

  “No, I believe it was a book on the Crimean War that did that. Forgive me, I should have told you immediately, but your conversation drew me in. We’ll get back to it in a moment. Ted, Mia is going to be fine, but she’s not very happy right now. You see, her spine had already been weakened by the removal of her wings. I think you know that after her fight with Aosoth, she was offered them back by Michael, but she refused, said something about wanting to be normal,” Sariel recalled. “The Gray Ladies sought us out after Elizabeth examined her. She sent Idra to find Altair who guards the mountains where the Aerie exists. The consensus was that the wings had to be put back.”

  “So Michael is giving Mia’s wings back?” Ted asked.

  “Not Mia’s wings. Not the hybrid birdman wings. Victor gave Altair one of
his heart feathers. He has two. Birdmen normally give them to a human female they want as a mate.”

  Ted stood up.

  “Sit down, Tiger. Victor isn’t interested in your wife. He gave the feather to Altair so that Michael would give Mia birdman warrior wings.”

  “Wow,” Dieter blurted out.

  “So Victor has chosen to be without a human mate in order to save my wife’s life,” Ted said uncomfortably.

  “Basically. I don’t think the lug was ever interested in becoming a family man anyway. He’s all fight. Between you and me, he could take Angelo out in minutes. It’s only his loyalty that keeps him in check. We’re all afraid of him,” Sariel admitted. “When he lost his brother, Varden’s namesake, we watched for signs of him seeking power to take over the birdmen and then, possibly, leading them against us. But instead, he’s been circling your area. Watching over your youngest son.”

  “Mia says that the soul of his brother is in our son.”

  “Birdman legacy. Think of it,” Sariel said excitedly. “All of your and Mia’s genes, including the superhuman ones, and Varden’s soul. The rote memory of battles. Your son will be amazing. And it’s all science.”

  “Nice way to work your way back to the original conversation. But before you do, where is my wife?”

  “Altair wasn’t specific, but I imagine she’s in one of Michael’s secret lairs. I can’t take you there, so don’t ask. Altair will bring her home.”

  “You said my mother wasn’t happy about this. Why?” Dieter asked.

  Sariel looked at Ted. “You want to field this one?”

  “Mia is very accepting of the uniqueness and differences in other people, other beings, but she had a shitty childhood, and all the baggage of being different was multiplied by the idea that the Council of Women engineered and nurtured her to be an assassin. The wings, although beautiful and very handy, pissed her off. It showed her lack of control over her own body.”

  Sariel looked at Ted and raised his hand. Ted, puzzled by the grade school behavior, asked, “Yes?”

  “She’s afraid she’s going to turn bad. You need to reassure her that, wings or no wings, your wife is a being of good. The important thing is that Mia will be whole again. I’m sorry, but I need to leave. Raincheck on the science cell conversation?”

  “Sure.”

  The ceiling of the barn disappeared, and Sariel shot upwards into the heavens with the merriest twitch of his wings.

  “Whoa, and they’re afraid of Victor?” Ted said, his knees shaking.

  “Victor has a beautiful soul if that helps?” Dieter offered.

  “Some.”

  “You still look worried.”

  “Before you met us, Mia went through some transformations. Different parts of her woke up, causing a lot of havoc on earth and in the heavens. During the whole time, she was loyal to me, which I find extraordinary. I’m no prize.”

  “She loves you, Dad,” Dieter insisted.

  “Mia loves Burt, Mia loves Murphy, Mia loves Angelo, Mia loves Mike. Shall I go on?”

  “No. I’m sorry that you can’t see the way her soul lights up when your name is mention or when you walk in the room. It’s really embarrassing now that I’m your son.”

  Ted blushed. “I love Mia. I did the moment I set eyes on her. There she was, this gorgeous looking cussmeister who did superhero things. I was in awe. I’m still in awe. The fact that she’s bringing home a set of wings like Victor, it gives me chills. I, however, do not like the fact that Michael is involved.”

  “He saved her from the poison,” Dieter reminded him. “If not for him, Mia and Varden would not be here.”

  “True.”

  “It doesn’t hurt to have Victor, Sariel, and Judge Roumain around too. She seems to get hurt all the time.”

  “It’s the way her life is written, I suppose.”

  “You were written in early, I only just got here,” Dieter said.

  “You’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” Ted said. “But for right now, let’s throw all our good thoughts Mia’s way.”

  “Do scientist pray?” Dieter asked.

  “Those married to Mia do,” Ted answered and closed his eyes.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mia opened her eyes. She fixed on the face above her. It wasn’t Elizabeth. The fog cleared away, and now she could see clearly. “We meet again, Moriarty.”

  Michael let the remark roll off his back. “How are you feeling?”

  “Groggy.”

  “You’ve been in a deep sleep for quite some time. It had to be a dreamless sleep so your buddies, Altair and Sariel, would leave you alone.”

  “My buddies,” Mia said, amused. “To answer your question, I’m not feeling any pain, except my back seems to be pulling my shoulders back at an unnatural angle.”

  “You’ll get used to the weight. Do you remember why you’re here?” Michael asked.

  “I broke my back, and Elizabeth said I needed my wings back.”

  “You did. For the record, I did try to give them back to you.”

  “I didn’t want them.”

  “I know, so imagine my surprise when Altair brings you in with Victor’s heart feather.”

  “I don’t remember that part.”

  “Victor gave you one of his two heart feathers. He didn’t want you to have wimpy wings. As if I would give you wimpy wings.”

  “He’s different.”

  “Is he your lover?”

  Mia’s eyes narrowed a moment. She thought it through and realized it did look a bit that way. She relaxed and answered, “No, he is not my lover. Ted is my lover, my husband, and my friend. Victor is my son’s godfather.”

  “Victor, a godfather? God will be amused.”

  “You’ll have to explain this heart feather thing to me.”

  “No, I’ll leave that for Victor to explain. I’m just a lowly mechanic, ordered around by my subordinate, Altair, to give you your wings back and make them birdman warrior wings.”

  “That had to sting,” Mia said.

  “Tell me, did you talk to Lucifer this way?”

  “Um, sometimes. He scares me. He’s way too happy,” Mia observed.

  Michael couldn’t help smiling. The crescent scar on his face pulled his lip in a strange way, but Mia knew it was a smile and it warmed her.

  Mia looked around. The muted light seemed to come from everywhere. There was a scent of flowers mixed with ozone. “Where are we?”

  “Between things. Not the heavens, not the earth, somewhere between. I felt the need to relocate after Lucifer read your mind.”

  “That was wise. I didn’t like that last place much.”

  Michael’s face darkened. “I’m not a perfect angel, Mia. I make mistakes.”

  “I’ve thought about it, and I can see how you would have formed such a low opinion of me. It hurt, a lot. But, in the end, I ended up with webbed toes… Hey, where’s my webbed toes?” Mia asked, looking down the bed at her feet. “And… covers? I’m feeling very vulnerable here,” she said, seeing her nakedness for the first time. The scars of childbearing were gone – she suspected Elizabeth – and the only flaw was the circular scar around her leg where she tried to cut it off to stop the poison of a sea snake’s bite from reaching her womb and Varden. She also still bore the twin tattoo she had over her heart and Ted had on his shoulder. Her hands went to her neck.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “How big is the M this time?” she asked.

  “M? Oh,” Michael started laughing. “I didn’t rebind you. It wouldn’t work, not that I didn’t try. Still, you’re not bound to me, but you are under my employ…”

  “Victor?”

  “I don’t know? You have to ask him.”

  Mia frowned. “I get the feeling you’re enjoying this.”

  “Sure.”

  Mia drew her knees up as she sat up. She wrapped her arms around them, shielding her breasts as best she could.

  “Modesty? You?”
/>   “You were aware that it was the demon… Whoa, the demon isn’t back is she?” Mia asked.

  “No. I took care of her. She’ll never return. Come stand up. Time to see your wings.”

  Mia took his offered hand and moved off the platform she was lying on.

  Michael frowned.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You’re taller.”

  “Really?” Mia asked, quite pleased.

  “Two inches. Not that noticeable,” he reasoned. “But why?”

  “Superhuman gene?” Mia offered.

  “No, your bones are too old to grow. It’s your spine. Mia, close your eyes and think wings.”

  Mia did so.

  Michael watched as the largest, most beautiful, black pair of wings moved out of Mia’s body.

  Michael took an inadvertent step back.

  Mia raised them on either side of her and looked at them. “I’ve been down this road before, but the address has changed. Whoa.”

  Michael motioned for Mia to raise off the ground.

  She did so. The wings now were at their fullest. “They feel different. Stronger, heavier.”

  “They’re armored,” Michael said, examining the lower feathers. He looked at her back, and there, between the wings was an elongated oval shape. He rose up, reached over and tapped it. “Mia, this is some serious plating. It can’t be organic.”

  “Since I can’t see it, you’re going to have to explain,” Mia said, irritated.

  “Lower and withdraw your wings,” Michael commanded.

  As Mia morphed back into the human form she was much more comfortable with, Michael studied her back. There, nestled between her shoulder blades, was a metallic object attached to Mia’s skin. Michael touched Mia’s head and said, “See through my eyes.”

  “What the… the hay,” Mia said. “Wait, I know what that is. A while ago, Ted gave me this locket that was supposed to be invisible. He thought I could use it to hide a charm and bring it into a pocket dimension. I had forgotten all about it. It had a very similar design, but it was more oval when I last saw it.”

  “A little more information, please,” Michael said, handing Mia a robe.