The Return (Haunted Series Book 21)

by Alexie Aaron

  “Just that the two of you were vindicated of the immorality charge. Victor is still facing a charge of mutiny. It’s a killing charge.”

  “I know,” Mia said. “Soren seems like an even thinker. What do you know about him?”

  “That he can be a voice of reason. But the others are afraid of Victor, even if Soren is not.”

  “Why has Angelo kept his distance from Victor?”

  “I don’t know. Mia, have I missed something? Do you have feelings for Victor?” he asked.

  “He’s my son’s godfather. He’s an honorable warrior who just wants to track down all the Cynosura and have them dealt with. They killed his brother. I killed his brother with my wild idea.”

  “Your idea turned the tide. We were losing until then. Don’t dishonor Varden’s death with your misplaced guilt,” Orion cautioned.

  “Yes, you’re right, as always.”

  “Would you mind telling my wife that from time to time? I’m not in love with the pet name doofus.”

  Mia giggled. “I’ll do my best. Call me when you know something, no matter the time.”

  “You do the same,” he said and hung up.

  Mia walked out of the kitchen and into the living room where Ted was looking at the lighthouse book’s inside cover while he sat on the couch. “So, this has been just sitting here for how long?”

  “I don’t know, a while.”

  “I think we need to hide it from a certain early reader.”

  “Another thing for our locker,” Mia said. “I never thought I’d use it. I wonder what the other portals do?”

  “You don’t know?” Ted asked.

  “Ed said, but I forgot to write them down. I was sure I’d remember them.”

  “You were wrong.”

  “Yup.”

  Mia sat down on the couch and snuggled up to Ted. He put his arm around her.

  “Knock, knock,” Dieter said from the stairway. “I don’t want to disturb you, but Hero just came back. He says to open the front door.”

  Ted launched himself off the couch and looked through the peephole before smiling and opening the door.

  In walked Victor, Nicholai, and Angelo.

  Mia didn’t hide the tears of relief that ran down her face. “Tell me everything is alright.”

  Angelo raised his hands before he spoke. “Victor has been exonerated of all charges. He’s a free birdman, but…”

  “I don’t like the sound of sentences that end in but,” Mia said through her teeth.

  “Mia, I’m leaving the Brotherhood of the Wing, voluntarily,” Victor said. “I want to dedicate my time to working alongside John Ryan in securing the future for my godson.”

  “That’s very generous of you,” Ted said. “Did you want to leave?”

  “I wanted to take leave, but the judges demanded that I end my association. I leave with full powers, and I am not considered a rebel but retired.”

  “I know you have wanted a change,” Mia said. “But I don’t understand how they could think you were a problem in the first place?” Mia said to Victor but eyed Angelo.

  “Little Bird, I am going to take my grandfather to this island Ed has spoken about. There, I will sort out my feelings and make a plan.”

  Hero flew down the stairs and perched on Victor’s shoulder.

  “Nicholai will stay here with you until he feels you’re strong enough to face Lucifer.”

  “So you’re moving in permanently?” Mia asked.

  Nicholai laughed. “Don’t worry, Little Bird, you’re almost there.”

  “Go and wake the boys to say goodbye,” Ted told Dieter.

  Victor caught Dieter’s arm to stop him. “I don’t think I can face Brian’s questions or Varden’s stare,” Victor admitted. “I’ll be back to visit them when I can,” he promised.

  Hero bobbed his head, and Victor reached a hand out and clasped Ted’s then Dieter’s. “Thank you for putting up with Hero.”

  “It was a learning experience,” Dieter admitted truthfully.

  “Mia, don’t lead with your heart. Your sword is better,” Victor said and transformed into a large black crow. He and Hero nodded their heads and flew out the door.

  “Hero left a poem,” Dieter said, unfolding the paper he had secured in his pocket. “He asked that I read it to you four now and tomorrow to the boys.”

  “Go ahead,” Mia said, leaning wearily against Ted. She felt her heart breaking, and she had no idea why.

  Follow the path

  laid down by

  the sleeping moonlight

  Where the sky

  meets the great lake

  Overhead where

  the dark clouds in motion

  are a silhouette of wings

  And when you hear

  the husky breath

  of a distant shore

  calling on the breeze

  Look for the island

  where the cliffs

  rise like sentinels

  and are crowned

  in a stand of willow trees

  “That was beautiful. Thank you, Dieter,” Mia said. “Gentlemen, you must be hungry. I’m sure Cid has something edible in the refrigerator that I can put together.”

  “Angelo and I have some talking to do,” Nicholai said. “I’ll be around next week to check on your progress. Have a quiet evening with your family, Little Bird.”

  Angelo looked like he wanted to stay, but instead, he nodded and followed his elder out the door. Ted closed it behind him.

  “Mom, I think I may have to be a bit creative when I write about the raven.”

  “I’ll help you with it tomorrow if it’s okay?” Mia asked. “I’m a bit worn out.”

  “I understand. I’m going to call Mark. Good night, if I don’t come back down.”

  “Good night, son,” Ted said. He looked at Mia. “You call Orion, and I’ll call Cid and Lazar.”

  The phone rang. Mia picked it up. “I was just about to call you. Let’s compare notes.”

  Ted walked outside and leaned against the house as he called Cid’s phone. He noticed the porch swing rocking.

  Murphy watched Ted from the swing.

  “Cid, we’re back. Yes, I’ll tell you all about it when you guys get home. Mia’s exhausted, so I’m going to send her to bed. I’ll wait up. What? Okay, the explanation can wait until tomorrow. You sure? Okay, see you tomorrow.”

  “Murphy, we’re on our own tonight.”

  “I’ll keep watch,” Murphy said.

  “Thank you. I’ll sleep much easier knowing you’re here,” Ted admitted.

  “It’s no problem,” Murphy said.

  Ted walked inside and found Mia half asleep at the kitchen table. He lifted her up, noticing the extra weight. “Minnie Mouse, are you binging on donuts again?” he asked, throwing her over his shoulder before she could punch him.

  “No, whole sheep. I dive down and gobble one up whole, spitting the bones out as I go.”

  “You don’t even like lamb.”

  Mia giggled.

  Murphy strode into the moonlight and whistled as he patrolled the farm. Komal had given him so much to think about. He had eased the farmer’s conscience while challenging him to think about how he could be a better friend to Ted. Maybe it was just that it was spring or that other entities were closing in, but Murphy had a good vat of jealousy brewing right now.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Susan walked into the gym of Big Bear Lake High School. She turned a few heads with her clothing. First, it was made of spandex more suited to a Pilates class than a sports boosters meeting, and it wasn’t as if there weren’t Green Bay Packer fans in northern Illinois, but Susan Braverman would have been the last to wear the green and gold. The other volunteers dismissed it as a joke or maybe that Susan had lost a bet. She seemed in good spirits, so the group kept silent about her defection from her standard Chicago Bears fanwear.

  The head of the sports program, Coach Ackerman, walked over and cleared his v
oice. “I’d like you all to put your hands together for Susan. She procured thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment for our sports program from the Wyandot Community College, absolutely free.” He started clapping.

  The others joined in.

  Susan was visibly pleased by the attention. “I’m happy to help,” Susan said.

  Deb Booker watched Susan. She understood that Susan had been in an accident. Someone said a refrigerator had fallen on her. Perhaps she took a hard hit to the back of the head. Something was definitely out of place. Susan was bouncy. Her weight was on her toes as if she was going to start dancing.

  The coach went on to discuss how the varsity basketball team was progressing and that the cheerleaders were headed for a state competition. “Unfortunately, their normal chaperones have conflicts and asked if we could step in and help.” He then asked for volunteers to chaperone the group.

  Susan’s hand shot up.

  Everyone was surprised by this. Susan Braverman was no fan of the cheer squad. She had vocalized that any funding for their uniforms should come from the Arts department since they were basically dancers.

  “Okay, I’ve got one. I need two more. Deb?” Coach asked, knowing the two were thick as thieves.

  “I’ve got to work,” Deb lied. There was no way she was going to spend her day off with the high-pitched squeals of the BBL cheer squad. Their coach was a capable woman but tended to let the girls run a little wild, leaving the volunteers to chase them down, pulling them out from under bleachers where they were doing what teenagers do, but not on Deb’s watch. Plus, the head cheerleader had dumped Rory Kline when he was injured and had to quit football. Rory was dear to Deb’s heart. He was more than an employee to her; he was like a son. He had parents, but from Deb’s point of view, they were handling his kidnapping poorly. Rory was suffocating.

  Two others reluctantly agreed to go, so they moved on to other business.

  Deb quietly walked over to where Susan was standing. She leaned over and asked quietly, “Are you alright? I heard you got hit on the head.”

  “I’m sorry, do I know you?” Susan asked.

  “Cut it out, Braverman. Did I upset you? I tried to come to the hospital, but I had work.”

  Cindy caught on that this tomboy woman was a friend of Susan’s. “Oh no. I’m just teasing. I wasn’t in long, just under observation.”

  “I’m surprised to see you support the cheer squad.”

  “A good athletic program needs a strong squad. It’s more than shaking pom-poms, er…”

  “Deb.”

  “Debbie, today’s cheerleaders are just that, leaders of their school. Leaders in athletic performance. A good squad can bring in the spectators.”

  “Susie,” Deb said, annoyed to be called Debbie. “People come to see the sports teams. Cheer squads are entertainment.”

  “Hush your mouth, and go away,” Cindy said. “People are looking at us and not in a kind way.”

  Deb did step back. She shook her head. Something was not right here. Was Susan on Vicodin? She wasn’t normal. Deb excused herself and walked outside and made a call. “Can I talk to Deputy Tom Braverman please? Deb Booker. Tell him it’s about his mother.”

  “Deb, what’s going on? Has there been an accident?” Tom asked out of breath.

  “Oh dear. Tom, calm down. She appears fine. I’m at the high school, and she’s acting odd. She’s not herself. How was she this morning?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t see her today.”

  “Did you have the early shift? I know you two always eat breakfast together otherwise.”

  “You haven’t heard then.”

  “Heard what?’ Deb questioned.

  “Mom kicked me out of the house.”

  “No!”

  “Yes, I’m still trying to figure out what I said to end up on the streets.”

  “Surely, Don…”

  “He went along with Mom. You know he doesn’t like conflict. Anyway, I’m renting a room from…” Tom stopped.

  “From who?”

  “Deb, I’m not sure you’re going to like this… As Rory may have told you, Ethan Aldridge is out of juvie, and I’m living in his cottage until I can find a place.”

  “Ethan Aldridge, one of Rory’s kidnappers…”

  “He’s the only one who did time for that crime, and it’s changed him.”

  “Is he your project, Tom? If you needed to big-brother someone, why couldn’t it be Rory?” Deb demanded.

  “Rory’s parents wouldn’t allow me to talk to him. They have him wrapped up in bubble wrap…”

  “Sorry, Tom. I do know what you mean. But Ethan Aldridge?”

  “His family has cut him off, disowned him, and he’s been asked never to contact them.”

  “That’s harsh. I don’t like the boy, but that’s uncalled for. Now’s the time to parent the boy.”

  “They forced him to emancipate himself, or he wouldn’t even have a place to live right now. I’m not taking his side. What he did was wrong. But I think he was charmed by a psychopath every bit as much as Rory was.”

  “I’m a Christian woman, so I’ll step back and forgive the boy. But you better keep an eye on him, Tom. If he comes near Rory…”

  “Deb, aren’t you wrapping Rory up in bubble wrap too?”

  “Tom! Damn, you’re right. Rory’s stuck. Maybe I’m no better than his parents?”

  “You’re a caring woman. One who I’m proud has been part of our family since I can remember.”

  “Speaking of remembering, Tom, your mother didn’t remember me when I first talked to her tonight. Maybe she has a concussion.”

  “I’ll call my father. I’m not sure she’s going let me come near her. Deb, she seems so disappointed that I’m her son.”

  “Ah… This isn’t the Susan I know. And what’s with the Packers colors she’s wearing? Did she lose a bet with your dad?”

  “I don’t know. You mean my mother is wearing green and gold?”

  “Let me put it this way, she’s one hat away from a block of plastic cheese on her head.”

  “I think I need to talk to Mia. Deb, keep an eye on her if you can. I have a bad feeling something has come over my mother. Something paranormal.”

  “It would explain a lot. The woman volunteered to go with the BBL cheer squad to state finals.”

  “It’s worse than I thought,” Tom admitted.

  “I’ll watch her. You call in the cavalry,” Deb said and hung up.

  ~

  Mia ignored the vibration in her pocket. She was deflecting some heavy blows from Nicholai. He had produced a sword the approximate weight of the angel sword for Mia to practice with. He knew that he was going to push her hard, and he didn’t want either of them to get cut by that blade. Mia pushed back, flew up, and came down behind the birdman with her sword at his back.

  “Stand still, you blackguard, or I’ll slice your wings off,” she said triumphantly.

  Nicholai jumped up and, with one hand, disarmed Mia. He put her face down on the ground and stepped on her, his talons securing her wings from moving.

  “What the hell?” Mia said, her voice muffled by the mud she had her face in. At least, she hoped it was mud.

  Nicholai helped her up. “If you have the advantage, you follow through. Don’t advertise what you’re going to do.”

  “I thought you’d just stop.”

  “This isn’t a game. You’re not playing war with Murphy.”

  “I would have hurt you!” Mia protested.

  “And I would have learned a lesson. But it didn’t end up that way, did it?”

  “No,” Mia said, wiping the mud off her face. “But, whoa, you’re amazing.”

  “Don’t try to compliment your way out of this. Victor has warned me, your real power is your mouth.”

  “I beg your pardon?” Mia said, embarrassed.

  “You can talk your way out of most things, but, Little Bird, when you’re being attacked, the attacker has already decided
he or she is going to kill you. The time for talking is done.”

  “I’ve never thought of it that way,” Mia said honestly.

  “You’ve done well today,” Nicholai said.

  “Really? I ended up in the mud.”

  Nicholai smiled. “I have a few years of fighting on you. Plus, I inherited the soul of a mighty birdman. A lot of what I have is inherited. You have to learn yours firsthand.”

  “Thank you for being kind,” Mia said. “And, for the record, I did mean it when I said you were amazing.”

  “So, you weren’t flirting with me?” Nicholai asked.

  “No. You’re way out of my league,” Mia said.

  Nicholai laughed. “Ah, Little Bird, you are a pleasure to work with. I’ll leave you now. I have a meeting to go to.”

  “Is Angelo still asking for updates?” Mia asked slyly.

  “Yes. He doesn’t realize he shows too keen an interest in you. Little Bird, you must always keep a distance between you and him. He is a strong bird but a weak man.”

  “I know. For the record, I used to have a demon inside of me who tried to seduce him. He withstood the temptation.”

  “Victor told me.”

  “How does Victor know all of this?”

  “He was Angelo’s right-hand man. Privy to a lot of conversations and observations.”

  “Not my finest hour. I even tried it on with the Prince of Angels or so I heard. The demon had totally taken over by then,” Mia said, embarrassed.

  Nicholai felt sorry for her but knew, to voice it would demean her. Instead, he said, “You pushed the demon out. It takes a lot of strength to do that.”

  “It does. Thank you.”

  “Until next time, Little Bird,” Nicholai said before he shot up into the sky and disappeared.

  Ted found Mia sitting on the hillside. She was sitting there, thinking, and only knew he was there when the hummingbirds over her heart moved. She turned and looked up. “What brings you to my mountain, giant?”

  Ted laughed. “You’re not picking up your phone.”

  “Oh, it was on vibrate. I was fighting Nicholai and didn’t dare answer it. I forgot about it,” she admitted.