by Alexie Aaron
“You nurture us too.”
“Come inside and tell me all the good stuff about your trip.”
“The good stuff?” Mia asked, walking through the door.
“The things that won’t be written in reports. For example, I was emptying your backpack of your dirty laundry and found these.” Nanny held out what looked to be a copy of a marriage certificate proclaiming her newly married and a temporary license that had her name as Mia Ahlberg.
“Angelo made those. Enos and I were undercover as a newly married couple backpacking on our honeymoon.”
Nanny gasped.
“Pretty creepy. No wonder they are calling me a lecherous megalomaniac. It wasn’t my idea. I’m still wondering why Angelo chose that scenario?”
“He must have had his reasons.”
“Also, why did he have a dress my size at his place?”
“Maybe he has a girlfriend your size,” suggested Nanny.
“Phew! I was thinking something more disturbing,” Mia said yawning.
“It’s the lack of sleep. It’s making you paranoid.”
“If I could stop the day prior to arriving at Angelo’s, then I would tell you it was a wonderful adventure. Enos is an excellent traveling companion. The Gray Ladies taught him manners, and we respected each other’s privacy, more or less.”
“Tell me about the more or less,” Nanny urged.
Mia lifted an eyebrow. “I can’t, it would break the code.”
“And the code was?”
“What happened in the tent, stayed in the tent,” Mia said.
“You didn’t, you know…”
“Of course not. It would be wrong. He’s like my brother. This isn’t a British drama. It’s a birdman adventure.”
“Mia, in the royal flock, there are first cousins still marrying.”
“That’s twisted. No wonder they are looking for new blood. I thought the Brotherhood of the Wing was a democracy but found it to be a patriarchal society. Now you’re telling me there are still royals!”
“Every society has its problems.”
“Victor thinks things need to change,” Mia said and studied Nanny’s face. “You raised him. You started the fire…”
“Maybe. Time will tell. Tell me more about the mountains.”
“It was beautiful there. I’d like to return, not to the tree-bark demon village but to the park. I’d love to take the kids there. Fly in just before light and fly out when the stars came out.”
Lazar walked into the house and stood looking in at them in the living room. “Force field is up. Just around the house. Altair has returned to die Zuflucht. Murphy is patrolling the grounds.”
“Thank you,” Mia said. “I hope I didn’t take you away from something important.”
Lazar looked down at Mia. “You’re my family, my responsibility. And since Ted’s not here, I’m going to enjoy telling you what to do.”
“Nanny and I were just discussing the evils of patriarchal societies.”
Lazar laughed. “I know it’s you and Nanny who run the place, but I love living the delusion that I’m in charge. Even my father tells me I overstep myself, but as long as I can, I’m going to make sure that you’re safe and taking care of yourself. It wasn’t just a roadside bomb that placed me here, but something greater than we mortals led me to your door.”
“For that I will always be grateful.” Mia yawned. “I’m going to look in on the kids and then head to bed. I may just be too tired to sleep.”
Nanny and Lazar watched Mia climb the stairs.
“I fear it’s only bravado that is holding her together,” Nanny said.
“She’s stronger than we think. Stronger than she knows,” Lazar said.
“I fear her emotions are causing her problems. She told me earlier that if she could just purge the good memories of Nicholai completely from her thoughts, she could see what his present agenda was.”
“How do you purge memories? If you know how, then I’d like to forget a few painful moments.”
“You and me both,” Nanny said. “Let’s drown our sorrows in some cookie dough ice cream.”
~
Ted surprised Cid by sliding into the chair beside him.
“I thought you’d be home comforting Mia?”
“She needs more sleep, less comfort,” Ted said. “I thank you for filling in for me, but you can go home and rest. Call Lazar, and he will open the force field.”
“You know, I’m good. I’ll stay with you. It’s getting interesting. Debra left…”
“Debra?”
“She told me to call her Debra.”
“The uptight owner of the house, you’re calling Debra. She must be sweet on you.”
“I think it’s Mike’s doing. They have bonded over trashy romances.”
“Where are the gang?”
“Debra took Mike and Burt to dinner. Audrey is gone for the day.”
“How can I help?”
“Have Jake run the last eight hours and catalog the occurrences for Burt. I did yesterday’s, and we think there is a pattern to the movement.”
“Extraordinary!”
“You’re in a chipper mood,” Cid observed.
“Problems aside, I really feel that Mia and I are connecting. She called me when she was in distress. She held on to me as if I was the only one that could take away the hurt she was feeling. She told me that she felt safe in my arms. Safe in my skinny human arms. Imagine that?”
“She’s always felt that way. I think it’s written between the lines,” Cid said.
“I do worry though. When we pass the present trauma of the Brotherhood’s attack on Mia, I’d like to take her away. Some place we can talk seriously without interruption. I want to make sure if I die first, she survives me. I’m not being egotistical.”
“I’ve seen it,” Cid said. “She is consumed by her love for you. It’s why she rejects any talk of her future beyond your human years. I think our Mia will die of a broken heart.”
Ted spun around. “Don’t say that! What if I die tomorrow? We have to give her reasons beyond the children to stay alive.”
“Tell me, you’ve had many moments filled with the possibility of losing Mia. How do you think beyond that?” Cid asked.
“First, I know that the children need me. Second, I know a life without her will be tough, but she’d want me to live on. She believes in me, Cid. She thinks I can continually make a difference.”
“That’s what you tell her,” Cid said. “It must feel good to be loved.”
“You’re loved.”
“Not like that,” Cid said. “Whoa.”
~
After lying awake tossing and turning, afraid to close her eyes lest she see the face of one of her betrayers, Mia got up and pulled the necklace Nyx had given her out from her top drawer.
Mia put the necklace on and thought about who Morpheus was. Mia had gotten him confused with Orpheus. Orpheus was a mortal whose love for his wife Eurydice had him, on his father Apollo’s advice, descending into Hades to see his wife. He lost faith while they were ascending, and Eurydice never was resurrected. Morpheus was the God of Dreams. His winged persona was a perfect fit for Mia. She had seen his image the minute the gem settled on her skin.
Mia crawled back into bed. “Please, bar memories from my dreams tonight.” She let the fatigue draw her downward into sleep.
“What a strange creature you are,” Morpheus said, perched on the corner of her bed. “You aren’t a god, but you are a strange mortal.”
“I am a daughter of Nyx,” Mia said, enjoying her dream.
“Do you have a name, or shall I give you one?”
“Mia.”
“Mia, welcome to my realm. What should it be? An adventure dream, a seduction, a romp?”
“I want to have some fun with my husband.”
“Okay, a romp it shall be.”
Mia closed her eyes. When sh
e opened them, she was standing outside of the PEEPs truck. She banged on the outside.
Ted stuck a sleepy head outside. “What’s going on? I told you to stay home and get some rest. It’s the responsible thing to do.”
“Aren’t you tired of being responsible? Mia asked. She banged on the side of the trailer.
“Mia, for god’s sake, you’re going to wake the neighborhood. And why are you in your pajamas?”
Cid bumped his way out of the back of the trailer. “What the hell, Ted. Hello, Mia, you’re in your pajamas.”
“That’s because we’re dreaming,” she said. “Come on, we’re going to have some fun!”
Cid didn’t think twice. He pushed Ted out of the trailer. Cid turned and locked it because even in his dreams Cid was responsible. He followed Mia into the street. She pointed down the hill. “There’s a block party going on there. I’m in the mood to dance.”
They linked arms and walked down the hill, their steps matching the bass beat of the music. They walked around the barricade. Ted followed Mia as she picked up a red cup of beer and drank it down like it was nothing.
Cid followed suit. “Come on, Ted, we’re dreaming.”
Ted picked up a drink, and Mia was gone. “Where’s my wife?”
“She’s up there on the stage,” Cid said, swaying to the music.
Ted looked and saw Mia talking to a stunning dark-haired woman wearing a top hat, a filmy set of tuxedo tails, and not much else.
“Attention, everyone!” the woman said in her sexy eastern-European accented voice. “Welcome the Ice Queen and her arm candy.”
The crowd turned and welcomed the men. The band started back up, and Mia danced, her hair flying everywhere. She jumped off the stage, and hands carried her to Ted.
“Wanna dance?” she said, undulating her body.
Ted stood there stunned. “Where are we?”
“The Countess of Michigan Avenue is having a block party.”
“But we’re nowhere near Michigan Avenue?” Ted questioned.
Cid took Mia’s hands and the two danced away. “Dude, we’re dreaming. Lighten up.”
Mia and Cid were dancing wildly. Someone was running water on the street. Mia and Cid were stomping in it, sending ripples to Ted. Ted could see the the lights reflected in the water. He was mesmerized.
“How is it that you’re not dancing?” the Countess of Michigan Avenue asked.
“It’s impossible.”
“Nothing’s impossible. Not for you, Ted of the house of Martin. I’m the Countess of Michigan Avenue, but my friends call me CoMA. Dance with me. Mia says you dance a mean tango.”
The music changed. Cid listened. “Mia, it’s a tango. Dance with me,” he pleaded.
“Do you know how to tango?” she asked.
“I read a book about it.”
“Good enough,” Mia said. She reached forward and pulled at the neck of Cid’s T-shirt and ripped the material down until his muscular chest showed.
Cid, who had an image phobia, and wouldn’t otherwise show his bare chest, went with it because, after all, it was a dream.
He led her out on the watery floor. They danced by Ted and CoMA who were very close together. Mia raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment. Cid had the rudiments down. He pulled Mia so close she could feel his heartbeat. They dance for a while, and when they collided with CoMA and Ted, they changed partners.
Ted gripped Mia and enjoyed her body as it flexed over his knee.
“You are dashing and handsome,” they heard CoMA say to Cid as they danced past them.
CoMA ran her hand on Cid’s chest and pulled the rest of the shirt off. She cast an eye at Mia who winked back. The music changed, and CoMA walked into the darkness with Cid.
Ted walked over to see where someone had set up a Slip ‘N Slide on the steep street. They waited until someone put down a large inflatable plastic disc. Ted sat down and pulled Mia atop him, and they were launched. Mia screamed happily. They spun slowly as the disc sped down the street. It launched into the air and landed in the river. They ended up floating as you do in dreams, bathed by the lights cast down from the high-rise buildings. Mia kissed Ted.
“How are we going to get back up the hill?” Ted asked as he adjusted Mia to make slow lazy love to her.
“We wake up.”
Cid found himself in a very delightful but compromising position. CoMA was whispering things in his ear that sent his blood boiling. He grabbed her and kissed her. She moaned and was very vocal about her enjoyment of what was happening and what was to come.
Mia turned over in her sleep, satisfied. Morpheus had delivered a great dream. She smiled and fell into a sated dreamless slumber.
Cid launched himself off the lounge chair. He was very aware of his state of excitement. He guiltily rushed by Ted and into Ms. Carter’s home. He headed for the bathroom where there were no cameras.
Ted opened his eyes and smiled a lazy smile. He had a wonderful dream. He was with Mia, and she and he had a night of fun ending in marital bliss. Ted returned to his work. He checked the monitors and saw a very flushed Cid staggering out of the bathroom. “Huh?”
Cid climbed into the truck. He didn’t make eye contact with Ted.
“What’s going on, dude?” Ted asked. “Did I say something that pissed you off?”
“No, I had an odd dream.”
“I had a great dream,” Ted said smiling. “Mia was here and…”
“She was banging on the side of the truck,” Cid said, putting his head in his hands.
“Why yes.”
“Are you sure she wasn’t really here?” Cid asked.
“I’m positive, why?”
“I think we had the same dream.”
“Block party?”
“You were dancing with…” Cid thought a moment. “You were dancing first with the Countess of Michigan Avenue.”
“Then with Mia,” Ted continued. “After, we took a ride down the street on a plastic disc and ended up in one of the Chicago rivers. Where were you? What did you do?”
“Things I’d rather keep to myself,” Cid said.
“I wonder what the odds are we would have similar dreams?” Ted said.
Chapter Seventeen
Ted held the passenger door of the new truck open. Mia exited with uncertain steps. Quentin had gone all out. Mia wasn’t used to things like running boards and luxury interiors. Having new baby seats already installed was a nice surprise. She suspected Audrey had added that to Quentin’s list. Today, she was visiting the Carter investigation site.
Mike wasn’t sure of the creature on Ted’s arm. She wasn’t his Ice Queen. Gone was her in-your-face, tough-as-nails exterior. Instead, here was this fragile beautiful woman whose eyes seem to read your soul before you had a chance to speak.
He tapped Burt’s shoulder. “We have company.”
Burt turned around and smiled. “You didn’t have to come. Debra said she understood your not being here.”
“I owe her a personal explanation,” Mia said.
“She’s waiting for you inside.”
“Debra has gotten braver,” Mia noticed.
Ted walked her inside the home. Mia stopped and watched the poltergeist show. Joining the figurines were rolls of toilet paper, rolling and unrolling.
“Artificial beauty amongst the baseness of the human condition, cute,” Mia said.
Debra walked out of the kitchen smiling. “Mia, it’s good to see you.”
Ted led Mia to the table and helped her with her chair. He shook Debra’s hand before he left them.
“I had no idea you would come all this way.”
“Forgive me, for not exactly being myself. Please sit down.”
Debra sat.
“I feel I owe you a complete explanation.”
“You really don’t,” Debra protested.
“When you opened your home to us, you gave us your trust. I feel it’s
important that I tell you the truth or as much of the truth as I know it. I trust you not to make it common knowledge, but if you choose to, I will not hold it against you.”
“Mia, you really don’t owe me anything.”
“You’re very kind.”
“That’s a new one,” Debra said. “No one ever would have pinned that label to me.”
“Then they are blind. Debra, I was called away on a search mission after we last spoke. I was flown in and had to spend the night in the woods. When I returned, I started not feeling well and my balance is screwed up. I sometimes see double.”
“It could be a tick,” Debra said.
“I’m going to add it to the list of kind suggestions I will be giving to my doctor today. I hope to get this resolved soon. As a sensitive, I’m useless unless I can depend on my eyes.”
“Mia, I understand. You impress me by coming here personally. I have been very well taken care of. Thank you for sharing your trust with me.”
“Thank you for understanding. Ted, I’m ready.”
Ted walked back in. He guided Mia out of the house. He then picked her up and carried her to the car. Cid was there to open the door and stayed with Mia while Ted walked back to check in with Burt.
“Depending on today, I’ll be ready to take on the night shift tomorrow night,” Ted said. Murphy is staying at the farm. I really don’t think we need a sighted person, but if you do, Sabine said for you to call her.”
“I think we’ll be fine. Today, we’re going to film the cellar in all its glory. I doubt we need a sensitive for cobwebs and mildewed boardgames.”
“Thanks for understanding, Burt.”
~
Ted pulled into Quentin’s place. He helped Mia out of the truck. “I really think I should be walking.”
“There is something wrong with your balance. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
The door opened and Quentin looked at Mia.
“I love the truck. It’s the best truck I’ve ever had,” Mia gushed.