by Alexie Aaron
“Seems to me he has sacrificed his pet. Is it because she can no longer heal your kind that she is suddenly expendable?”
“I don’t know his motivations. But I assure you that she’ll be a big loss to him if she doesn’t return.”
“You mean to you?”
“Yes.”
“If you could accidently forget yourself, what one wish would you like me to grant?”
“Return her to us with a sound mind.”
“If you had said return her to me with a sound mind, I would have done it.”
“Why you continue to reject good sound advice is a mystery to me,” Altair grumbled.
“I have daddy issues, but so does Mia. We’re going to get along fine; don’t you worry, Altair. But remember, she took you from me, slapped some wings on you, and gave you back to Michael. I wasn’t happy then; I’m not happy now. As long as she follows orders, she may survive. If not, I have a nice place in Hell for her to reside.”
~
An unholy roar filled the night. It caused several car alarms to go off in the north parking garage of Soldier Field. The attendants on duty radioed each other as they sped along in their electric carts. Public parking was not permitted after eleven at night, but the lot had some long-term lease spaces occupied at the moment. The cars were not damaged, but it took an irritating half hour to turn off the alarms.
Mitt Ulrich slammed the last set of keys down on his supervisor’s desk and shook his head. “It sounds like when that mascot got loose down here in ninety-eight,” he said. “I fully expected to see a black bear standing off with an SUV.”
“Sam Watt found a long slimy trail. He’s got the cops coming to check it out. It looks like something dragged a kill through the handicapped section. I hope to hell it isn’t human.”
“That’s all we need, a serial killer stalking the garage.”
Another roar sent Mitt into the booth with his supervisor. They cowered inside while something large sniffed around the booth. They couldn’t see what it was, but they could hear it. “You don’t think someone brought a bear in here as a joke?”
The supervisor pulled the phone over and dialed animal control. “Hey, Stu, we’ve got something large roaming around in the north parking garage. Yeah, it could be a bear, but if it is, it’s a grizzly. It’s setting off car alarms. Yeah, yeah, we’ll hold tight.”
Mike and Burt roamed the museum, being careful to avoid any display that had corpses who could possibly animate. Burt filmed Mike in various locations as the camera picked up artifacts that were being maneuvered by invisible hands.
“I’m glad Cooper isn’t here tonight. All this activity, which is cool to us because we can’t see the spirits, may actually give her a fright.”
“Cooper scared is really something I’m not fond of seeing,” Burt admitted. “Because if she’s scared, it means that we’re way, way, way over our heads.”
“Or a spider,” he said, staring at something crawling on the handrail of the basement stairs. “Where is it they keep the bug collections?” he asked, turning a bit green.
“I’m not sure,” Burt said. “Do you hear a buzzing?” he asked, looking around. He panned around the main floor with his camera. He adjusted the focus a couple of times before he lowered the camera. “Mike, look over there. Is that a swarm of…”
“Beetles with long pins in them?” he asked, stumbling backwards.
Burt grabbed Mike’s sleeve and guided him into an open glass display case. They pulled tribal masks over their faces until the swarm passed them, heading for the large glass doors. The beetles beat themselves at the doors, seeking the light from the streetlamps outside.
Mike heard the sound of something sniffing the air. He grabbed Burt’s arm as a taxidermy timber wolf snuffled around the side of the open case they were sitting in. It eventually moved on, but Burt decided it was safer if they slid the glass door shut until the dead stopped moving.
~
Mia woke in the crystal recovery room. She rolled over and off the crystal bed. She looked for a robe to cover her nakedness but found none. She took the silk coverlet and wrapped it around her, Greek style. She then tried to figure out how to get out of there. “Hello,” she called out. “I really have to use the facilities.”
A door opened. Mia walked in and found a bathroom not unlike what she was used to on Earth. She took care of her bladder and found her clothing stacked neatly on the counter. She dressed and took a moment to ponder the woman in the mirror.
“What’s changed?” She took inventory. She had the right amount of limbs. Inside, she was feeling sore along her spine, but once she took flight, that should ease. She walked out of the bathroom and found another open door. Mia walked out into Michael’s bed chamber. “Whoops wrong door.” She backtracked and found a way into the chamber of light. She sniffed the air and smelled food.
“Come and eat. You’re going to have a few hectic days ahead of you,” Gabriel said.
Mia instantly lost her appetite. She was going to decline, but the archangel stood up, pointed to the buffet, and said, “Grab a plate, and serve yourself. This isn’t Hell.”
“Yes, sir,” Mia said.
“I sense you’re not happy to see me.”
“I heard you hated me. So I’m at odds as to why you’re here.”
“I’ve come to test your allegiance.”
“Please no Old Testament shit,” Mia blurted out and clasped her hand over her mouth. Mia dropped to her knees and pleaded, “Forgive me, Gabriel.”
Gabriel was a massive archangel. His body was built for battle. He walked over, and as he did, Mia slid lower to the ground. She resembled a prostrate priest.
“What’s next? Are you going to roll over so I can scratch your belly? Get up!”
Mia did.
He put his finger under her chin and lifted her face. “Open your eyes.”
Mia did so.
“I see the power in there. You may have been adopted by a goddess, but that doesn’t impress me. They are tricksters and love to torment the living with tests and drama. I’m more direct. I going to strip you down to your soul, Mia, and it’s going to hurt. But I need to see what side you’re on. Turn to stardust.”
Mia complied. She floated off the floor.
“You’re a marvel. Michael has done an amazing job restoring you, but you’re fractured still. Three distinct parts of you: superhuman, birdman, and archangel. I can understand why you’re worried that you’re disconnected. That asshole Victor will help you with taking the three and becoming one. Baxter would eventually have sorted the disconnection, but we don’t have that kind of time. Even without the demon in you, you could still seduce a fallen. Men want you, but you’ve chosen only one to bed. And a ghost to hold on to. Why?” A look of realization came over Gabriel. “He’s your root, and he’s your kryptonite. He connects you to Mother Nature, but it goes deeper than that. He found you at your most vulnerable and accepted who you were then. You’re still very vulnerable now. The past still haunts you. You feel guilt for killing the Nephilim, and yet, it would not stop you from killing more. If I asked you to kill the human Quentin…”
“I would ask you to kill me instead.”
“And I would. Mia, if this becomes a battle, I’m going to advise you to not see the giants as anything other than mechanisms who will destroy every living thing on this planet. I worry about the Cooper curse, which binds you to Abigor, that Quentin’s father placed upon your family. It may prey upon your mind, and you will not be able to react quickly enough. I’m dissolving the curse. When you next see Abigor, you will see him for who he truly is. You will not die when he dies. I’m severing the connection.”
“Thank you, Gabriel.”
“Given time, I could teach you so much. This next part is going to hurt. Prepare yourself.”
Mia trembled but nodded.
Gabriel reached inside the stardust mass and pulled her soul out.
Mia had never felt such pain, but she bore
it. She knew that, had she passed out, she would miss out on a miracle. She saw her soul, and as her soul, she saw her body. It hurt to contemplate the division.
Gabriel saw the power emanating from her soul, but it was flighty. He squeezed the star-blue power until it mixed with the earth-green. He twisted, pulled, and stretched it like taffy until it became Mia’s own power, something not borrowed from Nyx or Mother Nature. Gabriel’s hand now petted the orb and infused it with God’s love. The universe was vast and could be cold, but he knew the being in the center and was honored to be serving Him. He knew many forms of God but chose his to be a loving one. Only Mia would ever know that the coarse, frightening archangel Gabriel was soft inside.
He replaced her soul.
“Mia, turn to dust.”
She did and stood naked but calm in front of Gabriel.
“Wings.”
Mia brought them forward. The familiar weight made her smile. Michael had given Mia Victor’s wings back.
“Arm.”
She floated up and dropped the armor.
“Impressive. But I see four vulnerabilities. Sariel, come forth.”
Sariel appeared.
“Give her claws and talons as strong as the plating you put around her heart.”
“It will make her more birdman than angel,” Sariel warned.
“Mia has shown me her heart. She is more angel than birdman.”
“Mia, Victor will show you how to use these to your best advantage,” Sariel said. “I cannot believe we are handing her over to Lucifer!”
“You’ve made your displeasure known. Sariel, if you would like me to strip you of your wings and send Mia and you to the outer worlds, I will. But she may look back when the night sky is right and see her planet burning and hate you for it.”
“Yes, Gabriel.”
Mia didn’t say anything. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be with Ted, not Sariel, numbers-numb Ted who cried with her, insecure yet so strong when she needed him. She would never be worthy of him, but until he figured this out, she was going to enjoy being his.
Her hands and feet were flayed in front of her. Two attendants moved out of the crystal glare carrying four trays. Sariel closed his eyes and chanted in a forgotten language. The claws were etched with symbols. He brought each to her, and Mia felt each attach itself to her. She felt the weight and horror of them, but she also could see the beauty.
“Mia, think retract claws,” Sariel said.
She did, and her hands reappeared. Her fingers seemed a little longer, but she wasn’t going to complain.
“Mia, think retract talons.”
Mia complied, and once again, her feet with the slightly webbed toes appeared.
“When you want them, you just think claws and talons.”
“Shoes are going to be a bit tough,” she mentioned.
“Yes. Can we send her into battle barefooted?” Sariel asked.
“Let’s leave that to Victor.”
“Mia, you may feel more comfortable dressed,” Gabriel said.
“I take it you haven’t seen the tarot card she modeled for?” Sariel asked slyly.
Mia turned red and dressed quickly. She scanned the floor and gathered her second-best earrings and found her wedding ring at the foot of Gabriel. She slid this on.
“I’m sorry, but when you go to battle, you have to leave that home.”
“But…”
“Is Ted not within your heart always?”
“Yes.”
“Then he will understand,” Gabriel said.
“How many marriages have you had?”
“None.”
“Uh huh.”
Sariel hid his smile behind his hand. Gabriel was experiencing what they all had to go through with Mia.
“I’m not too proud to learn, but I’ll not take any sass from you,” he warned.
“Yes, Gabriel. I’m sorry. I raised myself.”
Gabriel nodded and gave her the stink eye.
Sariel flew Mia home. She was reacquainting herself with the large condor-shaped wings. “I was surprised to see Gabriel there.”
“So was I. But this is a big deal, Mia. Heaven is loaning you to Hell. Lucifer got himself into this mess and has asked Michael for help. You’re going to be our representative.”
“Lucifer is going to degrade me first, isn’t he?”
“Yes. I imagine so.”
“How would you suggest I deal with it?”
“Baxter will help you after. I’m quite pleased you’re working with him.”
“I have a feeling right now he’d be pissed. He would say, ‘Mia, you could have simply said no.’”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Sariel said. “When I saw you floating naked with my claws and talons, I have to admit I was rethinking being exiled with you to an outer planet.”
“Don’t you start. I have enough problems.”
“Mia, it became very evident to all of us that you’ve sterilized yourself.”
“I hope it’s only temporary. You guys didn’t rip out my reproductive organs to make room for a big screen tv or anything?”
Sariel laughed. “No, but what a great idea. Back to your womb. You’re not sterile now. You may want to take care of that before you train with Victor. After all, you are wearing his feathers.”
“Never going to happen.”
“Primal mating has happened to the best of warriors.”
“Stop it. Please stop it.”
“Soren has petitioned Heaven. If he has his way, sixty years from now, you’ll be Mrs. Victor Ahlberg.”
“I won’t live that long.”
“If you don’t die in battle you will, and you’ll still be prime mating material.”
“It’s not going to happen.”
“Mia, never say never.”
“I can’t stand Victor, and if I’m so unfortunate to outlive my husband, I’m not getting married again. I’ll watch over my family and my friends’ children, but I’m not ever going to marry again. I know my weaknesses.”
Chapter Thirteen
Mia landed to find that Ted and Cid were still working in the office. She walked over and tapped on the window before she entered the room. “Time to put away your crayons,” Mia said. “Ted, it’s time to come to bed so you can recharge that brain of yours.”
Ted smiled and angled his head. “Are you’re trying to seduce me, Mrs. Martin?”
“Maybe. I was thinking that I’ll fly you in tomorrow so you can sleep longer. You can either drive my truck back or I’ll stick around and drive you home so you can calculate. What do you want to do?”
“Mia, I’m coming in,” Cid said. “Burt has asked me to do some camera work in the museum. I’ll meet you guys there.”
“Why are you up so late?”
“Jake has made a connection with Billy, and he has accumulated a truckload of information on the Cynosura, I think we need to share with everyone.”
“So the Cynosura does have their hand in this,” Mia said.
Both Ted and Cid nodded.
“Make sure that you send a report to John Ryan and Victor too.”
“Will do.”
“And get some sleep.”
“Speaking of sleep,” Ted said, standing up and looking over at Mia. “I’m going to sleep with my two-inches-taller wife.”
“Really, another two inches?”
“We didn’t have the heart to tell you that you lost two inches when Victor’s wings were taken and they gave you those ladylike feathers. I take it Michael relented and gave you back your awesome wings?”
“That and more. I have to still work with Victor, but I should be good to go.”
“And where are you going?”
“Hell. Evidently, it falls to Lucifer to protect the human race until Odin, Vili, and Ve show up.”
“Take Murphy with you.”
“Yes, sir.”
Cid looked at the two. “Get out of here. You’re bothering me.”
“Yo
u heard the man,” Ted said, opening the door for Mia.
She walked out, stood, and looked up at the stars. She heard the door shut and felt Ted approach her. “I’ve been offered places of sanctuary on other worlds. How many do you think are out there?”
“That we could live on?”
“Yes?”
“I really don’t know. I think it’s possible scientifically, but that’s no excuse to not take care of the planet we were given dominion over.”
“I just want to make it safe here to raise our family,” Mia said.
Ted pulled his wife to him. “After this is over with, I’d like us to make a baby and keep making them until I have a little girl to have tea parties with.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ted kissed her. “Come on, I may be too tired for the usual rutting, but I’d love a cuddle.”
“No words, Teddy Bear, no words.”
~
Mike and Burt were running EMF readings in the public halls of the Field Museum when Bernard told them that the Martins and Cid were on their way upstairs to his office. They arrived to find Ralph fussing over Mia. A very tired Bernard walked in and sat down hard in his chair.
“I understand you had more trouble here,” Ted said.
Bernard downed a cold forgotten cup of coffee before he spoke. “It began a little after three last night and continued until daybreak. The entire beetle collection was flying around, dropping pins everywhere. They were attracted to the lights outside and ended up plastered against the glass doors. Also, there was some activity in the taxidermy lab. We think the ghost of a very large cat took a large boar they were embalming and ate it in the parking garage.”
“It could have been worse. It could have been a guard,” Mia said. “I’m thinking that we better protect the city tonight. I’ll see if I can get us some hellhounds to patrol.”
“MIA!” Ralph exclaimed.
“What? They’re dogs; they’re from Hell; and as long as they are contracted to you, they will obey you. If one of those wooly mammoths or another Xenosmilus goes for walkies, someone is going to get hurt.”