Thinking about the extraordinary nature of that experience, Faith said, “I wish everyone could know that love.”
“Do you still wish you weren’t Buidseach?”
“Hard to say that now, but …” Faith said.
“I get it. It’s easier to just write your books.”
“I did have one sort of technical question to ask. Today, I had to use magic to save Ed and a friend. When I erased the memory of what I’d done from a mental patient, I also tried to heal her. She seemed better. Is she really cured?”
“No, you haven’t cured her. You just gave her a moment of clarity. Her illness will return.”
“That’s actually kind of a relief. I don’t want her to suffer, but I may end up treating the mentally ill, and if I could cure them, I’d really be tempted to do it.”
“Yes, I’m sure that you would.”
“But she won’t remember what I erased, will she?”
“No. That’s permanent. You and the rest of our kind should be safe from her.”
Faith smiled and returned to her body, opened her eyes and without skipping a beat, took another spiritual trip and was standing next to Beth, who was at home in her kitchen. Turning to open the refrigerator door, Beth was startled to see Faith standing before her.
“Will you stop doing that!” Beth said more than startled. Then quickly asking, “Wait, is something wrong?”
“No, everything’s good, and is that any way to talk to a goddess?”
“Oh, found out about that, did you?”
“Do your parents know?” Faith asked.
Beth nodded.
“Duncan?”
“Sure, but we never talk about our divine connection, even with each other. It’s not healthy.”
“What are you?”
“Sort of like you, a hybrid.”
“Well, I want to talk about it. Sometimes, at least.”
“Of course, you just found out. And when I say we never talk about it, I don’t really mean never. I should say rarely.
“Well, I’m popping home now.”
“Next time, unless it’s an emergency, use the phone,” Beth said grinning at her friend.
Chapter Eighteen
Faith’s first stop of the morning was to drive out to Howland Medical Center to check on Ed and Dan. It was barely eight a.m. when she pulled into the hospital’s parking lot. Stopping by Dan’s room first, Faith saw that they were getting him ready for surgery. He was in good spirits, and, as he’d said the night before, it was obvious that the hospital staff was crazy about him. Nurses and technicians old and young were in and out of his room as both friends and clinicians.
Faith knew that she was in the way, so after a few words of support, headed down to see her beau. It was a much quieter scene in Ed’s room. As a familiar, he had remarkable powers of recovery, and his cracked ribs had all but healed.
Walking over to give him a gentle hug, Faith whispered, “Don’t look so healthy.”
“I know, I try to look more banged up when the medical staff comes in.”
“Are you going home?” she asked.
“I am, and I’m not going to work.”
“What,” Paul said, walking through the door. “You slacker.”
“I kind of am, but I did work yesterday, and while I am doing really well, I’m still banged up.”
“You are,” Paul said, looking at the back of his head and still seeing some swelling.
“Well Paul,” Faith whispered again, “I haven’t seen you since you and Ed had – the talk - but I’m glad you did because I have something to tell you.”
“What?” Paul asked.
“Yesterday, I cured Maggie. It’s only temporary, and she could actually be back to normal by now. Although it’s also possible that she isn’t. So, if you get right out there, you might have a chance to talk with sane Maggie.
“That would be a nice change,” Paul said.
“But her lawyer’s in lockup,” Ed said.
“I know the lawyer who represented her last year. I’ll give her a call and see if she’ll meet me there,” Paul said. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“I’m working at Bourne Street this morning, but do you want me to wait and drive you home first. I’m sure Karen would be okay with it.”
“No need, Ted called. He knew you had to work, so he’s picking me up in an hour.”
Faith was pleased. Their circle of friends had always been strong, but now that Ted and Paul both knew the truth about their nature, there was no longer any need to lie to them.
******
That evening, Padraig, Beth, Ted, Duncan, and Ed, who was looking almost as good as new, had gathered at her apartment. Her relatively small abode was alive with conversations about the events with Maggie, Faith’s trip to the other realm, and, of course, Aaron Sinclair.
“The whole thing with Aaron was weird, don’t you think?” Padraig asked.
“A stalker is a stalker,” Faith said.
“Why do you think it’s weird?” Ed asked.
“He wanted Faith, no doubt about that, but he’d known her for years. What made him go after her now?”
“She hadn’t been back on Unst since she was sixteen,” Beth said. “That’s what started him up, again.”
“You’re probably right,” Padraig said.
“Well,” Ed said. “He’ll be in jail for a while, but, you know, I think he’s salvageable. Aaron actually helped us with Phthonus. And, funny enough, he told me that if we lost that fight, he was going to let Braden get him out. I had to respect that.”
“I think your right,” Duncan said, “He’s a right bampot. And he got in over his head, but he’s not truly evil. Jail will either make him or break him.”
“Well, thank God for Finn,” Padraig said. “He saved the day.”
“Finn and that goddess. I want to know about her. So, what do you know?” Duncan asked Faith.
“I just know her, that’s all, and I’m not saying anymore.”
“What Goddess,” Padraig asked.
“Ask Finn,” Faith said.
“Let’s not forget Ed. He’s getting pretty adept at using his skills,” Duncan said. “He was in full control. Transporting all over the place.”
“I wish I was as good at figuring out the ethics. We kill, we don’t kill, we use our powers, we don’t use our powers. It’s giving me a headache.”
“You’re a good man,” Padraig said, “you’ll figure it out. And you’ve always got your family to lean on.”
“This was the second time since they’d met that Padraig had called him family and it, once again, made him emotional. His parents had died when he was a teenager, and he had long missed belonging to a family. It was the one fact of his new reality that really gave him comfort.
He, however, did not show his emotion and just said, “I appreciate that. God knows I’d be lost without some guidance.”
“Finn’s here,” Padraig said followed by the sound of the elevator being called.
The door opened and seeing the assembled thrall, Finn said, “I’m just home to change. What’s going on here?”
“Just decompressing from all the drama with Aaron, Phthonus and Maggie Dunham.”
“Oh.”
“You do hate to be left out, don’t you,” Padraig said.
“Kind of, but I work for a living,” Finn said and ran up the stairs to his bedroom.
Faith set about taking orders for takeout, and Finn returned just as she was about to make the call. He snatched the list out of her hand and looking it over, said, “What a travesty. You could have my food, and you’re settling for this.”
“We can’t have every meal there,” Faith said.
“Yes, you can.”
“Well I don’t want to move unless I have to,” Duncan said.
“Very well,” Finn said, taking the list. “I’ll send someone back with this. Well, my version of it. Which will be much better.” He pressed the elevator button, and th
en said, “I expect you all there tomorrow night at eight sharp. I’m cooking, and I don’t want my creations spoiled. Clear?”
“Got it,” Duncan said. “I’ll be there at eight-thirty, nineish at the latest.”
Finn glared.
“I’m joking you, humorless eejit.”
“You could be disinvited.”
“Don’t do that. I actually can’t wait to have one more splendid meal before I leave.”
Duncan’s sincere compliment assuaged Finn’s oversized ego, and he said, “Thank you,” as he stepped on the elevator, now content that his expertise had been, once again, recognized.
“Don’t forget our dinner,” Faith yelled after him.
Finn held the elevator door open with one hand and put his other hand out through the opening, waving this list.
******
At home, hard at work on her next column, Olivia had blocked out her unhappiness with An Dubh. Her peace was about to be disturbed, however, when her mother, a psychic of significant power came knocking on her mental door.
‘Get out of my head,’ Olivia said to the woman who’d never shown an iota of motherly concern or tenderness.
‘Just a caution, my dear, do not betray Braden Druce. He is our leader now, and there will be consequences.’
‘He’s not my leader.’
‘Your father has been too indulgent. I think it’s time that you came back into the fold. I understand that you’ve amassed quite of fortune.’
‘You try to take me or my fortune, and you’ll have a fight on your hands.’
‘One witch against so many?’
‘One witch who’s ready to go def con nine if she’s trifled with,’ Olivia said.
‘No one would believe you.’
‘Ever heard of the internet, dear. Enough people would believe me, and I would name names. And, by the way, if anything happens to me, it’s all ready to go.’
‘It would be a death warrant.’
‘I would happily go to my death before signing up with you lot. So, save yourselves some big trouble, and just let me go on as I have.’
‘All right, you probably are more trouble than you’re worth.’
‘You always were a smart bitch. Oh, I mean witch.’
The connection was broken. While Olivia had not been bluffing about having arranged a web assault, should she be attacked, she began to wonder if she should cloak and make herself scarce. Cloaking by the Divine, was, of course, the exclusive prevue of the righteous, and a case could certainly be made that Olivia was not among them. However, the funny thing about Olivia was that while she engaged in illegal activity, the Divine would always cloak her when she needed it. It was probably because it was never to do anything wrong, just to protect herself from the truly evil among the Buidseach community.
She went to her bedroom and opened a hidden door that exposed her own small lab and Buidseach library. Inside, there was an array of books, potions, and paraphernalia.
First, Olivia pulled a hair from her head and laid it on her counter. Walking over to the supply shelves, she pulled down one of the bottles labeled blessed water. This water came from a stream on the island of Unst that, centuries ago, had been blessed by the Divine. Olivia poured it into a drinking glass and took a small knife from one of the drawers. Using the knife, she cut her finger and allowed droplets of blood to flow into the glass. Then, using a tweezer, placed the single hair into the mixture. Upon touching the liquid, the hair burst into flames. She took the magical concoction with her and sat in a lounge chair that she kept in that room, for this very purpose.
Olivia was about to drink from the glass when she noticed that she’d left the door ajar. She got up quickly to close it. A Buidseach was at their most vulnerable when they left their body to commune with the Divine, and since this ceremony took over an hour, it was essential that their form remain secure. Her condominium had state of the art security, but that would not be enough to protect her from her own kind, and she knew it. This room was, however, hexed and therefore, impenetrable.
The room secured, Olivia settled into her chair and took a sip of her potion. Her body slumped as she was immediately transported to the other realm. She was walking on a city street. The Divine seemed to tailor these experiences to meet each individual’s needs, and in Olivia’s case, he was, as always, right on target. She loved this street. It was busy with fashionable people rushing here and there, and there were businesses and restaurants. It was, in fact, her dream city and differed little from any major city on Earth except that it was pristine and completely safe.
She, as she always did, walked into a bar, sat down in a booth, and ordered a glass of Champagne. Her drink delivered, she waited for her companion to arrive. As the Divine entered the bar, the room became hushed. He appeared as he did so often, to be a young man, but his inner light was unmistakable, not only to Olivia but to everyone else in the bar. These were the spirits of real people, and he was their God.
He sat down and said, “Olivia of the Blessed, what brings you to me?”
She smiled at him, feeling his love. On Earth, Olivia had never been loved and that fact, along with her need for protection, was what had brought her there. The conversation with her mother had left her feeling alone, and she needed to be in God’s warmth.
“I am so sorry,” he said, feeling her pain.
“It’s all right, it just hit me tonight. They’re going to come after me, and I don’t want to be a part of all that.”
“I will grant you cover. Now, do you think that you might give up some of your more questionable pursuits?”
She smiled. Olivia was not timid, and they’d met on at least four occasions, so she said, “I’m not hurting anyone. I just like beautiful things.”
He shook his head and said, “Think about it. You are not evil, but you are not without any darkness, either. Know that I love you.”
He touched her arm and left. Olivia wanted to stay there, but she was immediately whisked back into her body. The experience had been, as always, reassuring, but, this time, it was also transformative. For the first time, she did wonder if she might give up being a thief. She didn’t want to do anything that would permanently keep her from him or that world.
As she reconsidered her life, and the possibility of reform, she said aloud, “And, I do have a kickass collection, already.”
A question occurred to Olivia. Why hadn’t God mentioned the situation with Braden Druce? Surely, if that plan came off, she would be considered evil. Olivia thought that maybe she’d be absolved because she was acting under duress, but she knew that was unlikely.
For that night, however, she would put it all behind her and go back writing her column. At least, the fact that she was now cloaked meant there would be no mental telegrams from her mother.
Chapter Nineteen
Finn was in his office staring off into space. They’d dealt with Aaron Sinclair, and defeated the God of Greed and Avarice, but he, like Faith, knew that there was still something. It wasn’t an entirely unfamiliar feeling. Even before the Battle of Unst, An Dubh was always out there, either as an organized crime syndicate, or just random malcontents.
At the battle, they’d decimated the organized group that was operating out of Great Britain. Now, they’d dowsed the area, and hadn’t found any black witches or An Dubh around them. Still, something was up, and Finn was concerned. He and his family were a formidable group, but that also made them a target. Power such as his, Faith’s, and her mother, Hope’s, was both an object of envy and fear. It was the fear that was of most concern.
He sensed one of his own enter the restaurant, and his mood lightened considerably when he heard Faith’s voice.
In no time, she appeared at his door, and asked, “Am I interrupting?”
“Just my brooding.”
“Brooding about what?”
“Let’s take a walk,” Finn said.
“Much as there’s nothing like a walk through the Boston Common on a f
all day, Faith said, “Why did we leave your place, so unceremoniously?”
“There’s a bad vibe there.”
Faith knew better than to second guess him. She just waited for him to continue.
“I don’t feel it all the time, just every so often and more in the past few days.”
“What do you think it is?”
“Might be the same thing you’ve been feeling?”
“Well, I can tell you that’s still there. You’d think with all we’ve resolved that would be that, but, nope, there’s still something or someone out there.”
“They can’t beat us.”
“Probably not, but I could live without the drama.”
Finn put his arm around her, and they walked along, feeling the warmth of the sun on their skin.
******
Ed and Paul were at District Four, completing the paperwork relating to Claire Spencer’s murder.
“Man was Faith right,” Paul said. “The Maggie I met with was an entirely different woman. She was sad, repentant really, but she admitted her role. I did backflips to get her statement typed and signed before she had a chance to slip back into her delusions.”
“How’d you explain that to her lawyer?” Ed asked.
“Just that she had good days and bad days. Since the evidence was overwhelming, and since Maggie’s away for life anyway, her lawyer thought it was in Maggie’s best interest to get this wrapped up.
“I also feel good about getting Blackett put away,” Paul said. “It always feels good to solve a murder, but he’s a sexual predator to boot. Think of all the kids that he must have hurt over the years.”
“I know. What a scumbag. Gould wasn’t all that much better, and we got him too.”
“All without using your special skills,” Paul said.
“No thanks to you.”
“I know. It did seem like a good idea at the time, but now I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Me too,” Ed said. “We did it like we always do,” Ed said, laughing as he added, “luck.”
The Power of Faith: Science Fiction Faith Ferguson Series Book 3 Page 28