by Alexie Aaron
“Yes. But why is it important for everyone to think your incapacitated?” Orion asked.
“Because tonight, Victor, Nicholai, and I are going to attack The Risen.”
Orion’s eyes lit up.
“By now, Mike’s theory about me being broken hearted, along with my performance, here should have them sailing with ease. The Brotherhood has negated travel because of the Devil’s Pride. I almost blew the plan when I battled Ruax in Hell, but then Murphy blew himself into the GSD, and it gave me reason to go and look for him. You see, this has been what Victor had in mind the moment he gave me the heart feather. Originally, it was supposed to be his brother and himself. Two mighty, winged birds working in tandem. But he died, and the plan was scrubbed. That was until I needed wings…”
“Why do you need to sink The Risen?” Orion asked.
“It’s the Cynosura. When Abigor wouldn’t play, they sought out Leviathan, and he gave them The Risen. I shudder to think of what the Cynosura gave him in return.”
“A ship that can move invisible to all but the other dead ships and the birdmen. This is why they put a bounty on them. They could attack the human naval assets that the Cynosura feel are in conflict with their dogma,” Orion said. “But if you attack Leviathan’s ship, you will be waging war with Lucifer.”
“Not if I had his permission,” Mia said. “Why do you think he left the killing of Ruax to me? He sentenced me to death for a paltry offense. He wanted to see if I could succeed. After, he hugged me and whispered, ‘I grant you one act of impunity.’ The rest you know.”
“No one knows?” Orion asked.
“Only you, Victor, Nicholai, Lucifer, and Altair.”
“Why Altair? He’ll tell Michael.”
“Not until it’s over. If we succeed. If we don’t, he will go on as before, ignorant of what had happened to me after I left Hell.”
“So that’s why he was there when you entered Hell.”
“He was there to negotiate with Lucifer, and he was rather put out on the change of plans. But it was what it was. I couldn’t let the demon eat my husband’s brain.”
“Ted doesn’t know?”
“Oh, he suspects. You see, he knows me. He knows how much I love him. He knows how strong I am. The only variable he isn’t sure of is my relationship with Murphy.”
“But you couldn’t tell him?”
“No. I promised.”
“When is this happening?”
“Soon. I need you to perform an enchantment. Before you shake your head, I know you can do this. You must make anyone who enters this room think I’m sleeping in that bed.”
“I can do that. How long has this been planned?”
“You’d have to ask Victor. I am but a piece of the machinery,” Mia said, sliding out of bed.
Orion watched as Mia untied her gown. She reached into what looked to be an innocuous box of candy, lifting a level of chocolates and pulling out a golden collar. She clasped it to her neck. Mia tapped the collar and gold-colored armor flowed down her body, covering her feet. Claws curled and flexed from her feet. Her arms were covered with flexible scales. Mia nodded to Orion as she tapped the gargoyle steel at the back of her neck and disappeared.
He smelled her as she placed a tender kiss on the side of his face. “Some secrets are best withheld,” she hissed before she was gone.
Chapter Twenty-five
Captain Crocker was not looking forward to the meeting he had in front of him. Captain Bune of The Risen was expecting the birdmen Crocker had notified him he used to have in his custody. The birdmen had slipped away while he was busy with the Peacock. Mia had paid a good price for them, so there was no loss financially. All that was left was having to explain why he sold the birds to someone else. And what a someone else that was. Crocker’s mind relived the feel of each curve he was able to access before he was interrupted. The fact that she had used him or that she wasn’t from the house of Abigor didn’t matter at this point. The memory of those stolen moments would sustain him for a long time to come. Who knew? Maybe she would sail back into his life again. He had all eternity for this to happen. He was satisfied with that.
Murphy was drafted for the night watch by the boatswain who was impressed with Murphy’s ability to follow orders while, also, being able to think for himself. The farmer’s body had muscled out. Although, he was still too thin in the robust boatswain’s opinion. In a fight, weight may make you a wee bit slower, but you could use it against a frailer opponent. Stephen walked the deck, nodding to the crewman in the crow’s nest. Having given away his axe, Murphy carried a short saber given to him by the quartermaster. Evidently, this was a very unusual occurrence on the ship. Murphy shook off the looks of envy as he did thoughts of Mia and the farm.
~
Nicholai had been waiting for her in the small, neatly kept yard of the hospital. He was surprised by Mia appearing at his elbow. “How? Oh, that damned gargoyle invention.”
“Yes, no one was more surprised than I when Jeff showed up to give me a tune up,” Mia said. “I had just started the replanting when he tapped me on the shoulder. At first, I thought it was the bookstore guy, but after he ran his finger along the bridge of my nose, I knew he must be the inventor Ted had told me about. He was amazed by what the locket could do. I joked about its limitations, and he smiled, thinking I was challenging him. He pulled a tiny gem from his pouch. Jeff tapped it inside the oval and then said simply, ‘Touch it when you’re in full armor and see its limitations.’”
“Come, Mia, we need to be in the south Atlantic when Victor arrives.”
Mia brought forth her wings and smiled as Nicholai inspected them. “That demon had no idea what he was dealing with,” he said proudly.
“I do think it was unfortunate that I did have to show my might to the five generals. Leviathan was there.”
“Fortunately for you, it’s common knowledge the bond you share with Stephen. We took advantage of that. They still see you as a weak woman. Sure, you’re a warrior, but in their eyes, you lead with your heart,” Nicholai said.
The two flew into the GSD and shot high into the sky, far above the range of a certain trigger-happy captain.
“What are you going to do about your friend down there?” Nicholai asked as they passed over the Devil’s Pride.
“Nothing. I left the light on and the door unlocked. If he ever comes into his right mind, I will not bar him access to his farm.”
“But you have from your heart,” Nicholai noticed.
“A stint down in the Pit of Despair has taught me a few things. One, I seem to have surrounded myself with insecure males. I attract them like flies to shit.”
Nicholai laughed. “I would have said sugar, but go on.”
“I seem to have wasted so much time reassuring them, taking care of them. No wonder the demonic world really isn’t worried about me. I’m too damn busy with hurt feelings.”
“Ah, but maybe these males aren’t insecure to begin with…”
“So, you’re saying it’s my fault?” Mia challenged.
“You’re a dynamo. If it makes you feel any better, I think your husband seems to have grown up some.”
“Just some?”
“It’s the fate of a man who marries a beautiful woman.”
“But I’m not beautiful,” Mia argued.
“Not traditionally, but you have a way about you that only the strongest of us can manage to ignore.”
“Now you’re talking bird shit.”
Nicholai laughed again. “Back to Stephen Murphy and the Pit of Despair…” he prodded.
“I’ve seen other women do it. They can share childrearing with ex-husbands and partners whom they once loved. They don’t let them creep under their skin and cause thoughts that shouldn’t occur. I’m no better or worse than these courageous women. I’ve decided to put an end to my childhood crush, grow up, and have one less insecure male to deal with.”
“Bravo, it sounds like a good idea in theory. Th
at’s Stephen sorted. What about the others?”
Mia frowned. “One asshole at a time,” she said.
Victor watched Mia and Nicholai fly into range. He admired the way Little Bird had grown into the wings. He knew that Nicholai had to work very hard to get her to be one with them. His mentor had counseled, “Victor, be patient. You were born with the wings and the knowledge of your soul bearer. Mia has a lot of catching up to do.”
Victor had related, “You know, the first time I saw her, I was puzzled as to why Angelo lusted after her. At first, it was the warrior he wanted for the Brotherhood, but then he couldn’t get past the woman - the demon inside her made that doubly difficult. I didn’t like her, but I admired how she took all this horror that fate gave her and managed to find time to laugh.”
“Laughter? Victor, you are many things, but a connoisseur of comedy isn’t one of them.”
“She finds joy in most everything. This is why she attracts so many beings. She accepts them as they are. How many of us can say the same?”
“Not me. I try to mold and change them,” Nicholai said. “So, when did you know you wanted to use her?”
“Use is such a harsh word. I wanted her help. To do what we are about to do, she needs to be my twin. She must equal me in strength, wing wise. You must develop her timing so we are the same. We must perform this task perfectly. We should be machines, nothing more.”
And so, he went away and let Nicholai work with her. Mia did not disappoint either birdman.
Mia saw Victor waiting. She swallowed hard.
Nicholai sensed this. He pushed into her mind and gave her encouragement. He called her daughter which Mia knew was the highest praise she would ever get from Nicholai.
“The ship is approaching. The water temperature is perfect. It’s time to begin,” Victor said. “Mia, open your mind to mine and Nicholai’s, hear us, and perform accordingly. Don’t think about the impossibility of what we are attempting. It will work. It’s the only way.”
“Yes, Victor,” Mia said and flew into position.
Nicholai would act as the rudder once Victor and Mia had produced the phenomenon. He would also guide both of them to mirror the other. Their movements must be perfect.
Victor and Mia dove towards the water, pulling up in time, drawing the warm, moist air with them up into the clouds before looping back down. They repeated this process, their wings matching with every stroke. They were perfect.
The cold air above the clouds reacted, and soon, a mesocyclone started to form.
Nicolai moved the two towards the approaching ship. The mesocyclone was now a full waterspout with one exception; it had the wind speed of a class five tornado. It hit the ship head on, destroying every bit of wood and metal. The demon souls that were picked up high in the spout, fell, were pushed deep into the water, and then into the seabed. It would take years for the demons to rise again, and when they did, no one would remember anything but the wall of twisting water that sunk The Risen.
Mia and Victor shot outwards away from the spout. The turbulence caused Mia to move too near the water. She prepared herself for the pain of hitting the water with her wings extended.
But instead, a blue whale rose high out of the water in front of her. The whale’s body cushioned her impact. Mia flattened her body, clinging a moment to the whale, using the time it gave her to withdraw her wings and disengage her armor before she slid down the blue whale naked into the warm water.
She coughed out the water she had taken in before she treaded water alongside the blue whale. “You’re not supposed to be here. It’s way too warm,” she said. “But damn, I’m glad you are.”
“It’s an Old Testament trick,” Altair said, hovering above her.
“You can’t be here,” Mia gasped. “What if someone sees?”
“GSD ghosts can’t see angels. But they can see your white behind.”
“I didn’t want the armor to hurt the whale,” Mia explained.
“Victor will be looking for you. Here, let me lift you up and dry you off. You engage your armor…”
Mia did as she was told. Altair took her high into the sky and dropped her, giving Mia time to release her wings before hitting the water. She looped back up. “I’m supposed to head back to St. Kitts. Someone started a rumor I’m suffering from a broken heart.”
“Enjoy the bedrest. Be prepared to be visited by the suspicious,” Altair said, watching her leave.
Victor and Nicholai flew over Africa and decided to cool their heels in Italy for a while. There was no rush. The job was finished.
Mia slid into bed just before daylight hit the island. Orion lifted the covers and kissed her forehead. “Go to sleep, Mia. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”
~
“Captain Crocker!” the quartermaster called. “We’ve reached the rendezvous, but The Risen isn’t here.”
Crocker strode onto the deck and accepted the monocular that was handed to him. He searched the waters between his ship and the horizon.
“Debris off the starboard bow,” the boatswain called.
A seasoned sailor descended the side of the ship on a rope, reached into the sea, and plucked a piece of wreckage from the water. “It’s painted red,” he called up as he climbed. He handed it to the boatswain, who gave it to the quartermaster, who held it to the light. “It’s The Risen. I’ve only seen one red ship in these parts, and it were she.”
Crocker was conflicted. He was pleased he didn’t have to deal with Captain Bune today, but he also knew the loss of the gold bounty would eat into his overhead. No one else paid for birdmen. They were now not worth the trouble of keeping them. He walked back towards the cabin, stopping only to stare at the farmer they had picked up.
“Stephen Murphy, do you still want to be dropped off in the Caribbean?”
“No, Captain,” Murphy answered.
~
Mia was pleased to be able to shower. Her hair was sticky with saltwater and her body smelled like whale. She lathered up and rinsed, thinking of the wonderful creature that had buffeted her fall. She toweled off before slipping into the fresh colorful gown the nurse had left for her.
Ted was waiting for her when she reentered the room. She moved quickly into his arms. “Take me home.”
“It’s my intent as soon as the doctor gives me the okay. Orion is sleeping but has notified the crew of the jet that we may use it as early as this evening.”
Mia smiled widely. “I can’t wait to get my feet on solid ground.”
“Mia, you are on solid ground.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to make another try at convincing Murphy to come back with us?” Ted asked.
“No. He’s made his choice. If he changes his mind, he’ll have to find his own way back.”
“You’re sure? You don’t have to worry about what I think,” Ted stressed.
Mia looked up into his eyes and said, “I know. I just see it as a lost cause. I’m only sorry that Kevin had to witness this new selfish nature.”
“Kevin and Fergus had a run-in last night with some neighborhood spirits.”
“Oh dear.”
“Evidently, Fergus was mouthing off and received a fist full of fingers for his trouble.”
“He’s not a great fighter,” Mia said. “He needs to keep his left up. He keeps dropping it.”
“Gee, I didn’t know I married a boxing groupie.”
“Oh, I assure you, Mr. Martin, you have no idea what you married,” Mia said, pulling his mouth down to be kissed.
“Ahem,” the head nurse of the cardiac unit cleared her voice and then scolded, “You’re raising the lady’s blood pressure. You, sir, are to sit in that chair until I have her vitals recorded. I want them ready for the doctor so we can be rid of you. Although, that man claiming to be your grandfather was certainly helpful last night.”
Ted looked at Mia, and she hunched her shoulders. “Don’t look at me, I was asleep.
”
“She was,” the nurse said. “It was a strange night. We lost power, and there was this smell. It smelled like Christmas, you know, Frankincense.”
“Really?” Mia asked.
“Yes, it left as soon as it came.” Mr. Stavros stayed in your room so we could check on the others. After, he made us coffee for our troubles.”
“Frankincense, maybe it was one of the wise men?” Mia questioned, trying to figure out what happened.
Ted waited until the nurse had left before speaking. “Orion said that Abigor showed up. He looked at you and then Orion with the most serious look on his face.”
“Did he say anything?” Mia asked.
“He said, ‘She’s stronger than this,’ and left the room. Orion thinks he was worried about you.”
“I doubt it. He probably was looking for his gold chain,” Mia said. “I wonder why he didn’t wake me?”
“Do I have to worry about Abigor? Is he the new Murphy?”
Mia threw her pillow at him.
“I want to go home,” she said again. “Make it so.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.”
Orion looked at the clothing strewn about the room he was sharing with Ted. He recognized Sabine’s style. No doubt, Mia wasn’t pleased with what clothing was available to her. She and her cousin had such different tastes. He started to refill Sabine’s suitcase when he came across a uniform bearing the emblem of the flying horse.
“Fine, that explains Abigor. What is my granddaughter up to?”
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out,” Abigor said from behind him. “I’ll take that,” he said. With each item Orion handed him, Abigor ignited it, destroying the ash before it hit the floor.
“Poor kid’s not going to have anything to wear home,” Orion commented. “Thank you for coming to see her last night. She’s awake now and could probably use some visitors to distract her while she waits on being released.”
