by Alexie Aaron
“We can’t let that happen,” Lazar said.
“You’re right. I have done all I can to help her. Any more, she will look guilty of whatever she has done.”
“So, we should forget it,” Dieter said. “Give Murphy time to get used to being back, and maybe give him a few nudges in the right direction.”
“That’s very wise.”
“Lazar, get her interested in the gifts she received from you. Help her. Your grandmother is a very dangerous woman now that you’ve shown your preference for the Martins over the Popovs.”
“My mother and grandmother think I’m bisexual and living in sin with Ted and Mia.”
Dieter’s mouth dropped open. He pushed it up with his hand. “Are you?”
“No, I just like being around both of them.”
“Dieter, he may be the first outsider to like them both equally. He sees them as a couple.”
“So do I.”
“No, you’ve always feared Mia leaving Ted because of Murphy.”
“I no longer see that. She rebounded way too fast for having a broken heart. The woman who came back’s soul and heart were intact.”
Chapter Thirty-three
“Hello, this is Mike Dupree and…
“Mia Martin,” Mia said, smiling into the camera.
“We’re here on the beautiful island of Mackinac to…
“Eat fudge!”
“No, to investigate the myriad ghostly encounters that have been reported.”
“So, no fudge?” Mia asked, pouting.
“Alright, maybe a little fudge,” Mike said. “Welcome to PEEPs take on Mackinac!”
“And cut,” Burt said.
Mia rolled her neck and squatted down and stretched her legs. She was getting ready to climb down the rocks and into a cave Patrick had requested she and Mike check out. Burt had declined, not feeling up to the climb down off the cliffside, so it was decided that the two investigators were going to use smaller cameras attached to their clothing. Ted would manage the audio, and the two mini-camera feeds would be edited into one film after the investigation. He and Mason hired a covered, horse-drawn carriage to house the portable equipment. Mike’s previous farm experience came in handy, and he took the reins and got them to the cave in one piece.
“The cave below us was found by some adventurous hikers a dozen years back. They went inside and … Well, let’s show you,” Mike said.
Mia jumped off the cliff and swung into the cave.
“Beautiful, Mighty Mouse,” Ted said in her ear.
Mia turned around and filmed Mike’s more conventional entrance. She had to admit he was quite captivating to watch descend into the cave.
“There used to be a path that you could use to get to this cave, but there was a landslide and part of the cliff fell off,” Mike started.
“And uncovered this,” Mia said, running her hand on the rockface where someone had carved a turtle. “This is Maehkaenah or, in our tongue, Big Turtle. Inside, there are more interesting finds. Come on in and join us.”
“And cut, Mia. Whoa, you’re on fire today,” Ted said.
Mia helped Mike inside. The two moved into position and started talking.
“The turtle is a big player in many of the Native American tribes’ lore. There is a story about how the Great Spirit created a homeland for the tribes by heaping earth on the back of a giant turtle. North America is referred to as a giant turtle,” Mike told Mia.
“That’s not all. Mackinac Island was called Turtle Island because of its shape. I love turtles.”
“Come on. I see you more as a sprinting hare type of person.”
“Quite recently, a turtle saved my bacon.”
“You normally hoard your bacon.”
“Not bacon bacon, silly, my life.”
“I know we’re going off topic, but, Mia, how did a turtle save your bacon?” Mike asked.
“It was just before Hurricane Kelly hit the Caribbean. I had found myself in the water swimming hard to try to get to a Coast Guard cutter. It didn’t know I was in peril, or I’m sure it would have come back for me. I got winded and was starting to sink. Rising beneath me was a sea turtle. Don’t know if I was just in the right place at the right time or the creature saw I was in distress.”
“So, you’re telling me and our audience a sea turtle saved your life?”
“Yes,” Mia insisted. “So those out there on the coast, give a turtle a break. The turtle’s eggs you let hatch may save your bacon one day.”
“Moving on…” Mike said. “This is one of many caves on the island. Most of the caves were squat, shallow limestone, but this one appears to be deep…”
Ted listened to Mike discuss the cave’s geology. He watched their camera feeds for signs of shadows.
Mia set up some light discs to display their reason for being in the cave.
Mike walked over. “Those hikers, seeking just some protection from the rain, stumbled upon this,” he said, pointing to the paintings on the wall. “They were carrying flashlights, and when they pulled their lights away…”
Mia covered the discs.
Ted was able to pick up the illusion that sent the hikers out into the rain screaming. It looked like the painted creatures had crawled out of the wall.
“If you didn’t see it the first time, we’ll repeat it in slo-mo. But how about we show you what actually happened. The phosphorus paint, that the long-ago artist used, absorbed the light and glowed. Here and here. Quite an illusion.”
“I wonder if there’s more to it than simply cave decoration,” Mia asked. She walked further into the cave and poked around at the walls. “I think it was a security system of some kind. A warning for those venturing in to leave. But why?”
“Mike, you’re losing her. Catch up,” Ted instructed.
“Mia, wait up!”
Mike’s cam showed that Mia was standing against the wall. She was pointing across the cave to something. Mike turned, and a black shape seemed to ooze out of the shadows and move across and stop near Mia’s feet.
“Mia, talk to me,” Ted said.
“It’s a Darker than Dark,” she hissed.
Mike directed his flashlight on it. “I disturbed it with my light. Good, it’s starting to move deeper into the cave.”
Mia turned to the camera Mike wore on his chest and explained, “We encountered Darker than Darks, or DTDs, a few years back. They are what’s known as ATzxes. It’s what’s left after all the emotion is drained from a primitive mind, after all that’s good is stripped away. They aren’t aware of their surroundings. Their mission is to create fear. They are primal entities and are rumored to be eaters of souls. Mike, take care and don’t touch a DTD. If you do, they will imprint and follow you home.”
“If memory serves me, it took a very powerful medicine man to make his dying tribe into DTDs. How common was this practice amongst the forgotten people?” Mike asked Mia.
“I don’t have that answer. We need to stop and research before moving forward. Safety first,” Mia said.
“I agree,” he said.
“And cut,” Ted said.
“We need to seal this off,” Mia said.
“Why? It wasn’t aggressive,” Mike said.
“I wasn’t thinking of keeping it in as much as others out. Just until we have time afterhours to proceed. The DTD could be a remnant from the French and Indian War. Or just an ATzxe that rose and ended up on an island. You remember what they can and can’t do?”
“They can’t cross water unless it’s on a bridge,” Mike said.
“There are no bridges here.”
“Light affects them,” Ted tossed in.
“The ferries are usually lit. I know the dockyards are,” Mia said. “A thinking DTD could possibly leave here, but not a primitive one. These things feed on fear. We have to treat it calmly.”
“What if there are more?” Ted asked.
“Then we seal the cave and call in the birdmen,” Mia said. “Why did Patrick
want us to investigate here?”
“According to island gossip, Rosa de Familiare was arranging to purchase the property over the cave, but the winds of war changed. The Americans eventually retook the fort and kicked her boyfriend out. No one knows what happened to her after that. Some speculated that she went to Montreal and then back to France after things calmed down.”
“Okay, we debunked the wall ghosts of Turtle Cave,” Mike said. “We have that in the can. I suggest that we come back when we are better prepared and look and see what else is buried in that cave,” Mike said. “Now it’s time to get Mikey out of the cave.”
Mia turned her camera off so Ted wouldn’t post any embarrassing shots of Mike, who really wasn’t fond of heights.
“Mason is coming down,” Ted warned. “He’s bringing down a harness.”
Mia waited at the edge and pulled him in to safety.
“Well, girly-girl, what’s got you so spooked down here?”
“Not spooked, just cautious,” Mike said. He slipped into the harness. Mason climbed back up, and Mia stayed in the cave to steady Mike’s rope.
As Mike rose, Mia looked out into the lake. The water was a brilliant blue. Small white caps had formed, heralding the change in wind. Something dark appeared out in the lake. She first thought it was a freighter moving past the island, but it wasn’t that long. “Come on, come on, turn so I can see you…”
“Did you say something to me?” Ted asked.
“There’s a boat out there. Straight out. It appeared out of nowhere.”
“Sending Burt out with a set of binoculars.”
“Shit!” Mia said and flattened herself against the wall. The boat’s flag caught the wind. It was the Devil’s Pride.
“We’re ready for you, pumpkin,” Ted said.
Mia moved away from the wall and looked out. The ship was gone. Could it have been all in her imagination? What would a pirate ship from the GSD be doing in the Great Lakes? She stepped out and started climbing.
~
Cid and Sabine toured Fort Mackinac with Patrick holding a camera. Naturally, he had it trained on Sabine at all times. He would catch hell from Burt who had stressed that both investigators should be given equal film time. Cid really didn’t care but thought it was odd when he was talking and the camera was on Sabine’s face.
“I see a lot of soldiers in both British and American uniforms,” Sabine said. “They are going about their daily business. I find it interesting that the images overlap. They are but echoes of the time that they spent here.”
“Let’s move on to the Officers’ Stone Quarters,” Cid said. “The officer in question, Captain Daniel Robertson, would have been billeted here, but I doubt his mistress would have. Now the problem I see is that we don’t know where she stayed or for how long. We know she was interested in several properties prior to the Americans arrival.”
“I think we will get more concrete information if we can find an active ghost from the time Rosa de Familiare was here,” Patrick said. “I have Fergus and Kevin working on that. In the meanwhile, we have PEEPs stuff to film.”
Mia took a moment to breathe after her climb. Mason took her climbing equipment from her. She looked over at Burt. “Please tell me you saw something.”
“A flash of something large and then nothing,” he said.
Mia squatted down. “I think I’m losing my mind.”
“Did sleeping on the sailboat help?” he asked.
“Some. No, a lot,” she amended. “My senses are on hyperdrive. I walked into the Little Stone Church, and the din of a thousand weddings assaulted my ears. I used to be able to tune all this out. It doesn’t appear to be bothering Sabine. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. You’ve been to Hell and back, the GSD and back, and had major heart surgery. I’m sure your chemistry is all screwed up.”
“Probably. I don’t mean to be such a whiner.”
“It’s okay, Mia. At least you’re being honest with me and telling me in advance you’re having problems. I appreciate that.”
“What if there is no treasure?” Mia asked.
“I never thought there was any.”
“What?”
“Hey, I got Gerald to pay for a grand investigation. We’ll have enough film for a four-part series when we’re through.”
“It does make a lot of sense. Rosa de Familiare probably spent the loot.”
“If she kept any, it would have been out of fear of George Wall retaliating,” Burt said.
“No wonder she kept a military man in her bed at all times,” Mia said.
“And a ghost hunter in yours,” Burt teased.
“Yes, I’m the Rosa de Familiare of the paranormal world,” Mia said. “What’s next?”
“You and Mike are going to interview the group over at Haunted Horseback Tours. I took the liberty of getting you and Mike some matching outfits…”
Mia groaned.
“Trust me, you’re going to look great.”
~
Murphy moved amongst his trees. He was pleased to see that someone had taken the time to clear the waterway so that the willows would have constant water to draw from. The Martins were good custodians of his farm. He walked into the land Cid had purchased and approved of what he had built so far. Murphy ran his hand down the foundation edge and smiled.
“Not exactly how you would have built it,” Altair said behind him.
Murphy turned around quickly and stared at the fallen for whom Mia had paid the ultimate price to bring his wings back and get him forgiven. When he originally had met Altair, Altair was a demon possessing an old man’s body. Now the true form of the archangel radiated, filling the woods with light. “Cid has the materials to do it right. It will last like my farmhouse.”
“Welcome back,” Altair said. “I notice you found your axe.”
“It was left for me by the woodpile.”
“A beacon to bring you home.”
“I never thought of it that way.”
“I’m surprised you’re not already on your way to Mackinac.”
“Why?”
“Aren’t you a PEEP?” Altair asked.
“I really didn’t think about it that way. I just assumed I was welcome because of Mia.”
“It’s not the vibe I got out of Burt Hicks. You’re their security officer. Mia has her hands full up there. That island is full of ghosts and demons.”
“She can handle it,” he said, studying the edge of his axe blade.
“Sure, but you sent the Devil’s Pride up there.”
“Captain Waite is a good man. He won’t hurt the living.”
“Captain Wall noticed the Pride’s change in course and followed them in the Peacock.
Murphy looked up. “It is his treasure they are going after. The two captains will sort it out.”
“And who’s stuck in between?”
“PEEPs.”
“And who’s going to pay the price for your big mouth?”
Murphy didn’t answer.
“Did you do it deliberately?” Altair questioned. “Did you send the most powerful ship of the GSD after Mia?”
“Someone killed Captain Crocker…”
“And you think it was Mia? I should end your existence now,” Altair said, drawing his sword. “But you’ve been too useful in the past and have earned another chance. Mark my words, you betray Mia Cooper Martin again, and I’ll make every molecule of energy that makes you up, hurt. You will die and be brought back again and again until you end yourself. Then you’ll be Roumain’s problem.”
Murphy stared in shock at the violence in Altair’s eyes.
“I believe you were sent to deliver a message and that dagger. Do it,” Altair ordered. He withdrew his sword and shot upwards past the trees into the summer sky.
Chapter Thirty-four
Mia gripped the satellite phone in both hands debating whether to make the call. If it was anything else but the ATzxes she would not be considering talking to
Angelo. He had failed her. His insistence on her attending to Sabine had almost ruined the carefully planned assault that began the moment Victor plucked a heart feather out. All that training, planning, and secrecy had been worth it. The only fly in the ointment was Mia’s nearness to the target. Suspicion would fall on her shoulders, all because Angelo had neglected to act on Sabine’s behalf.
“Angelo Michaels, please,” Mia said when his driver picked up the phone. “Tell him Mia Cooper Martin is calling, thank you.” Mia had recognized the driver’s voice but refrained from any pleasantries. She wasn’t feeling very pleasant at the moment.
“Mia!” Angelo answered with a bit too much enthusiasm. “I understand you’ve been under the weather.”
“I’m fine, Angelo.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
“You heard wrong. I have to report something we’ve found. I figure you’re the best one to advise us.”
“Please continue.”
“We found a single ATzxe in a cave on the north side of Mackinac Island, Michigan, where we are running some paranormal investigations.”
“Please describe the incident.”
Mia did so.
“You saw only one?”
“Yes, I decided for safety’s sake to stop the search of the cave until I talked to you,” she told him. “It still appears to be a single primal ATzxe very similar in shape to the Darker than Darks we encountered with Gwen Kowalski. But it could have been a sentry, and there may be more, deeper in the cave. Honestly, I don’t trust my feelings. This island has overloaded my senses.”
“So, you’re not fine. Why do you hide these things from me?”
“I’m not your concern,” Mia snapped.
“Mia, that’s not true. I’ve been there for you. I represented you just recently in front of the Brotherhood.”
“But you didn’t believe I was innocent. I could tell that.”
“You are a very complex creature. What was I to think?” Angelo defended himself. “Even if I thought you were guilty, Little Bird, I was still there for you. Defending you, protecting you, keeping you from being destroyed by the others.”
