by L. M. Fry
“Mother, Theo… you. You’re all insane.”
“What did I do?”
He scoffed. “Really? For one, you left. You left Vivi and me behind as if we meant nothing to you. And with her of all people.” His voice grew louder with each word until he was yelling. “Not to mention you three have basically turned all of Aether upside down. You betrayed us, Valera.”
Valera had never seen her brother so angry. He rubbed his face, threw his hands up in the air, and turned away from her. She knew he would never understand why she left, but she couldn’t stand to see him suffering.
“Victor, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I had to go. I was suffocating here. And then, the Trinity key fell into the Order’s hands, and I couldn’t let Marcus destroy it. We had to go after it.”
She could tell by the frown on his face that he wasn’t listening. She tried to touch his shoulder, but he pushed her hand away. He faced her and poked her arm with his finger.
“No, you don’t get to just gloss over this. You tossed us aside out of selfishness and greed. You didn’t have to reunite the Trinity Key. You didn’t have to help Julia. You did it because you wanted the power of Danu as much as Lazarus did. You’re no better than the Order.” He poked her again. She flinched from the sting of his words. “Did you think about the consequences at all? Did you wonder what might happen to your family for even a second? Were we even a blip on your radar?”
“Of course I did,” she murmured, uncertain of the truth.
Had she thought about them? She had missed them, but she’d never thought about their feelings, or what might happen to them because of her actions. All she’d cared about was her own freedom. She plopped onto the sofa and put her head between her hands.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
A chill blew in from the window, and Valera wrapped her arms around herself. Without thinking, she lit the fireplace with a simple waggle of her fingers. Victor’s eyes grew wide.
“How can you be so absentminded? Danu’s power isn’t a toy you can just throw around.”
She sighed. She was tired of being beat up by everyone around her. She closed her eyes and muttered, “I don’t need your admonishment, Victor. Please, just leave me alone.”
She heard his footsteps stamp across the floor, and the door slam. She opened her eyes to an empty room. Sobbing, she curled up on the seat. Her world crumbled. Mother resented her, Victor hated her, and Vivi… she hadn’t even talked to Vivi since she left in the first place. If she’d just been stronger, then none of this would have happened. If she’d just—
Help me, daughter. Free me from my torment…
She sat up and looked around the room. It was as if the voice were right next to her, but she was alone. Danu. She couldn’t take anymore. Danu already tormented her nights, and now the goddess was stalking her days.
“Leave me alone,” she yelled.
A knock made her jump. Wiping her face off on her sleeve, she marched to the door and flung it open.
Expecting her brother, she yelled, “Here to apologize?
Kind grey eyes blinked at her.
“I’m sorry?” Gideon laughed.
A cast stabilized his arm, and a bandage bound his head, but he looked better than ever to her. She threw her arms around him, forcing him to grunt in pain. Still he didn’t pull away. After releasing him, she ushered him into the room, checking the hall and shutting the door.
“Sorry about yelling. My brother and I, well he isn’t very happy right now. Here, sit down. How are you feeling? Are you in pain? Your poor arm.”
Gideon chuckled. “I’m fine. Actually, I don’t have much time.”
“What? Why? You just said you were fine.” Valera began to tear up again.
“No, no, that’s not what I mean. In fact, I’ve got some exciting news. Parmelia is allowing me to study the relics of Danu. Dr. Lawless brought them to the Aetherland town hall for further examination, and they think my work in the Order may be useful. I’ll be staying at the inn.”
“Oh.”
She tried to smile even though she felt like a hot iron pierced her heart. No doubt this was her mother’s scheme to keep Valera and Gideon apart. He seemed so excited that she didn’t have the heart to mention the deception. The number of friendly faces around the Stein mansion was dwindling. Besides Theo and Julia, he was all she had. She sucked back more tears and pretended to be happy for him. His smile faded, and he put his good arm around her shoulders.
“I’m just staying in the village. I’ll be minutes away. This is a good thing. Don’t look so sad, please.”
Valera wiped her hand across her face. “I’m happy for you Gideon. I’ve missed you is all.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
He pulled her into him and kissed her. Burying his head in her neck, he sighed. His breath was warm and soft against her skin. She didn’t want to let him go, but she didn’t stop him from leaving. His good hand touched her cheek.
“We’ll be together again soon.”
And then he left.
Chapter Thirteen
Theo
After the disaster that was dinner, Theo decided to pay Vivi a visit. The square of paper in her pocket piqued her interest. Dr. Lawless’ casual dismissal at dinner had clearly hurt the little girl, which made Theo even more distrustful of the man. Theo hoped that the letter might cheer her up. Vivi was curled up on her bed, sucking her thumb. Theo sat down next to her and brushed the brown curls from her face.
“Guess what I have in my pocket?” she teased.
The little girl’s big green eyes looked up at her. Vivi sighed.
“I dunno,” Vivi voice was garbled by her thumb.
“Well, I ran into a friend of yours in the village, and he gave me a letter for you. But you don’t want to read, so I’ll just—
“I do too want to read it!”
Vivi sat up and held her hand out. Theo removed the paper from her jeans. Vivi’s name was written in blocky handwriting across the front of it. Vivi carefully untied the blue ribbon Jesse had tied around it, and unfolded it as if she were unwrapping a precious gem. She stared at the words for a minute and scrunched her nose.
“I can’t read his writing,” Vivi said.
“Let me try.” Theo took the letter and squinted at the chaotic script. “Dearest Vivi (Mama told me that letters always start with dearest, but I don’t know why. I think it’s silly.) I wish we could play. I try to come see you but no one lets me in. Please come out and play again. From, Jesse. PS.” The last bit was one big squiggle. “I miss you.”
“I wish I could go play too, but Mother won’t let me out anymore.”
“Since when do you call your mom Mother?” Theo chuckled.
Vivi put her hands on her hips. “Since she stopped letting me go outside.”
Made sense to Theo. Vivi plucked the letter from Theo’s hand and tucked it under her pillow. Taking the blue ribbon, she wrapped it around her wrist a couple of times.
“Can you tie a knot in it?” She asked, holding her arm out.
Theo secured the ribbon. “There. It makes a perfect bracelet.” And then she hugged Vivi. “I’ll come back and see you soon.”
Vivi smiled for the first time in a long time. “Thank you, Theo.”
Theo got up and headed to her mother’s Pepto Bismol-colored suite. Before she called it a night, she wanted to see her parents. She knocked, but no one answered. Poking her head inside, she found the room empty as if no one had been there in a while. None of her mother’s clutter sat on the desk. The bed was perfectly made. The fireplace was cold. Her stomach clenched. She felt as if she were standing back in her foyer in Colorado on her sixteenth birthday. This room, like the old Victorian vestibule, was lifeless. She found CHAD-4 dusting a table lamp in the hall. She headed toward him, and, at the last second, he turned. She collided into him. His metal exterior remained in place, whereas Theo’s much squishier body flew to the floor.
A pair of metal hands
gripped her shoulders. “Pardon m… m… my clumsiness, Miss Theodora.”
“No, it was my fault.” Theo stood and brushed off her clothes. Her pride stung more than the fall. “Sorry, I was just in a bit of a hurry. I was looking for my parents, but their room is empty.”
“Master Nathaniel and Mistress Marjorie are… are… are…” The butler tapped his metallic head with the handle of the duster. His brass moustache twitched. “Your parents moved to the p… p…peacock suite.”
“Oh, um.” She almost hated to ask any more questions. Even if it was a ridiculous thought, his stutter seemed to bother him. “Where might that be?”
“Down… down… down stairs.”
“Thanks.” Theo smiled.
He bowed and continued dusting. She started down the hall and realized she had no clue where the room was downstairs. She turned to ask CHAD-4, but he was already gone. The front door slammed, catching her attention. Sneaking to the third floor landing, she peered over the rail. The tapestries hanging in the foyer fluttered against the walls.
“You sent him away!” Valera’s voice reverberated up the stairwell.
“I don’t think I like your tone, young lady,” Victoria hissed.
“You can’t keep me trapped like a leashed dog, Mother.”
“Nothing is good enough for you, is it? You have everything you could ever want, but you want more. You’re a selfish, ungrateful… I’ve given you everything… and I lost everything because of you and your spoiled little trio,” Victoria snapped. “You should all be locked up.”
Victoria’s floor-length, black gown whooshed across the red floral rugs. She grabbed Valera’s shoulders and shook her. Valera screamed. Victor came in between them and pulled his mother away from his twin.
“I hate you!” Valera shrieked at her mother.
“Stop it,” Victor said. “Both of you.”
Dark circles lined his eyes, and a layer of scruff covered his chin. His clothes were wrinkled and splotchy. His mother smoothed and straightened her dress, scowling at Valera.
“Don’t let her set one foot outside this house,” she told Victor and left the foyer.
Valera crumpled to her knees and broke down into tears. Theo wanted to go comfort her friend, but felt as if she would be interfering in family matters. Victor put his hand on his sister’s back, whispered in her ear, and helped her up. They disappeared, going in the opposite direction from their mother.
Theo leaned against the railing and stared at her sneakers. Victoria thought they’d ruined her life. That was interesting. Victoria was the one who married a member of the Order of the Azure Serpent sent to betray her. Victoria was the one who lied to her daughter for years. Victoria was the one who made her children hate her. But, somehow everything was always the girls’ fault.
“Pffft, serves her right,” she muttered.
“Hello, Theo.”
Her heart jumped in her chest. Dr. Lawless stood a little too close in front of her. She took a step to the side to create some distance. He followed. The scent of jasmine soap and cigars filled her nose. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the eerie feeling he gave her. He had changed overnight. He no longer looked like the man who’d helped them escape the cells in Pacifica City. He used to be their advocate, but now a strange desperation seemed to creep up in everything he said. If his interest in Victoria was unnatural, so was his behavior toward Theo. His eyes darted around the hall as if someone were watching them.
“Uh, hi,” she stammered, trying to inch away.
“Isn’t she a vision?” He looked over the railing.
Theo followed his eyes down to the foyer. Victoria had returned and stood alone, staring at Danu’s tapestry. After what Theo had witnessed, Victoria was a vision – of contempt. Theo shrugged. She wasn’t going to share her thoughts with the doctor, so she lied.
“Uh, Mrs. Corvus-Stein is okay I guess.”
“Who? Oh, yes of course. Victoria is very pretty as well.”
Theo shook her head. As well? There was only one person in the foyer – the man was clearly going insane. She made a move to leave, but he gripped her forearm. His long thin fingers dug into her flesh. The more she struggled the bigger his grin got. He pulled her close and inhaled. She cringed.
“Have you had any more dreams of Danu? Is she still calling to you? Our time is waning. We must act soon,” he whispered.
Theo pulled on aether, hoping to force the man away. Instead, his smile grew, revealing his glistening teeth. He leaned closer to Theo’s face, sniffed her hair and her go. With a bow, he spun on his heel and strolled away. Theo watched him go, holding onto aether in case he returned. She released the energy, her hands still shaking from the experience. Disturbed, she stumbled downstairs on trembling legs, nearly plowing into Victoria.
Victoria was still glaring at Danu’s tapestry and didn’t notice Theo’s arrival. Theo was about to speak, when she heard Victoria whisper to the image.
“Why? Why didn’t you choose me? Why her? I could have been the one…”
Victoria whirled around with a scowl on her face. Theo had never seen the terrifying glint in the woman’s green eyes before. The anger faded, and Victoria’s face returned to normal, but Theo felt an underlying hostility in her.
“May I help you, Theodora?”
She spastically straightened her dress again. If she tugged on her sleeves any harder, she’d rip them off. Theo tugged on the hem of her own shirt.
“Um, well, yes. I, uh, were you just talking to yourself?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I was simply admiring the craftsmanship of the tapestries. They were hand stitched by my great grandmother. The artistry is perfection.”
Victoria caressed the cloth. The woman was losing it. Big time. It was as if there was a plague of insanity spreading through the house, and Theo wasn’t going to be its next victim. She covered her mouth and nose with her hands to ward off infection, eliciting a frown from Victoria.
“Is there a problem Theodora?”
“Uh, no,” Theo muttered, feeling silly. “I was just searching for the peacock suite?”
“I assume you’re looking for your parents. I moved them to the peacock room to be closer to me – in case your father has any problems with the upgrades,” Victoria stated.
“Upgrades?”
“They’re on the second floor next to my room,” Victoria waved Theo away. “I’m very busy, so if you’ll excuse me.”
With that, Victoria strolled away toward the library. Theo was left standing under the tapestry of Danu. The fabric swayed, and for a split second, it looked as if Danu’s wavy brown hair blew in the wind and her green dress sparkled. Her piercing amber eyes peered down at Theo. In the back of her mind, she heard Danu’s voice.
Release me, and I shall make the world whole again.
Theo shivered. She couldn’t get away from the tapestry fast enough. She took the stairs two at a time and headed straight to the peacock room. The door opened before she had a chance to knock, and her mother stood in the doorframe in a silk bathrobe, laughing. Theo winced.
“Oh, Theo! Hi,” her mother tittered. “Your father and I were—
“Ew, Mom, I don’t want to know what you two were doing,” Theo shrieked.
Her mother put her hands on her hips and frowned. “I was going to say – we were just talking about you. Come in. I’ll get dressed.”
Theo inched into the room. Her dad was in a sitting room, reading a book. Thankfully, he was fully dressed. Theo sighed in relief. There was nothing worse than walking in on your parents… Theo couldn’t even finish the thought without gagging.
Her dad put the book down and waved her over. He was no longer pale and ashy. His skin shone with a pink healthy glow. The sparkle had returned to his hazel eyes.
“Hi, honey. I’m glad you came by.”
Theo wrapped her arms around her dad’s shoulders. “You seem so much… better.”
“Victoria gave me a few upgrades.�
� He tapped on his chest. “I’m as good as new. Wanna see?”
Theo didn’t want to see – the mechanics in his chest always creeped her out – but she didn’t want to disappoint him either. He unbuttoned the top of his shirt and pulled the two halves of his artificial chest apart. Her cheeks stretched into what she hoped was a suitable smile. He pointed at various gears and pumps explaining the new parts with excitement. Theo nodded and swallowed her disgust.
“The upgraded heart has a biventricular resynchronization system… are you okay Theo? You look a little green.” He paused and touched Theo’s cheek.
“Yeah I’m okay. Sorry, it’s just that the whole Robo-Dad thing still weirds me out.” She pointed to his ticking chest.
Her dad grinned and re-buttoned his shirt. “I know this is strange. I’m just glad I’ve gotten to spend more time with you.”
“Me too, Dad.”
Theo sat on the couch. Her mom joined her and took her hand. With all the dysfunctional family problems in the mansion, Theo’s parents seemed to be better than ever. She almost felt like they were a normal human family back in Colorado.
Her mother smiled and sighed, “We want to let you know how proud of you we are.”
“Proud?” The word rang in her ears. Everyone else seemed to think she’d committed some heinous sin, but her parents were proud. She felt the threat of tears in her eyes. “According to the Elders, I’m a criminal. How can you be proud of that?”
Her mother laughed – a genuinely happy laugh that Theo hadn’t heard since before her father’s “funeral.” With a wave of her hand, Marjorie dismissed Theo’s worries.
“You’re not a criminal. Besides, prison-jumpsuit orange is not your color,” her mother joked. “And you’re not built for hard labor.”
Theo wondered if her mom had been hit by the insanity bug as well. Her dad chuckled, but then grew serious.
“Theo, we should have talked to you a long time ago about our family history. As far as we’re concerned, you’ve done the best you can. We’re proud of you. Not all Aetherians hold to the Elder’s view on things.”
Tears trickled from Theo’s eyes. She hugged her mom and felt her dad’s arms wrap around both of them. A loud rap on the door interrupted their family utopia. Without waiting for an invitation, Victoria and Dr. Lawless strolled in. Theo groaned. Even Marjorie seemed to blanch at the pair. Her mom squeezed her hand.
