Heavenly Returns

by Karin De Havin

  I wasn’t in the mood to put up with her BS, and neither was the light beam that shot down from the ceiling and stopped an inch from her spiky white hairdo. “I’ll ask you again, where is Palmer planning to land the mothership?”

  “In Jasper, Georgia, in the middle of a cornfield. ETA is twenty-one hundred on the fifteenth.”

  I sucked in a breath. They moved up the timeline four days. Things must be going well rebuilding the spaceship. “What exactly is Palmers mission?”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. You guys are that clueless?”

  The light beam touched the top of her hairdo. The smell of burning hair filled the room. Death Moon’s face turned slightly red. The memory of my own hair burning in the very same chair made me flinch. “We have a good idea, but I want to hear it from you.”

  She took a breath. “Fine. I have no allegiance to Palmer. He totally reneged on his promise to give me my own city to rule. He wants all the cities and property for himself, as well as the entire Earthling population. He plans to enslave everyone on the planet and have them build large monuments of his likeness all over the world. He wants to have a large harem of women to conceive a special hybrid of children. The best of the Katran and human genetics.” She smirked. “They will be far superior to you.”

  Talk about being a textbook dictator. Palmer wanted to be Genghis Khan, Napoleon, and Hitler rolled into one. A huge smile spread across my face. “Insulting me isn't a good idea.” I waved a piece of paper in front of her. “I’m more than happy to burn this pardon right now.”

  Her eyes grew large. “No—wait. I can’t go back to Palmer. I’ll answer anything you ask.”

  Good. She was finally realizing I controlled her fate. “Can tell me an exact number of men Palmer has?”

  Death Moon glared at me. “You’re wasting time. I’ve told you everything I know about the invasion. Your grandmother is going to be a mindless piece of meat if you keep screwing around.”

  “That’s funny you care being as you murdered her.”

  She fidgeted in the chair. “I was just following orders.”

  “Why did Palmer want my grandmother dead?”

  “He knew about your mother, so he used your grandmother as leverage.”

  “Against my father?”

  “Yes. He told him he’d kill your mother next.”

  So the battle between them started before Father even knew about me. “But Palmer never made good on his threat.”

  “No, he switched after he found out you were his daughter.”

  “So you killed me too.”

  She smirked. “Yes. Palmer wanted to hold you captive in Heaven. But unfortunately your father figured out who you were and protected you.”

  I finally had the answers to two of the biggest questions I had left. But why didn’t I feel any better? “Palmer isn’t through with me yet, is he?”

  She looked me straight in the eye. “No, and he never will be.”

  Goosebumps formed on my arms. “I figured as much. Are you left or right handed?”

  She tried to flip me off with her right finger but the laser scorched her skin. “I take it that means you’re right handed.”

  Death Moon snarled. “Aren’t most people?”

  “I don’t know what you are, but you certainly aren’t human.” I donned a pair of protective gloves and disengaged the laser covering her right arm. I handed her the pardon that gave her full immunity father had written, and a pen. “Sign this.”

  The smirk returned to her face as she signed the document. “A deal is a deal. The old lady is being held at studio four.”

  The light beam didn’t descend from the ceiling so she must be telling the truth. I took the contract back from her.

  With my gloved hand, I leaned on her left arm just enough for the laser cut to into her skin. “If she’s not there, I’ll take great pleasure in watching you die.”

  ***

  With Death Moon safely locked up in a cell at Mrs. Schwartz’s house, and my father busy working on Grams rescue, I could finally sneak away and talk to Ryan. I gripped the looking glass tightly in my hand as I headed to my bedroom at the palace. I remembered Gram telling me how much fun it was to use the looking glass to check up on her friends back on Earth. Sadly, the first time I would get to use the device, she wasn’t here to join in on the fun. Juggling the dinner plate-sized looking glass in my hands, I hoped I could figure out how to make it work from the instructions Mr. X left me. I’d never learned how to use the looking glass before, because I was always either attending afterlife classes or in the contest. Fun had never been in the cards.

  I put the glass down on my bedside table and jumped up on the canopy bed made for a princess. Layers of pale gold silk hung down from the top like gossamer wings. Exhausted from my crazy day, I sunk into the down-filled comforter, enjoying its silky embrace. If only Ryan could be with me. I’d have to settle for gazing at him from afar.

  Following the instructions, I tapped the rim of the glass, eager to see Ryan’s handsome face and hear his soothing voice. Nothing. I read through the instructions again. At the bottom was handwritten note. Mr. X said he had modified the glass so I could speak with Ryan not just watch what he was doing like with the regulation looking glass. He also said he wanted to see me in the lab in an hour. He needed my help with a special project.

  Better figure this thing out quick. I tapped on the rim again but the glass remained clear. Maybe if I ran my finger gently along the rim? I circled the glass like it was an imaginary ring around my birthmark. The mirror flickered to life as Ryan’s face came into view. He sat next to Noah on the porch swing. They were playing cards as they swung gently back and forth. It warmed my heart to see Ryan spending quality time with his younger brother. I hated to interrupt such a sweet moment but I needed to fill Ryan in on my news. So much had happened since I’d come back to Heaven. I concentrated on his face. “Ryan, I need to talk to you.”

  He swung his head from side to side. “Taylor?”

  Noah put down his cards. “Is Taylor here? Is she coming to dinner?”

  Ryan put his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “No, buddy. Sorry I was just thinking about her.”

  He beamed. “You really love her, don’t you?”

  The crooked grin I loved spread across his face. “Yes, I do.” Ryan got up from the porch swing. “Hey, I need to pop into the house real quick. Want to give my girlfriend a call.”

  Noah looked up at his big brother. “Say hi to Taylor.” He gave Ryan a mischievous smile. “And bring me back some cookies and milk.”

  Ryan ruffled his little brother’s sandy brown locks. “Sure thing.”

  He moved quickly into the house, up to his bedroom, and shut the door. “Taylor, what’s going on? How are you talking to me?”

  “Mr. X modified a looking glass. Pretty cool, right?”

  Ryan plopped down on his bed. “It’s a bit unnerving, actually. Like you're a ghost or something. I can only hear your voice.”

  “Well, I guess I kind of am one at the moment.”

  He bit his lip. “Sorry, I’m an idiot.”

  “A handsome idiot, though. I wish was I lying next to you now.”

  He patted the space next to him. “I can’t wait until you can be with me again.”

  Every part of me ached for him. “Hopefully I’ll be there soon.”

  “So you have some good news for me?”

  “Yes, we found out the launch date is in nine days. The landing location is on an abandoned farmland in Jasper, Georgia.”

  “That’s awesome. How did you score the location?”

  I sucked in a breath. “From my grandmother’s killer.”

  “Oh wow, how is your grandmother handling seeing her again?”

  “She’s not.”

  “Well, that’s understandable. Don't think many people could be that strong.”

  I let out a sigh. “That’s not it. Gram’s gone.”

  “What do you mean? Did she go back t
o Senior Heaven?”

  “No. I think Palmer has her.”

  Ryan shot up off the bed. “Taylor, I’m so sorry. Do you want me to come back to JH and help find her?”

  I wanted it more than anything. “No. Father and I have things under control.” I glanced up at the clock. I stroked Ryan’s face knowing I had to go. “Sorry have to cut this short. Mr. X needs my help.”

  He stared up at the ceiling following the sound of my voice. “Okay. Be careful. And don’t worry about your grandmother. You’ll get her back. I’m sure of it.”

  I loved Ryan even more for cheering me on. But there was only one person who had the role of cheerleader in my life—Gram—and she was in Palmer’s hands.

  ***

  It felt like I’d won some kind of prize to be allowed into Mr. X’s laboratory. The large room clad in stainless steel could rival the set of a Frankenstein movie with all the strange machinery beeping away and the myriad of devices scattered about on a series of large metal tables. A huge machine the size of a commercial freezer stood in the left corner. Mr. X pushed at a keyboard attached to the metal face of the machine. He was concentrating so hard he hadn't even noticed I’d entered the room.

  “Hi, there, X. You have quite the place here.”

  His shoulders tightened at the sound of his nickname. I knew it would get his attention. “Taylor, I am glad you volunteered for my test.”

  I set the looking glass on the big steel table. “Happy to help.”

  Father had made it very clear I wasn’t allowed to join in the mission to recover Gram. It was far more important for me to help Mr. X with his mission to fix Heaven. Only I could help him as I was part Katran and human. A bridge between both worlds, he’d told me. I let out a sigh as I walked toward Mr. X. I’d have to settle for watching my grandmother’s rescue from the lab.

  Mr. X punched in a series of numbers on the keyboard. “Good, I would like you to go over to the treadmill. When I give you the signal, you need to start walking.”

  I darted over to the opposite side of the room and hopped on the treadmill like a good girl. “Got it.”

  Mr. X lowered his hand. “Get ready.”

  I gave him a thumbs up and the treadmill kicked into motion. I stepped up my pace when a loud whirling sound filled the air. Mr. X jotted something on a handheld device. “How are you feeling?”

  “Good, no problem.” I kept walking at a brisk pace. At first I didn’t notice anything strange. I kept walking in a straight line. Then all of a sudden my heel hit the belt sideways and I fought to stay upright.

  Mr. X beamed. “It appears that the machine is working. How do you feel now?”

  “Besides having a problem with my balance for the first time since I’ve been back from Earth, my mind feels a bit groggy.”

  He laced his long fingers together. “Any other symptoms?”

  I swallowed hard. “Yes, I feel nauseous.”

  “Perfect.”

  I hopped off the treadmill and almost took a header. “Can you turn the machine off?”

  Mr. X grabbed my arm to help steady me. “Certainly. Of course you know when I activate the larger version of the machine you will feel like this until I design a device to reverse the effects.”

  Bile rose in my throat. “It’s a small price to pay.”

  He punched in a few numbers on the keyboard and the machine slowly came to a stop. “Not only will the machine help restore Heaven, it will give us an edge over Palmer and his men. The humidity will affect their progress on the mothership.”

  He was right. We needed every advantage we could get. My earpiece clicked on. “My daughter, I am happy to inform you that the traitors information was correct. The team’s GPS has located your grandmother. She is indeed in Studio Four.” A large video screen descended from the labs ceiling. “Celery has activated her camera. Everything is in place. Your grandmother will be safe soon.”

  Celery must have planned the whole thing with my father. As I watched Grams rescue up on a big TV screen, it almost felt like an out-of-body experience. I’d become so used to leading the missions, I’d never stood on the sidelines. I watched as two men flanked Celery as she broke the lock on the back studio door. Celery motioned for the men to fan out. Then she aimed her ray gun high, getting ready to cocoon one of Palmer’s men as he headed straight for her. In mere seconds Palmer’s man fell with a thud to the floor. One of Palmer’s men jumped out from behind a large steel pillar. As if she had eyes in the back of her head, Celery turned and zapped him in seconds.

  I leaned in toward the screen like I was playing a video game. Celery reminded me of the princess warrior Zena. She’d come a long way from the first time I met her in detention at Mrs. Schwartz’s house. With her bright green hair and skimpy clothes, I thought she was a bit of a bad girl. That she wasn’t very smart and really needed the brain food Schwartz fed us to help our odds in the contest. Just showed how wrong first impressions can be.

  Celery ran forward to join Father’s men. The taller of Father’s officers found Gram chained to a chair just like Austin. He used a laser to cut her loose, and then gently pulled her up until she could stand on her own. The whole scene felt like some strange déjà vu.

  Mr. X stood next to me. “I am so glad they have found your grandmother and she is safe.”

  I nodded absently as I watched Gram slowly walk toward Celery, leaning against the tall officer. At first the low light kept me from seeing her face. With every step she took, my gut told me something wasn’t right. The balance of her body seemed off. Like she was drunk or something. My blood boiled at the thought of what Palmer had done to her. He must have tortured Gram for information about our plans, but she didn't know anything. I made sure to keep her and Gramps out of it. Palmer, of course, would never believe I wouldn’t tell my own grandmother everything. He always thought I was stupid, even after I won the contest.

  A tear rolled down my cheek as she walked closer to Celery. She’d gone through so much because of me. I felt nauseous again, and not because of the after affects from the machine. No. As the light flooded over Gram’s face and body, I realized why I felt sick.

  Palmer had done the unthinkable.

  He’d cut off Gram’s right hand.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ghost of Her Former Self

  A gentle breeze rustled the curtains of Gram’s bedroom at the lake house. There was no better place for her to recover from her horrible injury, although the kitchen was a constant reminder her cookie baking days were over—for now. I gently stroked her bandaged arm. She’d made such great progress in just a few days. Her complexion returned to normal and so did her appetite.

  Gram stirred from her nap. “Pumpkin, you don't have to hover over me. I’ll be fine.”

  True, but guilt still plagued me. “I’m just here for a visit. I have a meeting with Celery and Austin in a bit.”

  She pushed herself up with her only hand. “How is Austin? After what that man put me through, I can’t imagine surviving the same treatment for months.”

  I had to give her credit for putting on a brave face. Austin went through a lot but he still had both his hands. “He’s much better.” Fighting back tears, I stroked her good arm. “Mr. X promised me he’d make you a mechanical hand.”

  Gram swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I’m getting used to having only one.” She steadied herself with her good arm as she stood up. “See?”

  Every muscle in my neck tightened as I watched Gram’s leg buckle and she instinctively reached out to grab the nightstand with her missing hand. I raced next to her to keep her from falling. “You don't have to push yourself so hard. Baby steps, like you always tell me.”

  She sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes filling with tears. “How could I have been so stupid? I walked right into Palmer’s trap.”

  My eyes welled up too. As much as I tried to fight them back, I couldn’t. Mrs. Schwartz had done her job and captured Death Moon. I could no longer bottle up my emo
tions. Grabbing the box of tissues on the nightstand, I blotted her tears away. “It’s not your fault.” I hugged her tight. “You’re the bravest person I know.”

  She gave me a weak smile. “Also one of the stupidest. Oh, which reminds me.” Gram walked over to the nightstand. “I have something for you.” She put a metal object the size of a small cigarette lighter in my hand. “I stole this from Palmer. It was in his pants pocket so I thought it might be important.”

  Gram was even braver than I thought. “You picked his pocket?”

  “Just like your grandfather taught me. Palmer was practically spitting in my face he was so close, so I reached into his pocket hoping I’d find something to use to gouge his eyes out.”

  “That was crazy dangerous. You’re one bad ass grandma.”

  She laughed for the first time since she’d been back. “I try.”

  I turned the object in my hands. “If Palmer was keeping it that close, it must be important.”

  “Exactly what I thought. I hope it has something that will destroy him.”

  “So he doesn’t know you took it?”

  She looked down at her bandaged arm. “I know what you’re thinking. That’s not why he cut my hand off.”

  I’d wanted to know so desperately but I'd been afraid to ask. “You don't have to tell me.”

  She sucked in a breath. “He… cut off my hand because I slapped him.”

  I balled my fists as if I could take revenge. “That bastard.” My mouth filled with soap suds like every time I cursed in Heaven, but I didn't care.

  Gram handed me the box of tissues. “He is that and more. Promise me you’ll annihilate him.”

  I wiped the rest of the suds away. “It will be my pleasure.”

  The door creaked open. Gramps strode into the bedroom. “Are you all packed for Senior Heaven?”

  “Gram, you’re leaving? Why?” The second I said it I realized the reason.

  “I’m a huge distraction. You need to focus on saving Heaven and taking down that evil man.”

  There was going to be an empty place in my heart with Gram gone. But I understood Gramps’ need to protect her. I gave Gram one last all-encompassing hug. “After the battle is over, I’ll come up for a visit.”