Never Forget (Haunted Series Book 15)

by Alexie Aaron

  “Who? Mia?”

  “There is no Mia,” Ted said.

  Cid patted his side, and Maggie followed him up the stairs where Cid, for the first time, locked his door on Ted.

  ~

  Father Santos declined the coffee Burt offered. “I’m swimming in it as it is. You have an amazing collection of lore, Burt.”

  “Most of it I found in garage sales, and this book, I found in the bottom of a box at an auction,” he said, handing Orion the book.

  “Mia won’t touch it, even with her gloves on.”

  “Burt, it’s made of skin, human skin,” Orion said, examining the pages. “Written in blood and other excrements. It’s disgusting, and believe me, when I say that, it has to be pretty bad.”

  “It’s written in the old tongue,” Angelo said, looking over Orion’s shoulder.

  “How old?” Burt asked.

  “A century before the Romans conquered the world,” Orion answered. “Listen to this: Potion for Growing a Penis. Do you think we should pass on the recipe to the transgender folks?”

  “I don’t think you can get a spleen from a dodo anymore. I didn’t know dodo had spleens,” Angelo said.

  “A shame,” Orion said.

  “I’ve got it,” Father Santos piped up. “I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. I was looking for something complicated, maybe that was why Roumain used this. It’s a Judas hex.”

  The others looked over at him.

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what a Judas hex is,” Burt confessed.

  Santos pushed the book over for Burt to read. Burt pushed it back. He didn’t read Samarian.

  “A Judas hex is a simple delay hex. You take the victim and physically plant an idea or thought deep into their mind. It sits there until it is triggered by touching something or, perhaps, reading something. In Ted’s case, the words triggered his compulsion to believe that everything Beth has told him is the truth,” Father Santos explained.

  “It’s diabolical,” Orion said, impressed.

  “It’s Roumain,” Angelo insisted. “He’s been planning this since he first saw Mia in Haiti. That’s my fault. She would never had been exposed to him if it wasn’t for me.”

  “When did he plant the thought?” Father Santos asked the others.

  “When he possessed Ted and Mia,” Angelo said. “We better have someone look at Mia. There could be a thought waiting to be triggered in her.”

  “I think it already happened,” Burt said. “Father Alessandro had Mia drink copious amounts of Sangria. I bet the trigger was in the fruited wine.”

  “Care to share what happened?” Orion asked.

  “I’ll leave the room if I shouldn’t hear it,” Angelo offered.

  Burt looked at the men and decided they would keep her secret safe. “Mia threw herself at Mike Dupree.”

  Angelo got to his feet. Orion pulled him back down.

  “Mike declined. He talked her out of it.”

  “If it was the hex, she would have continued to hit on Mike until she succeeded. She wouldn’t have been able to help herself,” Father Santos pointed out.

  “Mike said Mia threw up most of the Sangria. Whatever was left would have been digested and destroyed that way,” Burt said with confidence. “Let’s put this together. Let’s say Mia sleeps with Mike who, by the way, is Ted’s nemesis because he represents all the bullies Ted had to endure in high school. Moving forward, Beth wrote Ted an email telling him that Brian was Mike’s son.”

  “The marriage explodes. Beth walks in and takes her prize, and Ted takes Brian away from Mia to punish her. Mia would be devastated, maybe enough to willingly walk into purgatory to get her son back,” Father Santos said.

  “Diabolical,” Orion repeated. “But what triggered Ted? It had to happen the same day.”

  “Cid was with him all day. I’ll call him and have him come over,” Burt said.

  “Tell him to bring donuts,” Father Santos added. “I’m fading fast, and this birdseed you’ve been feeding us…” he indicated the health bars, “No offense,” he said, looking at Angelo and Orion, “has me falling asleep.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Bev walked into the apartment without knocking. She nodded to Murphy who was distracting Brian. “She in there?”

  “Crying.”

  “A lot of good that’s going to do,” Bev said. “None of this makes any sense. The guy would drain every last drop of blood from his veins if Mia needed it. Tell me what you saw, and don’t hold back.”

  Murphy told her as much as he could about the last few months. He never saw Ted acting furtive. Nothing unusual.

  “Did he receive anything in the mail?”

  “Like what?”

  “A letter written in blood, a charm, voodoo stuff?”

  Murphy shook his head.

  “Roumain is behind this, but he’s been smart. Something time-released. He knows their weaknesses. He knows all of our triggers.”

  “Mia asked for a promise from him…”

  “I heard that. But, Stephen, if he started this before the promise, then he hasn’t broken it, capisci?”

  “Why are you here?” Murphy asked suspiciously.

  “She’s my niece, and her heart’s broken. Where did you expect I’d be?” Bev said, picking Brian up out of his bouncy chair. “I’m surprise you’re not in the bedroom with her, comforting her.”

  “Mia doesn’t want that.”

  Bev looked at the ghost and sighed. “Oh, Stephen, we have so much in common. We are in love with people we can’t have. Brian, this is your first lesson from your grand auntie: love is a double-edged sword.”

  “Pblsst!”

  “Did this kid just swear at me?” Bev asked, amused.

  “He has a few bad habits,” Mia said from the doorway.

  Bev turned around and looked at Mia. “I think he’s positively charming. I love the Roman nose. He looks a little like Angelo…”

  “He does not,” Mia snapped.

  “Just testing you. You see, Angelo came and woke me up at six this morning. He is contrite for his role in this. He never wanted to cause you pain, Mia. Now, I’m not defending him so don’t get your back up. I’m just trying to figure all of this out. Mia, Santos and Burt have figured out what was done to Ted, but we need to figure out how because bewitchments and curses are tricky things to undo. The best case scenario is that we find out what was used to activate it, and destroy it, reverse the curse, and you and Ted are left to pick up the pieces. The worst case is that we can’t locate the trigger, and Angelo takes Ted by force to the aerie and has the Gray Ladies wipe his mind.”

  “No. Ted will lose too much,” Mia said. “I’ve had it done. It’s not pleasant.”

  “Oh, I forgot. So much has happened to you. Not all bad things,” Bev said, studying Mia. “I can see the mark of the angels on you, Mia.”

  “What?”

  “Stephen, can you see it? Her aura has a radiance, like Sabine’s but not fragile like a flower, more like steel.”

  Murphy looked at Mia and nodded. “Mia, you have changed.”

  “Father Alessandro said that I’ve been called by the angels, and I have to fight on their side.”

  “He’s an ass. Why you put so much stock in that doddering old man is beyond me. Mia, all of us Coopers have been issued invitations from time to time. You don’t have to accept them. I look at them as options. If we were to have to take sides, I would probably side with who could give Guillaume back to me.”

  “I’m sorry that he has such a hold over you. Gerald loves you with his whole soul. He is the better choice.”

  “And Angelo is your better choice, but I don’t see you hopping on that massive organ.”

  “Honestly,” Mia said, taking Brian from Bev’s hands. “There is a very bright child in the room.” Mia walked down the hall to put Brian out of earshot of Bev’s crudity.

  “Why is Angelo a better choice for Mia?” Murphy asked Bev.

  “Sizi
ng up the competition?”

  “No, Mia doesn’t want me that way,” he said.

  “I sympathize, believe me I do,” Bev said. “Back to your question: Angelo can protect her. Mia is fierce but also reckless. Angelo has the ability to heal her, protect her and teach her.”

  Mia walked back into the room. “I can learn to protect myself. When this nightmare is resolved, I’m going to the island to train with He-who-walks-through-time. I’m going to embrace the superhuman genes and see if they will stick.”

  Bev stepped back on her heels. “I’m impressed. Have you chosen this path because it’s the best or because what’s-his-name can teach you how to kill a birdman?”

  Mia didn’t say anything.

  “Your silence is thunderous,” Bev said. “Sariel can teach you more.”

  “Sariel hasn’t offered.”

  “Oh, he will. All the male entities want in your pants, Mia. Marrying Ted kept you safe from Angelo, but Sariel, once he learns of Ted’s defection, he will come a calling.”

  “Why?”

  “Tell her, Stephen. She can’t see it, but she will believe you. You are the closest thing to her.”

  “Mia, you are beautiful, brave, kind, and funny.”

  “Don’t forget sexy. I saw the broadcast. Gerald and I normally make bets. When we saw you walking out of the water, we both knew you’d win. I don’t know if it’s having Murphy in your chest, or elsewhere for that matter, that has brought out this beauty. Or maybe having a child. But you are so womanly.”

  “You both are talking hogwash. Angelo will never have me. If I can’t have Ted back, then I’ll be okay alone. I have the best friend anyone could ask for,” Mia said, looking at Murphy. “That will have to be enough. I know you’re trying to make me feel better Bev, and I’m touched. But I brought this on myself and Ted. I now have to try to save him, for his sake and for Brian’s. Because if you see anything changed in me, it’s because Ted gives me confidence, forgives my slip-ups, understands why I need Murphy, and puts up with his wife being in love with a ghost.”

  Murphy was stunned.

  Bev looked ill at ease, but she recovered quickly. “Mia, this can’t be.”

  “I know I can’t have a physical relationship with Murph. I know he’ll be hunted down by the deer-woman. He’ll be sent to the Dark World, and I’ll be sent to hell. How else could I have resisted him? I mean, look at him.”

  Bev did. It wasn’t just the chiseled chin, steely gray eyes, and work-hardened body that was attractive. It was the sorrow of a life cut too short, of having a wife that reveled in his death. It was the vulnerability he felt comfortable in sharing that made Bev herself want to take him in her arms and comfort him.

  “He understands that I need to have a physical life with a living being,” Mia said. “The fact that he can still stand by me after watching me with Burt, Whitney and Ted is a marvel in itself.” Mia turned to Murphy. “Murph, I’m sorry to talk about you as if you’re not here. I’m sorry that I have taken our relationship for granted. But you see, I can’t see any other way.”

  Bev’s eyes filled up, and she put her hand on her mouth. She looked from her niece to Stephen and back again. If ever there were star-crossed lovers, these were them. “How do you do it, Mia? How can you love anyone else?”

  “I just do. Bev, we can’t exist mourning for what we can’t have. I can’t have Murph, and so I opened up my heart to someone I can have. It doesn’t diminish what I feel for either of them. It enriches it. Guillaume doesn’t want you to live out the rest of your life finding only passion in food and drink. He wants you to live, and for a Cooper to live, we must accept that we can love others without shame. Loving Gerald doesn’t make you disloyal; it makes you whole.”

  Murphy looked over at Bev and said, “Ted asked me not to turn Mia against him. He accepts what we are. He is a stronger man than I was when I lived. I have to share Mia because I’m dead. If I were living, I couldn’t share her with a ghost or anyone. He is the better man, or he was.”

  “It’s still there inside of him,” Mia said. “I have to save him, Murph. Even if he no longer loves me. I can’t have Roumain’s curse destroy my son’s father.”

  “Well said,” Bev declared. “Now let’s get to work. Mia, Sabine and Tauni Cerise will care for and protect Brian while you work on this. Brian is in danger, so we need to surround him with magic.”

  “Why is he in danger?”

  “Don’t you see, he is the last hold you have to this earth? If Brian was taken from you and used as leverage, you would walk into purgatory to save him, and Roumain would have what he wants.”

  “He can’t. He promised,” Mia said.

  “There is always a loophole, Mia. You should know that. If I were planning this, I would have Beth kidnap the kid. You see, Beth is not your friend, so Roumain can do what he wants with her without breaking the vow. Or legally, Ted divorces you, marries Beth and then petitions the court to take Brian away from you. They would - to them you’re daft. You would…”

  “Have no will to live. Or so Roumain thinks. I would never give up. I will never let Brian be raised by Beth.”

  “Atta girl. But let’s not let this happen. Let’s see if we can save Ted, Beth too if possible. The kid is jaded but not evil.”

  “She is a witch,” Murphy insisted.

  “No, darling, the word is bitch. Please don’t insult the Wiccans that way. Honestly, have you learned nothing from PBS?”

  Mia left Murphy and Bev to argue political correctness. She needed to pack up Brian’s things and prepare herself for battle. If Roumain thought she was going to go easy into the night, he had another thing coming!

  ~

  Cid walked into the room carrying the emails he had stolen from Ted and two dozen Tim Horton donuts. He plopped them down in front of the tired men and said, “I checked with Jake. I have every chat, email and a very illegal list of the dude’s texts.”

  “It had to be something sent yesterday. That’s when Ted’s behavior changed,” Father Santos pointed out.

  “I was thinking on the way over. I’m sure Mia was hexed along with Ted,” Cid said.

  “We found the trigger, and it has been destroyed,” Angelo said quickly.

  “Okay, then let’s get started,” Cid said, distributing the papers before grabbing a donut.

  Burt left the table and refilled mugs with coffee.

  Orion pushed a paper Angelo’s way, and the birdman shook his head. “The time isn’t right. Cid, tell us what happened yesterday.”

  “Everything seemed fine until the BBB contest. Ted and I were waiting for Richie’s presentation when the crowd pushed us over to the stage. At one point, I lost Ted. He stopped to retrieve a text…” Cid popped up and took Burt’s stack of papers and ran his finger down the transcript. “Here!”

  It was a text sent from Beth to Ted’s phone. It seemed odd. Mia could have laid the missing keys on the table with the other stuff, perhaps you should ask Mike. It’s so great that you two have this trust. Beth.

  “If you get rid of the garbage, you have these six words. ‘Mia laid with Mike, trust Beth.’ This would trigger the hex and fuel it by angering Ted,” Angelo said.

  “I thought it was odd he was upset with the whole BBB, and when he saw Mike in the crowd, he was not amused,” Cid reported.

  “So Ted wakes up after a bender and reads this email from Beth, and because he’s been conditioned to trust her, every word rings true to him. She wrote that Mia wasn’t worth it, and she heard that Brian was really Mike’s child.”

  “That ought to do it,” Cid said. “He’s always felt inferior to Mike.”

  “But how did Roumain know about the contest? Mia was surprised by the whole thing. Mike took her to the beach to distract her,” Burt said.

  “I think that was dumb luck. How he knew that Mia was going into Chicago to talk to Father Alessandro is puzzling, but considering his network of spies, it’s not impossible.”

  “Mia told Mike t
hat the parish house was full of the ghosts of priests fearing purgatory,” Burt told them.

  “We can check that mystery as solved,” Orion said. “So Mia’s trigger has been destroyed. Do we rip this up?” he asked.

  “Yes, but there is other evidence of the text. I’ll have Jake purge the phone account, and then we have to destroy Ted’s phone.”

  “That’s going to be the tough part,” Cid said. “Ted never is without his phone.”

  “There is one problem,” Angelo said as he finished reading all the emails that Beth sent. “He’s still going to remember these accusations.”

  “They aren’t true,” Burt argued.

  “He’s still going to doubt Mia because of them. We may take away the blind trust he was made to have with Beth, but we can’t make him trust Mia again.”

  “I think, maybe, over time,” Father Santos said wisely, “Ted will forgive her, and the trust will resume. But it will take time.”

  “The marriage is basically ruined,” Orion pointed out. “But at least we’ll have saved the man.”

  “Gentlemen, we are forgetting one important variable,” Burt said.

  They looked at Burt and at each other, and the group chorused, “Mia.”

  ~

  Mia walked down the stairs of the private jet and waited for Bev on the tarmac.

  The extreme but fashionable summer wedges Bev was wearing on her feet made descending the steep stairs dangerous.

  Mia waited patiently for her aunt. They still didn’t have an address for Beth. Jake was working hard tracing the IPO address. Beth rerouted the emails through several severs, but she really had no idea that anyone but Mia would try to find her. And Mia wasn’t computer savvy.

  “These damn shoes. What was I thinking?” Bev said on the last step.

  “You were thinking how fabulous they make your legs look. They do, you know, make your legs look fabulous,” Mia said.

  Bev smiled. “Thank you, dear. They also make me tall. I remember this Beth being tall.”

  “Everyone is tall to us,” Mia said. She pulled out her phone and stared at it, willing it to ring with more information. Cid, Burt and Murphy were headed to the farm to destroy Ted’s cell phone. Mia reminded the trio that Ted habitually backed his phone up to the small computer in the barn.