by Alexie Aaron
“I’m with Mia. We need to back off,” Mike said. “She is an able investigator and the best asset we have.”
“I think the change is needed,” Ted said simply. “I’m with Mia.”
They turned and looked at Burt.
“It means we lose ad revenue. We just got out of the red.”
Mike and Ted stared at him.
“I was just pointing out the cons. I support Mia, of course I do. Who wants to tell her?”
“I think it has to be you, dude,” Ted told Burt. “She knows who’s boss.”
“I agree,” Mike said.
Burt got up and walked out of the office. Mia was sitting on the picnic table looking up at the hillside. He flashed briefly into that very first conversation. Were they so different? A lot of things had happened in those few years. He walked up and sat down. “What are you watching?”
“Cid’s up there, flying a kite with Brian and Murphy.”
“Mia, we’ve unanimously decided to concede to your demands. We need and want you in PEEPs. You and Murphy bring so much into the team. I expect we may have a few sponsors pull out, and I’ll have to forgo the rent for a while.”
“Have I ever asked you to pay rent?”
“No. But I feel like… like…”
“A passed over concubine?” Mia asked.
“Yes, that’s one way to put it.”
“Good,” she said, getting up. “At least one of my males knows his place.”
“I’m sensing a double standard, Cooper,” Burt said, smiling.
Mia laughed and ran up the hill to get in on the kite flying.
Burt turned around to see Mike and Ted in deep conversation. He walked by them and heard Mike say, “I have never preyed upon your wife, but your wife has pushed the envelope a time or two with me. You have to take up this issue with her. I can’t help that she wants this bod.”
“Ted, he’s not serious. It’s my body Mia wants,” Burt said and walked in to the office.
Ted pulled his hat off and threw it on the ground.
Mike couldn’t help himself and said, “Didn’t I warn you that you were taking on a load of problems before you locked lips with her? Ted, you have to be man enough to know that, no matter what, she comes home to you. It’s you she wants to wake up with, have children with, and grow old beside. It’s you who she bonded herself to for an eternity, which has bumped Murphy out of the running for the hereafter by the way - that’s got to sting. You’re so screwed.”
Ted looked at him and nodded. He looked up the hill to see Mia running backwards with the kite while Cid and Brian tugged on the string. She fell. Of course she would. Murphy walked over and stared down at her. She accepted a hand up. Those two had cooled way down. He wasn’t sure that was a good sign. He’d have to leave it for the two to work things out between them.
“That’s a handsome family,” Mike said, needling Ted.
“It’s my family, Dupree.”
“You lucky stiff,” Mike said and walked in the office.
Ted ran over, let Maggie out of her yard, and trotted alongside her up the hill. Mia had picked up the kite once again, but this time, she had wings. She lifted up in the air until a breeze caught the kite. She floated back down and put them away.
“That’s cheating,” Ted said.
“That’s the Martin way,” she said as she ran into his arms. “Let’s go fly a kite, Teddy Bear.”
“What kind of innuendo is this?” he asked, looking down at her.
“The kind with strings,” she said meaningfully.
~
Audrey picked up a copy of the fax Burt had sent her. She sat down and read the new PEEPs guidelines.
“She did it,” she said, hopping up. She ran into the bathroom and knocked on the shower door.
“I’d ask you to come in, but your shower is woefully lacking in room,” Orion said, washing his hair.
“Mia must have presented an ultimatum to the partners. I have before me the new PEEPs guidelines.”
“Read it to me, omorfiá? My hands are soapy.”
“New policy. No PEEPs personnel, male or female, will be exploited sexually, visually or otherwise, to further the audience or ad revenue of the Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners.”
“Mia, who tries so hard to please everyone, has grown up. I think she has you to thank for that,” Orion told Audrey.
“No, it’s been coming. You see, when ugly ducklings become swans, it takes them a while to understand the attention they are getting. They have to learn how to deal with the advances of others and to understand that they themselves have to have self-restraint and respect if they want it from others.”
“Mia has little self-restraint,” Orion reminded her.
“I know, but this is a start,” Audrey said.
~
Mia stood at the door of the Wayne Mansion. She had been sent a missive from Altair to meet her there at eleven in the morning on the twenty-fifth. She was confused by the mourning wreath that hung on the door. She let the knocker fall and listened while it echoed throughout the house.
She heard footsteps, and the door was opened by the butler. He smiled kindly. “It is good to see you, Mrs. Martin. Would you please follow me?”
“I saw the wreath.”
“All will be explained.”
“K.”
Mia walked into the room to find Mark Leighton and his mother sitting there. Mia rushed over to Mark and received a hug from him. “I’m going to have to stop hugging you. My husband would not approve,” she teased.
Mark had grown so much in the few months they had been apart. His mother looked well. Mia was directed to take one of the high-backed chairs that were arranged in front of the desk. The butler ushered a suited gentleman into the room and then sat down next to Mia.
“Hello, I’m Samuel Barrett, and I represent the estate of the late Wyatt Wayne.”
Mia was crestfallen. But her letter was signed Altair. She would sit there and inquire about this mystery with Nordin later.
“The estate is a simple one. Mark Leighton, you have been bequeathed the northern Illinois property. This includes a hundred farmable acres and Buckley Pond. He asks that you fill in the foundations of the old house and build no other structure above or near it. The estate taxes on the property have been paid, along with two years of property tax. Mr. Wyatt suggests that you sell the property, invest the money, and share the proceeds with your family.”
“Mr. Nordin Caswell, you have been a faithful servant of Mr. Wayne’s and a trusted colleague. He bequeaths you the Big Bear Lake house and property with the exception of the contents of this room. Taxes have been satisfied, and you also will receive two years of property taxes. He suggests you sell the ‘beast’ and move on.”
“Most generous,” Nordin said, wiping his eyes.
“Mia Martin, you are bequeathed the contents of this room and the stocks and bonds Mr. Wayne presently has in holding. He asks that you liquidate some of the investments and build an aerie out at your farm. He writes, ‘No one had a bigger appreciation of this room than Mrs. Martin.’ His last conversation with Mr. Caswell was about making him pick up the chess pieces because he had won the game.” The lawyer laughed. “Do you have any questions about this, Mrs. Martin?”
“No, sir.”
“Then I invite you all to a luncheon that Mr. Caswell has prepared for us. Mrs. Martin, if you would, please stay behind to sign some papers.”
Mia watched the Leightons leave the room with the butler, and the lawyer left with them. Mia assumed he was retrieving the said papers for her to sign. She walked over to the chessboard and caressed the back of the chair where Altair had last sat. She heard the door open, and she looked over to see someone who looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place him in her memory.
He was a tall man with sorrowful, deep blue eyes. His hair was long, and he sported a crescent-shaped scar on his cheek. He was elegantly dressed, but the jacket pulled at what had to be tremen
dously muscular shoulders and arms.
He didn’t introduce himself. Mia suspected he didn’t feel a need to.
“I have a problem understanding something you said. It was transcribed for me. Please sit down and listen.”
Mia pulled out a chair from the chess table and sat.
“I’m not going to plead my case here. I will, however, ask you for a favor. I believe you owe me one. Please restore Altair’s wings. He was just being loyal to a friend. In my world, friends are so very important. I have many friends. Some good, some not so good. But I believe, with all my heart, that Altair was given a raw deal. That’s it. That’s all I have. I’m tired. Unless you have more work for me to do, send me on. Your choice, I’ll not fight you.”
“Those are my words. Who are you?” Mia asked, her chin set defiantly.
“It’s really not for you to know.”
“I would like to know, because I would like to strengthen my case for the return of Altair’s wings. Take mine if you have to, but somewhere along the line there has to be forgiveness for all, angel and demon alike. He stuck with a friend, against his own better judgement, and he was punished for it. No more. I have only known him briefly, but he has shown himself to be of high valor.”
“Explain this so-called valor.”
Mia did. She added, “He offered to take my punishment for me, just like who Altair refers to as the ‘gentle one.’ I am no one, but I have sacrificed my sanity, my life… lives,” she corrected and continued, “and have brought the lost to the light. I feel worthy of asking for this one favor. It’s a big one, I’ll admit.”
“You have an overinflated sense of your own worth,” the man said, his eyes boring into her.
“Maybe, but I know that I’m needed. If you want me to continue to do what I do best, then I ask this of you in return. I’ll forfeit my everlasting life as payment.”
“Why should we do this?”
“Restitution.”
The being walked over and lifted Mia’s hair. “You are one with Sariel.”
“I am.”
“You are of demon, angel, superhuman and birdman blood.”
“Don’t forget human,” she said proudly.
“You’re a sinner, a manipulator, and sometimes a harlot.”
“I am.”
“Also, a compassionate, forgiving, and fierce soul.”
“Thank you.”
“You killed two humans.”
“I saw no other way.”
“Would you kill again?”
“Probably. If one of my own or an innocent was threatened. If an injustice had to be reconciled and the only way was to do battle, I would kill again.”
“Show me your wings,” he demanded.
Mia took off her cardigan and activated her wings. Soon, the brilliant pair of heavenly wings emerged, lifting petite Mia off the ground.
The man walked around her and pulled a feather. He took off his jacket and extended his wings.
Mia was blown away. This angel’s wings were more impressive than Sariel’s. He pulled a feather and approached Mia. He tore a hair from her head and bound his feather next to Sariel’s. He took a hair from his mane and bound Mia’s feather into his collection.
“I grant you your restitution. Altair will rise and become one with us again. You are still Sariel’s shield maiden, but you will come when I call. Explain to your husband that, in order to secure Altair’s freedom, you have given me yours.”
“That will be an interesting conversation.”
“I imagine it will.”
“Can I have your name? Otherwise, it would go like this: “Ted, guess what. I bonded myself voluntarily to some guy…”
The man laughed. It was a robust Father Christmas type of laugh.
“Michael.”
“It would be, wouldn’t it?”
“Problem?”
Mia lifted her hand. “No, I’ll figure it out. There’s a lot of guys named after you.”
He smiled. “Do you want to see him?”
“Who?”
“Altair, before I take him back?”
“Please.”
Michael nodded. He closed one wing, and when he opened it, a man stood before Mia. He had the same deep blue eyes. His skin was fair, and his hair was short. He stood there with wings folded back. He wore what Mia was used to seeing the angel class wear, some kind of leather pants and a soft vest. Altair had a little glass locket that twinkled with a life of its own on his chest.
Mia fluffed her wings, and Altair grinned and stepped away from Michael and let Mia see what had been restored. They were as mighty as Sariel’s but still paled in comparison to Michael’s.
“Whoa.”
“Thanks, Mia.”
“No problem, Altair. I’ll build the aerie with a library to hold all this. See you up there.”
He nodded.
Michael pointed at Mia and reminded her, “You come when I call. Don’t make me come looking for you.”
“Yes, sir. Oh, sir…”
“Yes.”
“How will I know you’re calling, and where do I go? I’m not exactly good at navigation yet.”
“You’ll hear me. Extend your wings and touch your neck.”
“K.”
Michael and Altair disappeared. Mia walked over and looked in the wall mirror.
“Bloody hell,” she said as she saw the subtle mark of Sariel’s had changed. Incorporated into the eternity symbol that held the S was a very dominant, dark blue M. This didn’t go away when she tapped it. “Crap on toast.”
“No, but I do have a nice pâté,” the butler said from the doorway.
Mia folded in her wings. “I suppose I should explain this.”
“No, Mrs. Martin, I’ve seen worse.”
“Call me Mia, please.”
“Mia.”
“I like that. Can you give me a few months to build a place big enough for all of this?”
“Yes. Will you visit me during those months?”
“Unless you hang a sock on the door, I’ll be here.”
“I understand now why they call you Bad Mia.”
~
“How was your day, dear?” Mia practiced lowering her voice, pretending to be Ted. “About that, I got myself bonded to Lucifer’s older brother.”
Mia shook her head and began again. She was sitting at the kitchen table drinking stale coffee with her back to the front door. She wasn’t surprised when her hair was pulled back.
“Please tell me this isn’t Dupree,” Ted said.
“It isn’t. It’s kind of a long story,” Mia said, afraid to turn around.
“Does it have anything to do with the surveyors on the hillside?”
“It could. Wow, they got here fast,” Mia said, getting up.
Ted turned her around and put his hand on the side of her face. “Did you have to sleep with anyone in this story?”
“No.”
“Phew. I was prepared, but I really didn’t want to start drinking in the middle of the day. Am I still your favorite?”
“Yes,” Mia said, trying to kiss Ted.
“No, you’re not distracting me. Will your news impact us?”
“It could.”
“As husband and wife?”
“No.”
“Okay, say it real fast. It’s easier that way.”
“I went to Wyatt’s. It turned out to be a funeral. I inherited a truckload of money and the contents of his library, on the condition that I construct a building to hold it and a large aerie.”
Ted was surprised. “I take it, that was the good news.”
“Wyatt is actually Altair, a fallen angel.”
“Go on…”
“When I was sort of dead, but not all the way dead, I was in this kind of nothingness. There, I asked for Altair’s wings to be returned to him. He lost them when his friend Lucifer fell. Well, the archangel Michael asked me about this, and we had a little chat. He is very intimidating, to say the least. Remi
nds me of your great aunt. Anyway, in exchange for Altair to be forgiven and given back his wings, I ended up bonded to Michael for eternity.”
“But you’re mine for eternity.”
“Yes, I am in the married way as a human. Up there, I will be a grunt or water boy, or something, when they go to war. In short, when Michael calls, I have to drop everything and leave.”
Ted stood back. He gently took off Mia’s sweater and top so he could see their shared tattoo. It was vibrant and strong. He walked around her, and all of the lash marks were gone, as were the surgery scales. He helped her put on her top and cardigan and took her hand. “I don’t care if you bound yourself to Lucifer himself as long as you keep coming home to me. Mia, I don’t want to own you. I just want to be part of your life. After our scare at the slaughterhouse, I realized it takes more than me to watch over you. I couldn’t help you. Murphy couldn’t sustain enough power to get to you in time. I kept thinking of how Angelo usually came to the rescue, and how we kind of took that for granted.”
“Angelo has to move on, Ted. He wants more from me than friendship.”
“What do you want?”
“You’re my sexual partner. I only want to be with you.” Mia took his hand and put it to her jaw. “Here…”
“No, Mia, I believe you. What I’m trying to say is, we are entering a whole new world here. When paranormal entities start battling for the freedom of mankind, then I want you on the right side of things. Michael is the right side. Your mother says you’re a Neyer, and Neyers are fence-sitters, but I don’t think that is what’s needed now. You’re a Martin, and we believe in sacrifice and honor. So far, you’ve been the only one sacrificing.”
