A Rose by Any Other Name (Haunted Series Book 18)

by Alexie Aaron

  “I guess that wasn’t such a good idea,” he said sheepishly.

  “We had to try it. I was wondering if one of these houses was the Roustan Rose Renee had taken us to.”

  “Why?” Murphy asked, getting to his feet.

  “Because we may be able to leave this dimension through the attic.”

  “But Renee is gone.”

  “True, but the setup may still be the same.”

  “Which one?” Murphy asked.

  “I see two possibilities,” Mia said. “The house that Dr. Rose resides in and the one closest to the abyss.”

  “I’m in agreement. My gut says that Dr. Rose is guarding the exit.”

  “Me too, but he welcomed us into his home when he was playing Morrison, and it didn’t evoke any memories of Roustan Rose,” Mia pointed out.

  “Then let’s get to the other house posthaste.”

  Mia ran behind Murphy, and as they neared the abyss, the scratching noises were considerably louder. They heard moans and screams. Mia at first was taken aback, and then the realization that she’d heard those same sounds before, holding the bolt from the fallen chandelier, made her smile. She sniffed the air. “Burnt wood,” she said aloud. “Murphy, I think this is the right place.”

  They entered the house and Murphy stopped. “This is where Renee met us.”

  Mia reached out a hand. “Husband, it’s been a long day.”

  Murphy turned, and Mia was looking at him with loving eyes. “I thought the ceremony would never end.”

  “Mia…”

  “I know you think me too forward, Stephen, but I have dreamed of our wedding night for many a day.” Mia blushed.

  Murphy closed his eyes. Here was his dream come true, Mia as his wife. But the gift had strings and repercussions. Dr. Rose had tried to control him and had failed, so now Rose had taken control of Mia and was using Murphy’s affections for his friend to get him to stay. Would Rose then set his monsters upon them? Or would Murphy and Mia live a lifetime together as husband and wife?

  “Stephen, come. Come to our bed,” Mia said, walking up the stairs, looking back at him.

  Murphy moved quickly to her side. He turned her to him and unzipped her vest. “Look, Mia, remember.”

  Mia stared down at the two hummingbirds and then at the handsome man in front of her with questioning eyes.

  “You love Ted. You chose him to be your lover, your husband, and the father of your children. Mia, I am your friend and battle partner. You call me Murph,” he explained. He unzipped the vest further and pointed to the scar on her midriff. “I did that when I tried to kill you and Burt.”

  Mia shook her head and started nodding. “Oh my god, I didn’t even feel him taking control.”

  Murphy zipped the garment and nodded his head. “We have to get to the attic quickly before he realizes his trap didn’t work.”

  They moved quickly up the last flight of steps and charged towards the doors to the attic space that had held the original portal. The door was hanging open, one set of hinges broken. There was, however, no vortex.

  “Shit!” Mia said.

  They turned back around and headed down stairs. On the third floor landing stood Dr. Rose.

  “Did you really expect it to be that easy?” he asked.

  “Sometimes people overlook the obvious,” Mia said. “Tell me, Dr. Rose, what do you want?”

  “I want a lot of things. Can you narrow it down?”

  “I believe when you started treating the insane, you wanted to help them.”

  “I still want to help them.”

  “How is keeping them in a pit most of the day and letting them feed on their kin at night helping them?”

  “Their kin should have never…”

  “Trusted them with you,” Mia stated.

  “Shouldn’t it be you that is punished?” Murphy asked.

  Dr. Rose actually seemed to consider it for a moment. “They were beyond help.”

  “Were they?” Mia challenged him.

  “The process was supposed to diminish the overwhelming need that set each of them apart. Instead, they turned into monsters who only existed to satisfy their own needs,” he explained.

  “You did this to them. Couldn’t you reverse the process?” Mia asked.

  “Not without Thorn. That’s a lie. He and I have damaged these people beyond help. They would be better off dead.”

  “Then why aren’t they?” Murphy asked.

  “You see, I look at them and still see the patients I treated.”

  “What happened to you?” Mia asked.

  “I treated my narcissism with the same treatment I used on my patients. I became a god in the process. I rule here. My minions have strong appetites, but they are all I have.”

  “Show us the way out, and I’ll not harm you or your patients,” Mia promised. “You’ve seen what I can do. Your servant will never exist again. I don’t want to extinguish the life here. True, they no longer have souls to save, but if they are contained, I see no reason to hurt them.”

  “If I let you and Mr. Murphy go, what will you do?”

  “Fix the seals. Make it so you can exist here,” Mia said. “We cannot have you or them preying upon the innocents. Somewhere in your brain, you know this is the right thing to do.”

  Dr. Rose seemed to ponder what Mia had told him. He tilted his head and stared down at her. “No, I prefer to be amused,” he said.

  The house disappeared, and Mia and Murphy were falling. Mia managed to bring out her wings and grab Murphy in time to stop the punishing contact with the ground.

  “He’s thrown us into the abyss with the monsters,” Murphy said.

  Mia drew Murphy closer to her and folded her wings around them. “This should protect us as long as I can generate enough energy. They kept us safe in the cyclone. I pray they will keep us save until we can be saved.”

  “Are you certain we will be saved?” Murphy asked.

  “There are no certainties, but if I have to end my existence, I am glad that I ended it in the company of my best friend,” Mia said.

  “We can fight them,” Murphy insisted.

  “We will when my wings are gone. Until then, we pray that Ted finds a way to help us.”

  Murphy would wait until the time was right, and then he would sacrifice himself so Mia could get away. She had a life to live, a husband to love, and a child to raise. He’d had his time. Mia had given him a wondrous afterlife. He would be satisfied with that.

  Mia felt the monsters approach and prepared herself for the onslaught.

  ~

  Burt found Ted explaining the workings of the machinery to Baxter. “Gentlemen, I hate to interrupt, but Dieter gave me an idea of how to get Mia and Murphy out safely.”

  Ted turned and gave Burt his full attention.

  “Remember the coins we tossed to test out the third floor hallway? Some went through the portal and landed on the ground. Dieter found them, and Mia told him to return them to me. This charm is no bigger than a coin. I think Mia was hoping we would put one and one together and toss it into the portal.”

  “Let’s do it then,” Ted said, taking the charm from Burt and starting up the steps.

  “But there are no shadow men, so the portal may not be open,” Burt said.

  “Then it hits the wall and we wait until it does open,” Ted said determinedly.

  Baxter followed the investigators up the stairs.

  Ted had picked up an iPad and instructed, “Jake, I need all the footage of the coin and cornstarch toss delivered to the iPad. Cid, I need you on console. Audrey, if you and Orion could continue to go through the two diaries? Audrey, search Roustan’s for any references to portals, such as things disappearing in rooms, etc. Orion, Morrison’s journal is grim reading, but there may be something in it that will help us.”

  “Baxter, here’s an earcom,” Ted said and explained how it was used. “Dieter, collect your souls and be ready to evacuate this house.”

 
“Yes, sir.”

  “Stick close to Cid.” Ted looked around. “Where’s Mike?”

  “He’s down in the cellar watching the hatch,” Cid said.

  “Communicate with him, and ask him to come to the third floor. He was with them when the coins were tossed. Burt, lead the way.”

  Audrey watched the men leave the kitchen. Ted had taken on the role of leader. Burt didn’t baulk at the changeover; he knew what was at stake, and Ted would bear the responsibility of whatever happened. The goal was to first rescue Mia and Murphy and then to seal the pocket dimension forever.

  “I feel as if I should call Angelo,” Orion confessed.

  “Can he help?”

  “It’s doubtful. The place Mia and Dieter described has no natural light. We birdmen have a flaw in common with angels. We need natural light to maintain our energy. Angelo would just be another casualty, I fear.”

  “So Mia couldn’t call upon the angels to help?”

  “She could call them, and they could come, but I don’t think they can help. I’m sure she has already discovered this. Mia’s smart. She’ll not risk anyone unnecessarily.”

  “Perhaps I could help?”

  Audrey and Orion turned to see, who Audrey would later describe, as the most handsome man she’d ever seen, standing in the doorway. Orion could only see the son of the man who broke Fredericka’s heart. Audrey saw his angelic beauty; Orion saw the demon within.

  “I can survive in the darkest of places,” Quentin boasted.

  “I imagine you can,” Orion said stiffly.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. I am Quentin Reynold’s, Mia’s uncle, and you are…”

  “Audrey McCarthy, Mia’s friend, and Brian’s godmother.”

  Quentin took her hand. “It’s a pleasure.”

  “Orion Stavros,” Orion said, not extending his hand. “I’m Mia’s grandfather.”

  Quentin simply nodded, picking up the scent of a bird on this little man. “My mother had unusual taste in men.”

  Dieter walked out of the butler’s pantry and into the kitchen. He was drawn to the strongest soul he had ever been in contact with. The soul of this creature was twisting in constant agony, yet it could not be extracted. How the man maintained his cordial manner was amazing.

  “Sir, have you come to help Mia?” Dieter asked.

  “Yes, son, I have.”

  “Come with me. I’ll show you the way,” the teen said. “I’m Dieter. I am an attrpeur-âme.”

  “I’m Quentin Reynolds, and I’m a Nephilim.”

  “Yes,” Dieter said with a knowing smile, “you’ll do.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Ted studied the film while Mike described to Baxter where the sweet spot was in the wall.

  Burt reached forward, tapping the wall and shaking his head. “We may have to wait until the shadow men appear.”

  “Where did they come from?” Baxter asked.

  Burt pointed to the spot in the ceiling. “They started off as a dot, and then became a stain, and finally reverted to something representative of a 3D silhouette of a man. There were three of them.”

  “Now, sirs, there are only two. I have the soul of the third.”

  Baxter turned and looked at Dieter. Quentin was standing behind the teen, but Baxter would worry about him later. He addressed the teen, “You have his soul?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Did you destroy the body it was housed in?” Baxter asked.

  “No, sir, we brought it into the dimension and let it free.”

  “Bring the soul here?” he requested.

  “What do you want his soul for?” Dieter asked.

  “I think we can open the portal with his help,” Baxter answered.

  “You don’t intend to imprison him in the pocket dimension?”

  “No, Dieter, that is not my intention.”

  Dieter nodded and turned around and left.

  Ted looked at the tall man that came with Dieter. He tapped Mike’s shoulder, and he turned around.

  “Quentin, you shouldn’t be here,” Baxter said.

  “Quentin? Quentin Reynolds?” Ted asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Theodore Martin, Mia’s husband,” Ted said, striding over to him and shaking his hand vigorously.

  Quentin smiled, feeling the natural warmth from the tall, thin man. He also felt the overwhelming worry. “I’ve come to help.”

  Burt looked at Quentin and Baxter. He tried to figure out the relationship between the two. Dieter spoke of Baxter as Quentin’s man, but the doctor of paranormal psychiatry seemed to have more than an employee/employer interest in Quentin.

  “How can you help, Quentin?” Baxter asked.

  “Mia is trapped in a dimension of darkness. She will soon lose her energy, being of birdman and angel blood. I have no such problems. I will go in and bring her back. Mr. Murphy too,” he said as an afterthought.

  “How will you do this?” Baxter asked.

  “With the charm you made for me.”

  “I can only transport one human with the charm,” he reminded Quentin.

  “Change it to include a Nephilim and a ghost too,” Quentin demanded.

  “It’s not that simple…”

  “Isn’t it?” Quentin challenged.

  “I can’t guarantee it, but I’ll try,” Baxter said.

  Ted handed him the charm.

  Baxter walked away from the men. He stood around the corner at the third floor landing a moment before descending down the stairs. He passed Dieter carrying his jar with the surly soul inside. Dieter turned and stared as the man walked outside the house and stood on the porch in the snow.

  “So he is a wizard,” Dieter said, confirming his suspicions to himself, and continued up the stairs.

  ~

  The largest of the incubi stared at the feathered shell that sat still in the middle of the pit. He sensed it was female and male. This would be a challenge to seduce. He hadn’t come across any hermaphrodites when he was living. Although, his memory was not what it once was. Living in the pit with the others, carrying on with the debauchery available, had changed his focus from the cerebral to the physical. He wasn’t even sure if he had the power of speech anymore.

  A cannibal tried to take a bite out of the thing and received only pain for his trouble. It left in search of softer substance.

  The incubus would have left the shell alone if it hadn’t smelled so alive. He was drawn to life. He enjoyed the extinguishing of it after he had taken his fill from whatever fear-ridden pleasure he could obtain. He had gotten bored of repeatedly torturing his aunts that had put him away. Their first mistake was to confine him to the hospital. Their second mistake was to visit him on that fateful day. He smiled at the memory.

  Dr. Rose kept a tight prison. He, himself, had only gotten out once. He arrived during a party of some kind. He put on the clothes of the owner of the house and ventured out amongst the throng. There he selected a thin little thing. She was one gin too close to a hangover but was an easy seduction. When he had finished with her, she no longer wanted to live. So he choked the life out of her and hung her from the chandelier. That’s when Renee found him.

  He was dragged back and punished by her painfully chewing on his soul. He barely survived, but it had taught him to keep to the available creatures here and not to venture out into the other world.

  But someone had dropped a gift at his feet. If only he knew how to unwrap it.

  ~

  Dieter opened the jar and set it where Ted had placed the X on the carpet. He watched the ceiling over the mark as a pinprick of black became a stain and then a body. It dropped down and extracted the soul from the jar.

  “How can this be? Normally souls search for their bodies,” Dieter asked Baxter, who was standing next to him.

  “I will tell you soon. I sense others are coming,” Baxter said quietly.

  “They work in sets of three,” Ted whispered.

/>   Sure enough, Dieter saw another stain appear and become a man, and a third joined him. They stood waiting. Quentin walked over wearing the charm on a very long chain. Dieter had asked about the chain. Baxter replied that, when transformed, Quentin’s neck would become so large it would snap anything less than thirty-six inches.

  The soul-restored shadow man looked over the seemingly harmless human male and waved to him to follow along.

  Quentin did so without a backward glance.

  “Team, prepare for operation Give Me Light,” Ted said. He reached up and put a giant X on the ceiling where the shadow men oozed into this world. He handed Dieter and Baxter a pair of glasses. “Put these on. You can see the disruption waves leaking out. I have given Quentin a florescent-light bomb set to go off five minutes after he places it on the ground. When it explodes, it will not only cause all within the dimension to be momentarily blinded, but the light will show us all the exits from there into this house. I have placed investigators on every floor, cameras wherever they can be, and these little critters - we call them Opticals,” Ted said, holding the worm-like devices with the camera lens on one end, “to patrol all the areas too small for us to get into. When you see the light or this wave, place an X to mark it. Circle it if it’s too large. The idea is to find all the ways these monsters can penetrate our world. You’ll have to work quickly. The light will only last thirty minutes and this is a large house.” Ted left Baxter and Dieter to their assignments.

  “Dieter, I am sorry you had to lose that soul,” Baxter said. “I only wanted to use it to lure the shadow creature.”

  “I could see that the soul wasn’t happy being away from his body. Maybe I misunderstood the need to be joined with the shadow. It is happy now, and I have learned a lesson,” Dieter admitted. “You cannot force a soul to come to you. You can call them and be happy for whomever answers the call, but do not mourn the ones who do not. They have chosen their path.”

  “You are a very wise child,” Baxter said.

  “When I was born, my mother said I had a ring of seven lights that circled my body at all times. I was later to learn, they were souls I attracted. As I grew to understand my place in this world, I learned how to collect them and bring them to the light callers.”