by Casey Wyatt
“Yes.”
“That means no one is on Mars yet. At least not from Earth. And you’re looking for the fabled Lost Ship.”
“Correct. Where are you going with this?”
“Come on. I have something to show you.” He stopped, taking in my appearance. “That won’t do. You look a fright. We need something more sophisticated.”
By sophisticated, Edwin meant drab office wear. And in 1969 that meant a navy jumper dress that ended above my knees paired with a white blouse and collar flaps sharp enough to hurt someone. Despite my protests, Edwin insisted that I tie a paisley silk scarf around my neck along with several strands of gold chains.
“I never dressed like this in 1969,” I protested.
“Well, we can’t have you wearing a thong and pasties to a construction site, now can we?” Edwin held open the car door for me. He decided to take out a cream-colored two-seated Austin-Healey. “This should get us there and back in record time.”
Edwin revved the engine and launched us down the driveway in a display of speed that might have impressed me if I hadn’t traveled to Mars on a spaceship.
When we cleared the estate’s boundaries, he spoke. “The talk about dig sites made me think. I have several road projects in the works. One in particular could be interesting.”
“Oh, do tell,” I said, tying the scarf around my hair before I turned into a frizzball.
“The engineers stumbled upon an archaeological site two days ago.” He shifted into a higher gear while skirting around a narrow corner. “An unwelcome nuisance, but we stopped work on it and called in our own archaeologist for an assessment.”
“You have an archeologist on retainer? I’d think in your line of work, you’d keep gravediggers on staff instead.”
Edwin, not amused, peered at me over his sunglasses. “We dig up more relics than you’d think. Old stuff fetches a pretty price on the undead market.”
“Nostalgia? Uncle Bjorn misses his old Viking ship?” I couldn’t believe I was having this conversation with my little brother.
“You mock, but you’d be surprised about the favors it earns me. Nostalgia pays well. And what the humans don’t know can’t come back to hurt us later.”
I couldn’t fault the logic. The mortals wouldn’t miss what they didn’t know about. “What’s so interesting about this site?”
Edwin gave me a knowing smile and floored the engine again. “Have you wondered why you’re in 1969?”
“Because of Aunt Cass?” And that Tarot card.
Edwin shook his head. “Forget her. Look, the point is, we’re going to blow the site to kingdom come later today. If the Lost Ship there—”
“Then it’s toast.” Not the news I wanted to hear. “Hey, but that means you can stop it, right?”
“Why would I want to do that?” He glanced over at me like I was nuts. “The Not-Mother has to think the ship is gone. Otherwise, she’ll keep coming after us.”
“That’s if the ship is there.” I hated to be Debbie Downer but there was no proof that ship ever existed or that it was in the UK. I could be wasting my time. And that was coin I couldn’t afford to spend.
Edwin slowed the car, then sharply turned down a dirt road. We drove for another mile before he stopped. “This is as far as we go. The road is too rough after this point.”
“You could have mentioned that before you insisted I wear sling-backs.” I’d like to see him walk on rocks in heels. We neared the construction zone, passing through windblown dirt, narrowly avoiding gigantic dump trucks laden with rocky debris.
“I thought you said the site was closed for the archeological study,” I said over the noise.
“It should be.” Edwin flagged a man in a hard hat. “Let me see what is happening.”
He left me outside the foreman’s trailer. Like I planned on standing around waiting on him to come back. We all knew me better than that. As soon as he disappeared from view, I hoofed it past the trailer and out toward the large pit where men and equipment were congregated.
Unlike the dump trucks, the backhoes and other digging machines were silent. Workers were perched against wheels and other immobile surfaces drinking beverages and gossiping. Or complaining about the delay. I couldn’t blame them. They weren’t paid to stand around.
“Excuse me, madam. Only authorized personnel are allowed on the jobsite.”
I would recognize that pompous tone anywhere and in any time period. Too bad I couldn’t call him out on it.
This was going to be amusing.
I turned around. “And why would you assume that I’m not authorized? I’m Lady d’Aumont, the Earl of Pembridge’s sister. And who may I tell him is harassing his beloved sister?”
“I am Prior. At your service.” He inclined his head in a curt bow. More than was warranted by my pedigree. I’m sure it had more to do with Edwin’s kingpin status. “Please pardon my ignorance.”
I gave him the once over. Clad in unnecessary spectacles, Prior appeared every inch the bureaucrat down to the dowdy tweed jacket and plaid bow tie.
“I suppose you can’t help your ignorance.” I stared down my nose at him because why not have a bit of fun? On Mars, Prior treated me like I was the dumb pupil at the back of the class blowing spitballs.
“The Earl tells me that there is something of consequence buried in the ground.”
“I can’t comment on the ongoing investigation,” he said in the universal tone of self-important officials. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“No, I will not.” I leaned toward him, invading his personal space. “I know who you work for. I have Queen V’s personal number so unless you’d like me to contact her, you’ll direct me to the archaeologist.”
“I don’t believe you,” he said.
I had to give him credit for showing some backbone. But it wasn’t going to help him. I slid my sleeve off my wrist and displayed the cuff.
His eyes widened, recognizing it.
“I’m from Mars in the future. And if you want to live long enough to see it happen, you will help me now.”
Prior gaped, mouth flapping like fish. He stiffened his spine, then walked toward the giant hole. “Follow me, please.”
We circumnavigated the highway site, tracking the perimeter, finally stopping at a makeshift tent. The tent, large enough to hold a circus act, obscured the whatever that had been dug up.
“We don’t want any prying eyes or looters,” he said, nodding to the burly guards. “I am sure we can count on your continued discretion.”
“Of course.” I entered, taking in the surroundings. A team, wearing white protective gear, was clambering around a chunk of sleek metal protruding from the ground.
Prior pointed to a figure kneeling in the dirt, brushing the same spot furiously. “She’s right there. Now if you will excuse me, I do have business to attend for the Earl.”
“Thank you.” I studied the woman, hoping against hope she was who I thought she was.
“Lady d’Aumont?” Prior said. “So, we did it?”
I turned back to him. The eager excitement was touching.
“Yes. But that’s all I will say. Because, we don’t want any time-altering paradoxes. This is top secret. No one, not even the Queen, can know.”
“I fully understand.” He bowed, this time more deeply, then walked away with a contented smile.
I approached the archaeologist, careful not to fall into the circle she’d cleared. “Hello? Can I have a word?”
She stopped and stared at me. The white hood shielded her hair and most of her face. Large safety glasses covered her eyes. I’m guessing it was to protect the site from contamination.
“Only for a moment.” When she stood, she ushered me away, then removed the hood and glasses. Frizzy blond coils popped free on individual springs. “How can I help you?”
“Joan?” I wanted to clap my hand over my mouth. Pretending not to know people from my future was tiresome.<
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“Dr. Orleans. I don’t recall meeting you.”
“It says so on your name badge.” Which they were all wearing, thank goodness. Otherwise, I’d have to concoct some story that I didn’t have time to make up. “I’m the Earl’s sister. I’m also here on Queen V’s behalf. Can you tell me what you’ve found?”
She frowned. Power floated between us as if she were tasting me. Ian had told me she had the gift to sense the righteous truth. “Only half of what you say is true.”
I showed her the cuff. “You know what this is. I don’t have a lot of time to argue. Is this the Lost Ship or not?”
“It’s too soon to come to that conclusion. We only found it today. But if pressed, I would say this is not from Earth.” Joan studied my face, memorizing me. “The metal is resilient to damage. The workers found it because the excavator’s shovel broke on impact.”
“How long before it’s freed?” I needed to gain access. “Will it be today?”
Joan’s gaze darted between me and the ship. “Given the metal’s strength, the engineers have decided to blast around it.”
“What?” That sounded risky to me. “Is that wise?”
“I’m afraid they don’t have a choice,” Edwin said from behind me. “We have to protect its discovery. I see you follow directions about as well I as I do.”
“Can I get a closer look?”
Joan opened her mouth but snapped it shut after a terse look from Edwin.
He said, “We have to make it quick. Joan will show you where to stand. I wouldn’t want you to step on one of the explosive charges.”
I followed Joan, with Edwin trailing behind us at attention. I’m sure the Not-Mother was out there somewhere waiting to pounce.
Joan stopped and pointed. “Here’s a safe spot. I’d prefer that you not touch—”
I pressed my palm against the ship’s side. “We don’t have time to be worried about space cooties.”
An electric force shot up my arm, catching me off guard. I stumbled backward feeling like I’d been given a shot of super vitamins. Or had drunk about a hundred cups of black coffee.
“What happened?” Edwin said.
“I’m not sure.”
Gunshots popped.
Joan and Edwin exchanged a signal. She took off, marshaling her dig team.
“Come on. We have to go.” Edwin grabbed me by the hand.
We ran toward the tent’s exit. White mist rose from the outside, seeping through the seams and under the flaps.
“This way!” He dragged me toward the crater.
“What are you doing? I’m pretty sure they can catch us in this crater too.” The heels of my shoes snagged in the gravel, slowing me down.
“We’re setting the charges.” Edwin stopped at the ship’s base, where Joan had been moments earlier. He pulled a gizmo from his pocket and barked an order. “Here. See this switch? Click it to the right, then find the next one and do the same thing. Hurry, we don’t have much time.”
I followed the wires, clicking switches. I wondered if they planned to destroy it.
Edwin came up behind me, hitching me by the elbow and pulling. “No more time. Run!”
Blobs of mist dotted the crater’s rim.
“Where? We’re surrounded by revenants!”
Slowly, the blobs rose into man-sized shapes. We were trapped.
I wrapped my arm around Edwin’s waist then placed my free hand on the ship’s hull.
Energy zinged up my arm, settling in the cuff.
Whatever. I’d think about that later.
“Hang on!” I launched upward, heading for the tent’s peak. The revenants below caught wind of my plan. White tendrils unfurled, reaching to intercept us.
“Wait!” Edwin extended his arm. Razor sharp claws tipped his fingers. With broad slashes, he sliced through the thick canvas.
Not waiting, I pushed us through and away from the tent. Construction workers were fleeing across the open fields. Revenants were fighting hand to hand. I couldn’t see Joan or the archaeological team. I hoped they’d escaped to safety.
Edwin weighed a ton. My arms ached from holding him. I’d never carried another person. I figured it would be easy given my vampire strength. I hadn’t factored in the Earth’s gravity, the wind shear, or the strain of rising so quickly.
He reached into his pocket, unbalancing us. “Easy. Don’t drop me.”
“Then don’t move around like that.” The tent seemed far enough away. The tendrils seemed to have limits.
“Hang on. I’m going to detonate it.” Edwin held up a trigger box. “Let’s hope it works from up here.”
“Wait! I’m not—”
He pushed the button. I gripped him as hard as I could.
The concussive force slammed into us, hurling us higher. Debris and sharp pebbles abraded the bare skin on my legs and feet with piercing force. A second later, we dropped. The motion set us off balance. The ground raced toward us.
“What are you doing?” Edwin shouted in my ear.
“Crap! I can’t hold on anymore.” We dipped downward, clipping the treetops. I really, really didn’t want to fall into the canopy. Not only would it hurt on the way down, we weren’t far enough away yet.
“Can I help?” Edwin shifted his position making matters worse.
“Not unless you can lose weight.” My hands cramped and my arms quaked. Stinging pain scorched my legs like I’d shaved with a cheese grater.
“Why didn’t you say so earlier? QED.” Edwin went from weighing a ton to nothing at all. The change in mass flung us straight upward.
“Son of a bitch!” I fought to regain control.
“Oh, sis. I like the sailor’s mouth.” Edwin laughed. The shit.
“I could kill you. You let me carry your full weight when you could have been a feather.”
“Like I said, you could have asked.”
“I didn’t know it was an option.” I set us down behind a shed in a quiet neighborhood. My arms felt ready to detach. “Let’s not do that again.”
“Agreed.” He leaned against the shed, then peered around the corner.
“The blast. Do you think it destroyed the ship?”
“I don’t know.” He seemed unconcerned by the idea. It terrified me.
“And those revenants. Could they have survived?” I slid my shoes off, shaking out pebbles and sand.
Edwin looked at me funny. Like I’d asked him the world’s strangest question. “Doubtful. I hope the blast keeps them from re-forming. That means fewer enemies to fight later.”
“Won’t this make it easier for the Not-Mother to steal the ship?”
“And do what with it? She can’t move it by herself. I don’t care how much power she has. My men are in the area. They will move it.”
Provided they survived her. But I kept the comment to myself. The setting sun sliced into my retinas.
“We need to get back to Belmont.”
“Agreed.” He motioned for me to follow him around the shed and into the garden. “Your husbands will arrive soon.”
“I’m glad you think my life is so amusing,” I said, hobbling on my shredded bare feet.
“Shush,” he said, leading us forward.
A high fence hid us from the neighbors. I hoped no one was home. After we made it to the front yard, Edwin spied a parked car.
“No,” I said. “You can’t!”
“What’s wrong? Not up for some grand theft?” He marched toward the car and tested the door. It opened. “See it’s unlocked. Now get in like you mean it.”
I followed Edwin’s direction, watching with horrified fascination as he hot-wired the car in under ten seconds using his power and good old-fashioned thievery.
“I never knew you had so many talents.”
“Don’t make that face at me. I’ll make sure the car is returned along with something for their inconvenience. Unless, you want to fly us back? No? I didn’t think so.” He put the car in drive and we were on our way.
One, it was too light out. People would notice us. I don’t care how unobservant the general population was, someone was bound to see us. Heaven forbid, they photographed or filmed us.
Two, I was bone tired.
Three, the cuff rested against my wrist like a lead weight. I noticed it after I’d touched the ship a second time.
Fatigue overcame me. I put my head against the window to catch my wind again.
The next thing I knew, Edwin was poking me. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty. We’re here.”
“Fine. I hope you have some Bline in your fridge,” I said, then opened the car door.
“You say the oddest things.” Edwin looked past me.
We weren’t the only car in the driveway. It seemed we’d arrived at the same time as Ian, Jonathan, and Jay. Their car jerked to a halt, gears grinding before the engine sputtered and stalled. Jonathan never could drive for shit.
Jay exited first then slow clapped down the driveway. “Bravo, Cherry. That was quite a performance.”
“What do you mean?” I said, confused.
“I’m sure the entire valley was entertained.” Jonathan shut the car door and glared at me. “When did you learn to fly?”
Shit. They saw that. Fantastic.
It made sense. They would’ve had to take the same road we did to get to Belmont.
“Did you not see the gigantic explosion? We’re fine, by the way. Thanks for asking.” I inched my way to the front door.
The cuts on my legs were not healing as fast as I’d like. The cuff continued to drag me down. Maybe I’d wrenched my arm harder than I thought.
“Do not ignore me.” Warning edged Jonathan’s voice.
I didn’t give a crap.
“That’s for me to know and for you to never find out,” I said.
Ian exited the car, looking a tad green around the edges. Yeah, Jonathan’s driving often had that effect on his passengers.
“That’s on me. How do you think we arrived at your club so fast, mate? Does your Family really not know how to fly?” Ian said.
“Yes. And I prefer to keep it that way.” Taking in my disheveled state, he guided me inside. “We can discuss this later.”
“By ‘discuss,’ do you mean erasing my memories?” I kept my voice low but I know he could hear me.
