Cursed Mother: A Mongrelverse Book (Mother of Monsters 1)

by Paul C. Middleton

  There was an irony to be calling Alicia a girl. She was at least five years older than me. Still, if she was going to act like, at best, my eldest daughter, then ‘girl’ she was. Then again, there was an extreme irony to the fact but I was comforting a man easily four times my age like a child. Sometimes life just throws oddities at you.

  "He was just trying to keep us and him safe. You know now we’re gonna have to put up wards against telepathy every other day. Otherwise, eventually someone will figure out what he is. From us. And all of us will be targets." Alicia at least had the grace to blush.

  Did I mention that Alicia could be very stubborn? Well, she kept pushing the issue, if more carefully. "He has some idea what you might be, and he keeps refusing to tell us. Wouldn't that be a good thing to know, especially considering he's told Alecto and Dan several times now that what you are becoming or have become could lead to a fate worse than death?"

  "Wouldn't the same theory apply, Alicia? He can obviously shield his thoughts. It takes a lot more effort for us to. I'd rather not know, especially since it seems to be a maybe. Why learn some maybe then put us at greater risk? Can't you understand that? Your damnable curiosity could kill us all! You’re too much like the cat you change into, I swear." Frustration leaked into my tone.

  Anslem broke into a sobbing chuckle on my shoulder at that. Alicia only gave me a blank look. I sighed. Not enough people know the full quote and it wasn't worth telling her. She just use it to keep bugging me, whenever something attracted her interest. Sure, curiosity killed the cat. But supposedly satisfaction had brought it back. I intended to get my curiosity satisfied…eventually.

  Chapter 10

  We actually managed to have a restful night before we had to meet Alecto again. I was relieved to know that even if Anslem had hidden things from us, it wasn't to the detriment of us. It was to the benefit of us as a group. For our safety if nothing else. To say that was something of a relief would be understating things.

  To see that he had goals, and that they truly affected him, made him feel like more of a real person to me. In a lot of ways it was a tremendous relief. He was no longer someone trying to be a knight in shining armor for a maiden in distress. That it let me comfort him showed that he was as human as Alicia and I now seemed to be. I didn’t like the idea of having some sort of power or ability. My life was difficult enough already.

  The feeling of impending doom hanging over us at having to meet Alecto again had sapped our appetites. I ate my meal with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. It was just food to me. Alicia picked at hers, and when Anslem, whose appetite was completely unaffected by everything happening, asked for what was left, she slid it over to him.

  It was with growing trepidation that we walked down to Alecto's shop after breakfast. None of us had been silly enough to consider sitting down to breakfast with her, despite the offer. She had to be aware of how well-known her reputation as a poisoner was. There had actually been some relief in the face of Frederick when we asked for breakfast in the morning. Apparently he didn't want to have to deal with poisoned guests.

  As we walked down to the shop Anslem apologized that some of the conversation was still going to have to be held in that same language. There were some things about their suspicions that it was just safer for me and Alicia not to know. I’d learnt that was often the case in the Supe world. The more you knew, the more dangerous it was.

  I discovered that even if you know it's for your own safety, it doesn't relieve any of the frustration at not being able to understand two people talking about your fate. I persevered and did my best to hide my growing impatience with the situation. Out of curiosity, Dan asked for details of my children while we were waiting for Anslem and Alecto to hammer out a deal. He was being polite, giving me a distraction. I appreciated the gesture.

  Finally, he got down to what he actually wanted to say to me. "I never intended for your life or wellbeing to be at risk. I just wanted you to…suffer like I felt I was suffering.” A deep regret shadowed his words. "If breaking that original contract with Alecto would change anything, I'd do it in a split second. Apparently it's wrapped around the nature of whatever you are, making it unlikely to lift just because the original cause is broken.”

  “Alecto and I had a…discussion about the why she did what she did last night. I’m still not happy with it, but it was the only solution she saw. To be fair, I might have turned down the whole marriage to her thing if I'd known I only had six to twelve months to live. I probably would have tried a reconciliation with you. Not sure that it would have worked, but had I known…" He paused, then continued in an almost serene tone.

  "After we vented at each other last night, we got down to the horse trading. I’m still refusing to become a Fury, but…it’s complicated. She thinks the ‘new balance’ will help Furies be more acceptable in the world as a whole. Thinks it’s already manifesting in some of the youngest Furies in her line. In exchange, I think I convinced her to help you. I warn you now, she never does anything for free. There will be a price to pay, or a task to perform." I grimaced at the latter.

  Being an Ancient, Alecto was likely well off. It seemed unlikely that simple money would encourage the solution from her. That meant I was most likely to be given the task of some kind to complete. Considering everything, I had to assume it would be reasonably local, and not too time-consuming. I had a family to get back to look if I survived, after all.

  It made sense for her to lay down conditions on a number of fronts. By not just performing whatever solution, she wouldn't be displaying weakness that others felt they might be able to exploit. By giving me a task and not revealing the solution until after the task was complete, it made it look like she'd known all along. In this case it was obvious to me and my companions that she didn't—but to the wider world, well that was a completely different issue.

  Anslem interjected into the conversation. "I have made a deal with Alecto. We will gather an item from Europe that she needs. That way she doesn't risk exposing the changes that have occurred to her to one of her sisters. She’ll find a way to change the nature of the curse and its effects on you. It is the best we can do given the circumstances."

  My eyes flitted from Anslem to Alecto and back again. That was not a small trip. Especially considering the ways that the treaties complicated travel to other continents by Supes. Hell, sometimes even across national borders. Cautiously, with a mixture of fear and rage, I asked, "Where exactly?"

  "The backlands of Finland. You have to make it before the winter solstice," Alecto said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. "There is a certain temple that can only be found there on the solstice itself once every decade or so. This is the year, and you have roughly two months to get there. Of all the tasks I'd like achieved, this is both the safest for you and the one that mitigates harm to anyone else I might ask to do it." She said this in such a matter-of-fact tone, as if it was a fait accompli already. That, combined with my concern over my children, led me to snap.

  Before anyone else in the room could act I had already charged at her and slapped her sharply across the face. There was a resounding crack that echoed in my mind, and—from the looks of everyone else in the room—in theirs as well. "You expect me to spend months away from my children? You expect me to believe that this is the safest one for me? Sending me half a world away into God knows what! At least in Australia I'd have resources, some of my few friends, close at hand. Going into the middle of nowhere half a world away from any help! I don't even speak the fucking language!"

  Both Anslem and Alecto were frozen in terror. Waiting for a comet, or a sword of Damocles to drop. I felt some sort of force surrounding me. I drew in a deep breath, hoping that the damage hadn’t already been done. That this 'quest 'or another was still our offer. But I would deal with the consequences. I had after all, snapped because it was completely unexpected, and would take me so far away from my children. I was not taking them into the Finnish wilderness in midwinter. Apart from the fac
t that Atlanta wouldn't survive such conditions, I had no idea what it would do to Natalie. At times she seemed to be made of water itself. For all I knew she'd freeze solid.

  Dan intervened at this point. He'd gone from standing there with his mouth wide open in shock to having a thoughtful look on his face. He hadn't shown amounts of concern. That was interesting. I had to wonder why, so I risked a look at Alecto's face. She had a broad smile. It was as if my actions had convinced her that her decision had been the right one.

  It wasn't like I could actually hurt her after all. My hand still stung from the slap, but the red mark it had left on her face was already fading into nothingness. If I'd hit Alicia that hard, she would have had the handprint on her face for the better part of an hour, not barely a minute. Alecto truly was beyond any Supernatural I'd encountered.

  Dan cleared his throat and said, "Yes, you do have other responsibilities. Now is where you dicker with Alecto for a solution to your concerns. Not the first time is this when assistance for her tasks has been asked, nor will it be the last. So what are your biggest concerns? Voice them. We'll see if we can find a solution."

  I think I actually staggered back a step in shock. I leaned against one piece of furniture or another as my thoughts raced. What were my biggest concerns? And some would follow me. Anslem had sworn to follow me. But I needed to know if Alicia would continue to assist me. Turning to her and looking the question, she nodded her clear assent.

  Losing his most trusted diplomat might piss Andre off a little, but he was the one that insisted she come along in the first place. Besides, her status as a form of Were diplomat would surely mean it wouldn’t be that hard for us to get permission for her to travel in Europe. I'd travel as an apprentice Sorcerer. Practically a human, according to the treaties, so there would be no problems for me. Anslem was the biggest sticking point, he wouldn't want to travel as a Nephilim.

  But my eldest daughter, Kate, had been identified by Anslem not two days ago as more than just a Dryad, and already at risk. I needed some form of assurance that she wouldn't be left vulnerable while I was away. "Firstly, I have become aware of certain risks to one of my children. If I can't be there, I want you to arrange some form of protection for her."

  Alecto looked confused, as I'd only described Kate as a Dryad previously. Anslem interjected. "She's a Dryad with some form of wizardry or mage talent. Very rare. I've only encountered one other like her in my life."

  Alecto's eyes widened at that, although Dan just looked completely confused. She gave her grudging nod, then turned to Dan. "Any ideas? You're the one who keeps the schedule of who is available or not." Dan shuffled around to a ledger behind the counter of the desk.

  After flipping through the pages, and jotting down a few notes on some paper beside it, he muttered to himself, then nodded. "I'd suggest we send Elizabita. She finally broke the marriage contract with that arsehole Ivan. Given what she is like, she is probably still feeling a bit guilty about it. He went from a healthy twenty-five to a very sick mid-forties in weeks.

  “Helping others in possible danger might be the perfect remedy for it. It's something Ivan would never of let her do, and she is"—Dan paused, as if to find the right words—"a more gentle soul than most Furies. Also, she feels some guilt over the whole Isolde situation. Looking after some youngsters might be just what she needs."

  A look of concern must have flashed over my face and Dan waved off my worries with a hand and a simple statement. Looking at me, he said, “She's always preferred cursing on behalf of vengeful mothers. Making sure the vengeance is justified first, which is unusual in a Fury. I figured out why, though. She doesn't want to curse the wrong child. After all, everyone has a mother."

  My first concern resolved, I asked, “I know I'll be able to travel freely in Europe, but what will allow Anslem and Alicia to come with me as freely?"

  Alecto frowned at the question, then started rummaging down one of the aisles in the shop, one that had bookcases filled to overflowing. After about five minutes she came out with what could only be called a Tome. With the capital. It had to be around A3 paper in size, and was as thick as most men's thighs. "There is a copy of every treaty in here. If there's a way to give them ease of passage, it's in here. As an Ancient I've never really worried about it. People don't stop us travelling where we feel we need to be. You'll need these too," she said as she placed a pair of glasses on top of the book. "Give them both to Elizabita before you leave the country. She will find a way to get them to me safely."

  I honestly couldn't think of any other problems that I could see her aiding us with. "I think that's it," I said. Dan grimaced and pulled a knife. Formally, he said, "These two have agreed to a deal. A bargain. To be sealed in blood." Passing the knife across to Alecto he said "do you, Alecto, Fury, agree to find a way to mitigate the curse you placed on Sarah Goldsmith in exchange for a service done by her?"

  Alecto slashed her hand and answered, "I do, and will provide her family protection while she is doing said service."

  "Do you, Sarah Goldsmith, Sorceress, agree to perform a service for Alecto in exchange for remediation of the curse that has been placed on you?"

  What else could I do? He passed the knife across to me, and I sliced my hand with the unblooded side of the blade. "I do," I answered with a slight wince of pain from the cut.

  "Both sides have agreed to this arrangement. The deal is made. The map will be provided to the location of the item that is to be recovered." Dan finished. Shuffling through some files at the back of the desk, he eventually found an old manuscript with a map on it. He placed it with the book and the glasses. At least I now had a better idea of exactly where I was to go in this mad quest.

  Chapter 11

  I suppose some of you are wondering, ‘How can you trust the being that cursed you to actually keep the bargain?’

  That is simple, in many ways. Reputations matter to Furies. It’s part of their stock in trade. If I was dealing with an Imp, or Witches, I’d be more careful, gain more leverage or assurances. But for all that they do, the Furies are actually quite honorable. Like many Supes considered grey, they survive partially by having a code of conduct. Their word is their bond unless you cross them after it’s given.

  I also knew Dan took the safety of children seriously. He simply wouldn't have suggested someone to look after children, anyone's children, that he didn't believe would do their very best. And be good at looking after children.

  He went some distance away and got on the phone to Elizabita. After a quietly heated discussion which I couldn't hear, I heard the conversation finish up with a, "Thank you. They'll be around within an hour or so," from Dan. He walked over to us, wrote something down on a piece of paper, and handed it to me. It was an address. "She'll be ready by the time you're on the way out of town. She is also one of the Furies that is more comfortable in human society. She spent more time there than most, researching whether the curse she's been asked to place is deserved or not." There was a grin on his face as he finished explaining to me.

  There was a slightly thoughtful look on Alecto's face as well. I had absolutely no idea what it meant, but it made me nervous. I still felt I couldn't trust anything that made Alecto happy, but now had no choice. The deal was sealed. Anslem touched me on the shoulder and said, "Come now, we should pack and be on our way."

  I nodded, we said our goodbyes, and we headed back to the hostel.

  ***

  When we went to pick up Elizabita, we saw her standing out front. It was all I could do not to laugh when I saw what she was dressed as. Any governess in the 19th century would have been more than proud to wear the outfit we saw her in. For the modern day, it wasn't exactly what I'd call appropriate. Alicia wasn't nearly as controlled as I was. She was immobilized in her seat by paroxysms of laughter.

  I awkwardly exited the back cabin of the four wheel drive to introduce myself. "Hello. I'm Sarah Goldsmith. You would be Elizabita?" I asked politely, and with good cheer. It was, i
n fact, nearly impossible to keep the good cheer out of my voice. Her costume tickled my sense of the absurd.

  "Glad to meet you, Sarah," she responded formally. At this point, Alicia's laughter became more of a gasping guffaw. It truly did complete the image of Elizabita being completely out of place in this time. "Is your companion well, there? Sounds like she is having trouble breathing," the concern was obvious and so very human in her voice.

  After my dealings with Alecto, it shocked and surprised me. I must've gaped at her for a second, as she gave me a quizzical look. Shaking myself internally, I answered her honestly, "Your outfit is…somewhat out of place."

  "Oh!" She said in surprise. "I just assumed that this would be appropriate. This is what I wore last time I was asked to look after someone's children. I'll admit it's been a while, but from the occasional TV shows I've watched, it seems still in use." I sighed internally. Supes can sometimes misinterpret what they see on TV as modern fashion. In some ways, the Supes that didn't watch popular culture were more up-to-date. At least as long as they didn't live in restricted enclaves, or they travelled outside of them sometimes.

  I had to guess that Elizabita was at least four centuries old. There were certain tweaks to the outfit that indicated an older sense of style than in the Victorian era.

  "Perhaps I can help you find something that's more…appropriate for the current times? Seriously, that can't be comfortable." I was wincing as I noticed that the bodice was laced and fully boned. Probably tightened. I don't care if you're Supernatural in nature, that much pressure on your waist had to hurt, especially with the boning.

  She looked at me with a considering gaze. Then she slowly nodded. As we headed back into house she asked, confusion flooding her voice “Why is your friend laughing so hard?”

  I drew in a breath then said, slowly, “I think that it’s a combination of the stress of meeting Alecto, and the slight absurdity of your appearance in such archaic garb," I replied cautiously. A wry smile crossed her face, and a chuckle emanated from her lips. “Alicia is a Werepanther and they find even the concept of meeting cursegivers stressful.” Elizabita nodded in understanding.