Autumn Calling

by T. Lynne Tolles

  “Well, I’ve tried several times to talk to Aunt Myrtle about the necklace I found in the box.”

  “I’ve already told you too much about that. I had assumed your Ms. Midnight had informed you of your twin, but when I saw your face and realized she hadn’t, I knew I had overstepped my bounds.”

  “Yes, I know you feel you have, but there’s more to it than that.”

  “Oh?”

  “As you know, Aunt Myrtle has times when she is lucid and as normal as anyone else, but whenever the subject of Grandma Ivy or my sister comes up, she falls into some kind of incoherent babbling or outburst.”

  “Then maybe you should talk to Mortimer. He should be able to give you the information you need.”

  “Have you met the man? He is not very pleasant. He barely has the patience to converse with me long enough to try and learn some new spell or incantation, let alone speak of something personal, especially of a time when he was not imprisoned in a cat’s body for heinous magical crimes I still don’t understand.”

  “I see.”

  “I think it’s clear to see there is no one else who can tell me what happened to my family. I only have bits and pieces, and it seems that if I have to go to war with my own family, I should know how this all came to be and why I have a sister I’ve never met.”

  “I suppose that does change things a bit.”

  “I think so. So will you tell me what happened?”

  “Where is it you would like me to start?”

  “How about with the birth of my sister and me.”

  “You were born first, by two minutes, ten seconds. Your given names are Eliane, you, and Lunette Macabre. Toward the end of the pregnancy, your mother found it harder and harder to see what it was she saw in your father that made her fall in love. She wondered, as her father Henry had suggested when they were scheduled to be married, that a spell may have been used. He fought very hard to keep them from being married, but he fell ill days before the wedding and died the day before.

  “Ivy suspected his death was not from natural causes and was quite sure the Macabres had been behind it. The wedding went on as planned and within three months of marrying, your mother Violet found herself with child. Though Ivy was thrilled to find out she was going to be a grandmother, she couldn’t help but wonder if this had been the Macabres’ way of acquiring the Midnights’ powers in fusing the genes of the families together in a child.

  “After a couple of doctor’s visits, it was announced they were not having one child, but two: twin girls. With frequent visits to the Macabre mansion, Ivy found her daughter to be more and more distrusting of her new husband, Marcus. So much so that when she was nearly ready to deliver, she asked her mother to help her concoct a plan to help her get herself and the girls, once they were born, out from under the thumb of Marcus, and the rest of the Macabre mob under the rule of Jaqueline, the matriarch.

  “With the help of Myrtle, they devised a plan that went terribly wrong.”

  “How?”

  “Jaqueline must have suspected something was up. She instructed the family to never leave Violet alone with her mother. Once you girls arrived, Myrtle showed up hoping to distract the Macabres with her surprise visit and Ivy took the brunt of the magical assault that followed.

  “On Ivy’s death bed she called for me to come to her side and asked me to watch over you.”

  “Why just me and not Lunette?”

  “Because Ivy had a ‘plan B’ in place if the first had failed. She knew the first born, even if only a few seconds, would receive more magical powers than the sibling. Plan B was this: if they couldn’t get you girls and Violet out safely, then the first born must be taken, for having the both of you would be catastrophic to anyone who wields magic. For the Macabres crave power; they always have. And with you girls on their side with the more powerful Midnight magic within you, they would use you both to strip the world of its magic to boost their own.”

  “That’s awful.”

  “It is and it was. The war that ensued between the Midnights and Macabres that night is written in the magical journals as one of the most powerful and horrific displays ever recorded. In the end, there were many deaths on both sides. All the Macabres died that night except Yvonne, Marcus and his sister Juliette.

  “On the side of the Midnights, Ivy and Violet lost their lives, and though Myrtle got you out and hidden, she didn’t escape their damage. Her fits, as you call them, started shortly after, as did the decline of her powers. It was a sad day for magic, but Myrtle saw to it that you were well cared for. She recruited Ivy’s best friend’s daughter to join the order and watch over you at Holy Cross.”

  “Where was Morti in all this? He’s a Midnight. Why didn’t he fight for his sisters and their families?”

  “He couldn’t. The BROOM wouldn’t allow it. His punishment for his crimes forbids him from using magic and forces him to live out his life as a familiar. Though I will say, it is believed that he had a hand in Rene Midnight’s death when Violet’s father ‘mysteriously’ became ill. Rene was suspected of having a hand in his ailment, and just as mystifying as Henry’s sickness was, Rene inexplicably fell to his death the day after Henry passed.”

  “The BROOM never charged Morti for that crime did they?”

  “I think given the circumstances, the BROOM turned a blind eye to the ordeal.”

  “What circumstances?”

  “It was the Macabres who reported Morti’s crimes even though it was found they had a hand in the crimes themselves. Morti did what he did out of love for Yvonne Macabre, Marcus’s great-aunt. She played him and strung him along as long as it benefitted the Macabres, and as soon as Morti was no longer needed they reported him as being the sole perpetrator.”

  “I suppose the does explain why he’s such a grumpy old coot most of the time.”

  “What’s a coot?” Daniel asked.

  “Um…an eccentric old guy?”

  “Ah, yes. That would most assuredly describe Morti.”

  “So are there any ‘watchers’ like you watching out for Lunette?”

  “Not that I know of. Why?”

  “I don’t know. I just seems like she got the short end of the stick when it comes to the Midnights.”

  “Maybe, but remember, there’s only Myrtle who isn’t always coherent, and Morti who can’t use magic or be anything but a cat.”

  “I guess. I just feel kind of bad for her, having been raised by such awful people, and all without a mother to at least commiserate with.”

  “You didn’t have a mother and you turned out okay.”

  “Yes, but I had Sister Mary Louise, the other sisters and Tori…and you, of course, looking out for me,” she said with a smile.

  “True, but Lunette has her father and her aunt. I’m sure her life hasn’t been too horrible.”

  “Maybe. I wonder though. If Marcus only married Violet in an attempt to blend the two families’ magic, how good of a father could he possibly be?”

  “I couldn’t say, but I imagine any father who loves his child would not bring harm to her.”

  “I hope so, for Lunette’s sake.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about Lunette or think of her as your sister. Having been raised by the Macabres, she’s being trained to either bring you to their side or kill you. Either way, she’s not your friend.”

  “Really? So you think she knows we’re sisters? That despite being siblings, they’re coaching her to annihilate the Midnights even if she is part Midnight?”

  “Yes. You wouldn’t be in training yourself, if it weren’t so.”

  “It’s just such a sad state of affairs—all this fighting and death for what? Magic? Until recently, I didn’t even know magic existed, and I survived just fine.”

  “Humans have killed for a lot less, Summer.”

  “I just wish we could all get along. We have so little family left on either side.”

  “Some humans are raised with one agenda. For the Macabres, it’s to
attain more magic at any cost. They can’t see past that plan or see the big picture of life around them. Once something is ingrained in you to that degree, it’s very hard for you to change that path, even if you would like to. The Macabres have been on this path for several generations. The roots of this greed is deep seated and not easily cast off. Some might say even impossible.”

  “I’m not saying it would be easy or even achievable. I’m just saying it would be nice to have this all turn out differently than it seems to be heading.”

  “I agree. It would be lovely to see things work out less grim.”

  “Thank you, Daniel, for filling me in on the details. I know it goes against what you would normally do. I just want you to know I appreciate you doing so.”

  “I’m glad I could help.”

  “I’m starving. Do you want to get something to eat?”

  “That would be interesting.”

  “Interesting how?”

  “Well, angels don’t have to eat, so I’ve only done it once in a while to be sociable.”

  “Then you definitely have to try pizza and beer.”

  “Do I?”

  “Yes, you do, if you want to hang with me.”

  “Well, then, I guess we best be going right away.”

  “Yes, we should. I’ll drive, since I doubt you’ve ever done that.”

  “Nope, but those motorcycles look like a lot of fun.”

  “Oh, there will be no crotch rockets for you, mister, if you want to be around me.”

  “Crotch rocket?” he said, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

  “That’s right. You heard me. I’m sure it’s exhilarating and fabulous, but the way I see young men riding those things, it makes me think they have a death wish or they want to be an organ donor. At least a car gives you a buffer between you and the asphalt as well as airbags and seatbelts.”

  “Don’t forget the carpet used as fur on your car.”

  She grabbed her keys and gave him a look that made him chuckle at her.

  “I see humor is now on your repertoire.”

  “You do drive a car that looks like a giant dog.”

  “Have you been talking with Tori? If so, cut it out,” she said closing the door behind them as they made their way to the gate.

  “No, but I have heard enough conversations between the two of you to know she really doesn’t like to be seen in it.”

  “Very true, but when push comes to shove, it’s a free car.”

  “That it is.”

  Chapter 6

  The following day was business as usual. Tori came to the house in the morning and they headed to the other side of the property where Morti set up for their lessons. Seeing as they were a little early, they moseyed in that direction and sat on the garden bench watching Sully chasing dragonflies and other flying insects.

  “I’ve been doing some research on my parents, and it does seem they may be related to the Romani Kale in Wales. Cool, huh?!”

  “Very,” Summer agreed.

  “Course, it would have been much easier to find out this stuff if my parents had survived. Think of all the cool stuff they had and did.”

  “But if you had known them, we wouldn’t have been besties. Not that I don’t wish you had a chance to know them.”

  “I know. Somehow I think we still would have met and been friends even if I had them around.”

  “I bet you’re right. Friendships like ours are written in the stars, or wherever it is they write that kind of stuff.”

  “Exactly,” Tori said with a giggle.

  “How’s the house hunting going?”

  “Pretty good, I think. The guy that’s selling the Mausoleum to Nick owns a really cute bungalow that he’s thinking of renting until he and his wife decide whether this is a permanent move or a temporary one.”

  “Have you seen the house?”

  “Yes. It’s adorable. Two bedrooms, one bath, great big kitchen, nice sized living room with a fireplace, lots of windows, and a really nicely landscaped front and backyard.”

  “That’s great. Are you excited?”

  “I am. Not looking forward to packing, but the end result will be worth it.”

  “I’m so happy for you. Nick seems to be pretty excited too, when he’s not giving me the sulky face he’s been frequenting around me. I don’t even think he knows he does that. We’ve had conversations about it and he seems to be oblivious to it. Speaking of Nick and his defensiveness over Jackson, have you heard from him?”

  “Not even a peep.”

  “That’s so weird. Nick makes it seem like he talks to him all the time. If he’s talking to Nick why wouldn’t he be calling you?”

  “I haven’t a clue, but thankfully, I’ve been a little distracted myself.”

  “Oh?”

  “You can’t tell Nick though.”

  “My lips are sealed.”

  “Daniel’s been coming around.”

  “Oh! Mister hottie dark angel?”

  “Yes, and he’s changed.”

  “Really? How and why would you want him to?” Tori joked.

  “He seems to have been learning the art of human conversation. He actually used humor and sarcasm.”

  “Say it isn’t so!” Tori said, imitating an overacting Southern damsel.

  “It is and we actually even kind of had a date.”

  “Wow, really?”

  “Yes, and the night we heard about Sister Mary Louise’s death he stayed with me all night. He just laid beside me and held me. It was so wonderful. I felt so safe and wanted.”

  “That’s so sweet. I worried about you, you know. I had Nick that night and you didn’t have anyone, but I just didn’t have the strength to check in on you.”

  “I know. I felt the same, but I knew Nick would take care of you. It really was nice to have someone worrying about me and wanting to comfort me in my sadness. I’m not sure how I would have handled it if he hadn’t been there.”

  “So do you think there’s something between the two of you?”

  “I think he made a huge effort to learn about humans and human emotions in the last few months. If nothing else, it says to me he would like to get to know me better.”

  “What about Jackson?”

  “I don’t know. I mean, things can’t continue the way they are. If he’s communicating with Nick and couldn’t even find time to offer his sympathies over the sister, then I don’t think there’s really anything there to begin with.”

  “I’ve got to admit, I’d be pissed if Nick did that to me. I mean, if he’d been making an effort, it would be one thing, but he doesn’t seem to be doing that much to show you he’s still in this relationship.”

  “That’s pretty much how I feel.”

  “And Daniel? How do you feel about him?”

  “You know I adored him before when he spoke like an emotionless twit.”

  Tori burst out laughing. “You did have a pretty good crush on him for a while. My only concern is that he doesn’t disappear again.”

  “I think about that too. But according to Daniel, he was always here; he was just waiting for me to call for him. I hadn’t realized I could do that, so maybe I’m the twit after all.”

  Tori laughed again, but this time Summer had a good laugh too. “I’m glad. It’s about time you have a little affection in your life. I’m tired of feeling guilty every time Nick plants one on me in front of you.”

  “Thanks for worrying, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m thrilled to see you so happy. When do you think you will be moving?”

  “Three weeks or so. It depends when the paperwork goes through on the Mausoleum.”

  “I think it’s cool how Nick’s buying the place. He seems pretty jazzed about it.”

  “He is, though I wish he had more of an eight to five type job. But it seems to suit him, and I think it’s a way better idea than that hair-brained scheme he and Jackson came up with for them buying a van and working as a traveling blood bank. Guys can be so weir
d sometimes.”

  “You said it.”

  “Has Ms. Midnight gotten out of her funk yet?”

  “She seems to be coming around. As long as I avoid the subject of my parents and my evil twin.”

  “Evil twin?”

  “Well that’s how the Midnight’s seem to describer her. As far as I can tell we’re just fraternal twins. Oh, I forgot to tell you! Daniel told me what happened to my mother, grandmother, and Aunt Myrtle.”

  “I thought he refused to tell you about that—some angel hogwash.”

  “He did, but I told him every time I brought up the subject with Aunt Myrtle, she’d go loopy on me, and Morti isn’t the most pleasant to have a conversation with.”

  “You’re telling me.”

  “So, with my options limited, I asked him if he would tell me, and he did.”

  “Wow, he has changed.”

  “I know, right? Speaking of Morti, we better head over or he’ll be all in a tizzy about us being late.”

  “No kidding,” Tori agreed and looked at her watch.

  * * *

  After lessons ended and Tori left, Summer worked on pulling weeds from the garden. The little bit of rain the night before made the task easy. The soil was rich with organic matter and petrichor. For those who love the dirt and all of Mother Nature’s wonders, there is no better smell. Summer breathed in the aroma and savored it. The rain made nature’s rototillers, worms, come closer to the surface to partake in its life-giving bounty.

  She made good progress, not realizing how long she’d been pulling weeds and loosening the earth around the base of the thankful herbs. The sky faded to the glorious pinks, purples, and oranges of sunset. Sully lay on his back, legs limp and napping in the coolness of the early evening as Summer gathered the weed pile and her tools to call it a day.

  After depositing the weeds in the trash and the tools back in the shed, she washed her hands of the hardened earth under the garden hose. She heard the crack of a branch. She turned with a jerk in the direction of the snap and saw the man she’d seen a few days ago, who she assumed Sully had run off.

  “Hey,” she shouted at the trespasser. “This is private property.”

  The man scurried in surprised panic at the sight of her.