“That is a problem. I believe Yvonne and Juliette plan to dispose of Summer and whoever of the Midnights who come to claim her. I expect it’s their way of starting this war once and for all,” Marcus explained. “The good news is we’ve probably got to morning before they kill them.”
“Why morning?” Myrtle asked.
“I imagine Yvonne will want to be involved, and as of late her health has not been the best. Juliette will most likely let her sleep until morning. She figures she’s got control of the situation—there’s no harm in waiting at this point.”
“And what of the dragon?” Hunter asked “And the egg?”
“What about them?”
“Will they be killed too.”
“I doubt it. They’ll hold the egg over the poor thing until they get what they want.”
“And then?” Hunter asked.
“I’ve no idea what plans Yvonne has for them. I’m not privy to much information since I married Violet.”
“Can you help us free her and find the egg?” Hunter implored.
It was obvious Marcus was getting irritated. “Shouldn’t we be worrying about how to get Summer and Mr. Pierce’s friend free first, Mr. Pitman?”
“Of course,” Hunter said a little ashamed.
“I think what Hunter is getting at is they are probably holding Summer and the other in the same room as the dragon. If we go in there guns blazing, so to speak, we’ll not only have to deal with Yvonne and Juliette, but the dragon their controlling,” Morti said.
Marcus turned nodding acknowledgement to Morti’s statement. “I see. Yes. I suppose that is something to take into consideration. Any thought’s on how we might proceed successfully?”
Nick blurted, “A distraction.”
Marcus nodded, “Yes, but what?”
“You,” Myrtle said from behind him.
“Me? I don’t follow,” Marcus asked.
“Last I spoke with Summer she said you and Autumn had moved out.”
“Yes. Juliette attacked Summer and I won’t have that, not while I live and breath,” Marcus proclaimed.
“So if you go to the house, starting a fight about rumors you’ve heard of Summer’s abduction…”
“Aw. I see. Yes. While we are arguing, the others can attempt to free the prisoners.”
“There’s a hitch in that plan,” Hunter interrupted. They all turned to him.
“As far as I can tell there’s no way to get into that room unless you’re in the house,” Hunter said.
Marcus nodded. “Yes, that is a problem.”
“True, but the side door is just down the hall from the room that connects to the stairs to the pit,” Autumn noted.
“Yes, but you know how they favor that room for sitting. They would most likely be in that room when we arrived. How would we get them out of there and out of sight of the door leading to the stairs?”
“I know. I’ll bump into that God awful vase Yvonne loves so much when we arrive. That will get her knickers in a knot and running to see what broke.”
“Sometimes you can be quite evil, Autumn, but it would definitely work. Yvonne loves that thing. It would definitely get her out of the room,” Marcus said smiling.
“Right and you start arguing with her while I go to the kitchen to get a broom and dustpan, unlocking the door and removing any magic wards that they may have put on it. Then you guys,” Autumn point to Hunter and the rest, “swoop in and rescue the prisoners.”
“Hmm, but how would they get past the locks on the door at the bottom and top of the stairs and once they’re in, they still have to deal with a dragon. Myrtle might be able to deal with the locks but I don’t think she’s strong enough take on a dragon.”
“I’ve taken on dragons before,” she said winking at Hunter.
“Not one this old, Myrtle, besides I’d rather see you out of harm. I can take care of the dragon, though the room will be destroyed when I’m done.”
“Why? What do you plan on doing?” Marcus asked with concern and confusion.
“I plan on taking the roof off and flying us all out of there,” Hunter said with a smile.
Marcus was still confused until Morti said, “He’s a flippin’ dragon, that’s how.”
“Ah. Well that will come in handy. Your magic should be able to disable the locks on the doors, but not the shackles on the dragon and she won’t leave without her offspring,” Marcus said.
“That’s been our dilemma all along. We know what room the egg is in but we don’t know where.”
Again Marcus looked puzzled. “Tori here was able to scry for the egg and found it to be in the eastern corner bedroom.”
“Oh. Gypsy magic—very nice,” Autumn complimented Tori who smiled from ear to ear holding on to Nick’s arm.
“That would be Yvonne’s room. I haven’t been in there in years. When the house was rebuilt after the fire, she had a lot of work done in that room. I can only imagine she’s got it like an armory in there.”
“That’s where maybe I can help,” a angelic voice said from the entrance to the room. Daniel was in all his glory, black feathered wings spread for all to see before refolding behind him and disappearing.”
“Daniel,” Autumn said.
Myrtle and Morti were surprise that someone other than themselves recognized the fallen angel pledged to watch over Summer by Ivy and Henry so long ago.
“Daniel you can’t be involved,” Myrtle warned him.
“I can and I WILL. I’ve spent eons wandering this earth trying to find redemption from God for the sins of my past as have my brothers. The difference is they’ve all accepted that no matter how good and honorable we are, we will never be allowed back in the arms of our father. I’ve been paying a debt that will never be complete.
“Summer has shown me what love is and what life can be like. I want that. I refuse to stand in the shadows and watch her be hurt over and over again just to appease a promise I made to my father ages ago. He forgives humans for more wretched thing than I could even imagine, yet he won’t pardon his angels their past sins. No more, I say, sweet Myrtle. No more.
“I will obtain the egg and deliver it to you when you reach the dragon. It is the least I can do to be apart of the rescue of the woman who’s taught me so much and shown everyone around her so much love. This is the right thing to do.”
Myrtle was in awe of Daniel’s overture of devotion to Summer, and for once Morti hadn’t a grumble or nasty thing to say. Nick broke the ice, by saying, “Okay, then. Let’s go get them.”
The group agreed and split into different directions until the room stood completely empty.
Chapter 26
“Are you ready?” Marcus whispered to Autumn taking a deep breath himself.
“For Operation Sister Rescue, you bet,” she said standing beside him before the door of the Macabre mansion.
He put his hand on the door knob opening it and said, “Here we go.” Setting a scowl on his face he pushed the door open and stomped in to the foyer bellowing for Juliette and Yvonne. Autumn positioned herself next to the vase she intended on destroying with one little shove. Something that gave her great pleasure to be elected to do.
Juliette could be heard making her way from the sitting room as they waited. Marcus played his role of the infuriated father with pacing excessively.
“You’ll wake the dead, Marcus. Yvonne is in bed, as you well know at this hour, what is this ruckus about?”
“Ruckus? You call abducting my daughter ruckus?” he retaliated.
“Oh, Marcus. You’re overreacting. I didn’t abduct her. She came to me,” she said as coolly as a minx.
“I suppose she chained herself in the pit too.”
Juliette chuckled a little, “Why no, though that would have been a welcome treat. No, I’m sorry to say, I had a hand in that.”
“So you admit you have her?”
“I do.”
“And what is your intention?”
“My plan, if you m
ust know, is what the family’s plan was all along, get rid of her.”
“Get rid of her?” Autumn interjected appalled.
“Yes, you know, eliminate, dispose of, execute, or my favorite, slay.”
“You’re sick,” Autumn said.
Marcus could barely speak at the reality of it all laying before him. “You can’t.”
“Oh, I can and I will. It’s been the plan all along, you were just to weak to grasp a hold of it and make it your own.”
That’s when Autumn raked her hand across the table starting the chain reaction of the antique vase hitting the floor. CRASH. It hit the floor and split into a billion multi-colored shards.
“You stupid girl,” Juliette exclaimed. Footsteps could be heard from above them. They knew Yvonne was on her way down.
“Are you going to have me killed too, Aunt Juliette?” Autumn asked.
“If only,” Juliette responded. “I would have disposed of you long ago if we didn’t need you to ensure the Midnight powers stay in our bloodline.”
“How very motherly of you,” Autumn said pointedly.
“What was that crash? What’s happened? That wasn’t my vase that hit the floor was it?”
“I’m afraid it was, Yvonne. Autumn has carelessly destroyed it.”
“Maybe I did it on purpose,” Autumn said glaring at Juliette.
Yvonne made it to the bottom of the stairs accessing the damage before continuing. “Autumn, clean up the mess you’ve made, Marcus, what is all this yelling about,” Yvonne proclaimed.
“Summer has gone missing and I came here to get her, knowing full well you two have her.”
“I have no idea what your are talking about,” Yvonne admitted, “If I had her, she’d be dead already.”
Juliette cackled at Yvonne’s bluntness. “I was actually saving her for you, Yvonne. Like I was telling Marcus here. I didn’t abduct her, she came to me. The fact that I threatened her little friend’s life, may have contributed to that.”
“Oh goody,” Yvonne said with a smile. “Finally we’ll be rid of the little nuisance once and for all.”
“Is that all she is to you? She’s your blood, Yvonne. Just like I am, just like Autumn,” Marcus said.
“She’s a threat. She’s the first born. Her powers will grow to be more than any of us have.”
“But we’re twins,” Autumn said coming into the room after getting the broom and dustpan—oh yeah! And letting the rescuers in unbeknownst to these horrible women, Autumn, thought to herself.
Yvonne said with great annoyance, “Yes, but the first child born is always the most powerful. Make sure you get all the pieces.” Autumn rolled her eyes.
“I’m not just going to stand back and let you kill my daughter,” Marcus said.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Marcus. Of course, you are,” Yvonne said matter-of-factly while Juliette smiled.
“Shall we do it now, or partake in a celebratory drink?” Juliette asked.
* * *
With the help of Autumn, Morti, who shed his feline body for a more appropriate portly wizard form, Hunter, and Myrtle made their way down the hall to the sitting room. Tori and Nick were on look out duty, one at the front of the house and one at the back door. As invaders peered towards the front door they could hear the argument going on amongst the Macabres in the foyer. The door they needed to open was a straight line of sight through three rooms right to the where they stood. Luckily Marcus had them positioned where he was looking at the intruders and Juliette’s back was to them and Yvonne was not visible. Between Myrtle and Hunter they had the door unlocked and were all headed down the staircase to the pit when the door clicked latch clicked loudly.
“What was that?” Juliette started to turn her head, when Autumn had the forethought to stand up and bump the table toppling a large arrangement of seasonal flowers spilling water everywhere and making an even louder sound than that of the door. This was enough of a distraction for the rescuers to go un-noticed down the stairs to the next door.
The sound proofing leading to the dungeon must have been extensive for once the door above had been closed the rantings of upstairs were completely inaudible. Hunter wondered if that was to keep the screams of torture or growls of an angry dragon from disturbing the Macabre women from their morning tea.
The lock here proved to be a bit more difficult than the other. Though he was banned from using magic, Morti stepped up and threw his best magic at it opening the door easily. He got a reprimanding look from his sister, but Hunter was sure when all this was done, Morti might actually be able to appeal the BROOM’s ruling due to incriminating evidence against the Macabres in his sentence. Wouldn’t that be something, to see old Morti in this form for the rest of his natural life, Hunter thought.
The rescuers crept into the pit finding Jackson and Summer chained to the wall. “Aunt Myrtle, Hunter,” Summer whispered “…and Morti?”
“Yes, child we’ve come to rescue you,” Myrtle answered as the others freed her and Jackson.
“But how?”
“Nick and Tori,” Aunt Myrtle said.
“Nick’s here?”
“Yes, son. He’s on lookout upstairs.”
“But how did you get in?”
“Autumn let us in the back door, while Marcus is distracting Yvonne and Juliette,” Hunter said as he peered around the darkness in search of the dragon.
“Hunter, she’s not crazed. She seems coherent. Just go slow, she’s a bit jumpy,” Summer said. Hunter nodded acknowledgement but ventured on into the darkness of the room and completely out of sight. Jackson rubbed his wrists at their release.
“How are we going to get out of here?”
“We’re kind of playing that one by the seat of our pants,” Morti said making everyone turn to look at him. It was strange to see a man speaking to them with that same voice when they’d always known it as coming from a cat, Summer thought.
Chains rattled from the inky blackness of the room. Summer could only imagine Hunter had freed the dragon from her fetters. A familiar sound of her wings stretching and causing wind to rush past them was heard. She came into the light for them all to see the enormity of her and that’s when they noted the blue-green dragon emerge from the darkness showing all his glory. How the two giant creatures could be obscured by the shadows was unfathomable and only reminded them just how big the pit really was. The two dragons paced passing one another and seeming to be oblivious of the tiny humans keeping close to the walls and the light and out of the dragons way. The red-black dragon screeched long and loud in some kind of response to Hunter’s presence.
“Crap, do you think they heard that?” Morti said.
The rattle of the door handle answered his question.
* * *
Summer could only imagine the rage and surprise that Juliette and Yvonne must have been feeling when they found so many intruders in their dungeon, but the looks on their faces and the predatory stances they took afterwards revealed much of it.
Summer, Morti, Jackson, and Myrtle stood before Yvonne and Juliette. Marcus moved in between the two groups blocking any magical blows his family might take to kill his daughter, as Autumn quickly took her sisters hand and held fast against the two deadly matriarchs of the Macabre family.
“I have no problem going through you, Marcus,” Juliette smiled.
“Then do so, for through my dead body is the only way you’ll kill either of my girls,” he said defiantly.
“You don’t think we will, do you?” Yvonne chortled. “We’ve killed before. It’s no different.”
“Except that I’m family.”
“Yes. A disappointing failure of the Macabre masculinity. You’ve always been the weak one, Marcus. It still amazes me how truly different identical twins brothers can be so different. One brave and strong, the other weak and impotent. Too bad it wasn’t you instead of Rene that died,” Juliette said. Yvonne smirked at Juliette’s remark.
“She’s right, you know. I’m
sorry to say, Marcus, that though you were able to prevail in achieving our goal in converging our bloodlines with the Midnight’s to acquire their power, you failed miserably at just about everything else,” Yvonne relayed.
Juliette continued, “It became clear you would never off your wife of convenience for the greater good of the family so the task became mine.”
“What? You killed Violet? But I thought it was an accident during the fire,” Marcus uttered in dismay.
“Poor addled boy, that’s what I wanted you to believe and your sister came through with flying colors,” Yvonne said.
“You’re despicable,” Marcus said as if the very words tasted bad. Morti nodded in acknowledgment.
“Could be, but I’d rather be despicable and powerful than whatever you are Marcus,” Yvonne boasted.
“No doubt,” Morti interjected.
“Poor Mortimer. Still angry I never returned your love? Such a waste of a man, all that amazing magic but so easily manipulated. My little puppet on a string. So easily strung along to do my bidding, with none of the repercussions of deeds. Such good times,” Yvonne gloated.
“Finally we can rid our family of the Midnights once and for all,” Yvonne said, waving her hand towards the darkness of the pit. “Oh, dragon…I’d like you to crispy fry these intruders.”
The red dragon moved nearer into the light showing herself to the woman who commanded her.
“What about Autumn? Didn’t you train her all these years to acquire the Midnight power for future Macabres? You’re just going to let her die?” Summer asked.
“It’s true, we did have hopes for her, but without the Midnights, Juliette and I will just find some other magic to acquire from some ignorant unknowing witch. “Dragon, get with it,” Yvonne demanded.
Suddenly Hunter appeared next to the red-black dragon.
“Oh, good. Another dragon. I was thinking this was going to be so boring. No magic. Just B-B-Q,” Juliette said. “Now we can kill the Midnights with our own magic and let the dragons duel it out. Kill the dragon,” she commanded their dragon.
The red-black dragon turned from the people in the pit to Hunter and screeched loudly as the Macabres armed themselves with fireballs.
Autumn Calling Page 21
