Dark Moon Falls: Abel

by Bella Roccaforte

  Anabelle put her hand on her heart, “You’re saying that Abel is the necromancer?”

  Phaedra tilted her head in sadness before answering, “Yes.”

  Ayry held herself together as long as she could. She looked at Anabelle and said, “Can you get him dressed please?”

  “Hey buddy, it’s time to get into your morning clothes. Auntie Anabelle is going to help you. Don’t forget to brush your teeth.”

  “Okay Mommy.” He pressed a kiss on his thumb and put it on her cheek. “Love you.”

  “Love you too little man.”

  As soon as Maynard was out of the room Ayry made a beeline for the porch. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. She put her hands on her knees and bent over.

  “You’re going to be okay.” Phaedra tried to put her at ease.

  “How is any of this going to be okay.” She stood up straight. “There is no happy ending in any of this. Either Abel kills my son or Maynard kills his father. None of this is going to be okay.”

  “It’s going to be up to you to figure this out. How are you going to maintain the balance? There will be sacrifices, but I trust that you have enough of your father in you to do the right thing.” Phaedra walked down the steps to the porch. “That’s a powerful little magus you have in there. That was a big spell for a little boy, keeping everyone inside the house. Develop him, guide him. He’ll know what to do when the time is right.”

  Ayry sat in the rocking chair with her head in her hands. She was unsure of what her next move should be. “Run.” She exhaled and thought to herself that she needed to leave now.

  “Ayry?” Abel called from the bottom of the steps.

  Ayry shot up out of her chair. “You get the hell away from me and my son!” Ayry demanded, holding up her hands with energy ready to fly.

  “Whoa, what’s going on?” Abel held his hands up in surrender.

  “You’re not going to kill my son,” Ayry said hysterically

  “I would never hurt Maynard.” Abel’s expression twisted with confusion. “Ayry, I may have left, but I left for you. I didn’t know about Maynard or I never would’ve left, I would’ve tried to find you. We would’ve figured something else out.”

  “But now that you know about him, you’re going to kill him.” Her hands were still raised in the air as warning.

  “Where are you getting this? I would never hurt him.”

  “Where were you all night?” she demanded.

  “I was ambushed by those anathema things.” He rubbed the back of his head. “I came here as soon as I came to. I want to protect Maynard, not hurt him.”

  “I know what you are Abel. I know you’re the necromancer.” Her eyes were full of fear and mania.

  “What are you talking about. I’m not the necromancer.”

  “Just go. Get out of here. I’m not letting you anywhere near him.”

  Abel exhaled, “What do I have to do to prove to you that I would never hurt Maynard?”

  “Die.” Ayry spun on her heal and went into the house.

  Chapter 11

  Abel got on his motorcycle and rode straight to the Phaedra’s house, arriving at the same time as she had. “What the hell was that?”

  “I did what I had to do.” Phaedra pinned him with a look. “There’s a lot more here than any of us anticipated.”

  “But you know I’m not a necromancer,” he insisted.

  “I don’t care. What I do know that is that there is a necromancer here, in Dark Moon Falls and the only true defense we have against him is a five-year-old child. I’m going to do what I can to smoke him out. If we know who he is, maybe we’ll have a chance. If he thinks we’re under the impression that you’re the necromancer he might make a mistake.” Phaedra was unapologetic.

  “But this is my son’s life you’re playing with.”

  “There’s a lot more at stake here than just one boy. We’re talking about our entire way of life.” Phaedra pushed past him to the sanctuary.

  Abel followed her inside. “What is your plan if we do smoke him out. Who kills him?”

  Phaedra froze in place. The words felt rotten on her tongue. “The boy.”

  “No, absolutely not,” Abel insisted.

  “Then you kill him.” She shrugged. “And then we kill you and the cycle never ends. Maynard has to be the one to do it. He’s the only one that can balance the power. Ayry’s not strong enough. I’m not even sure she’s full magus.”

  “There’s got to be another way.” Abel paced and blew out a ragged breath. “You’ve got to tell Ayry the truth. We have to work together on this.”

  “I’m not telling anyone anything. This has to play out on its own. Figure it out Abel. You’re a smart witch or wolf. Go fetch your answer.” She closed the door to her office on his face.

  Abel gritted his teeth and paced outside the sanctuary. She’s never going to believe me now. He thought of what his next move was going to be. How was he going to convince Ayry that he would never hurt Maynard while keeping her father’s secret?

  “There’s just no way.” Abel got on his motorcycle without any direction in mind. There were two people that knew he didn’t kill Saul. One of them was dead and the other was a mystery person that scurried away in the darkness.

  He turned down Falls Church Road toward Amon’s house. Maybe he could find something there.

  The police tape was still shredded from when Ayry came in. He turned on the lamp and looked around the room. Amon had always been so tidy. He was surprised by the mess. Books and papers were everywhere. He picked up a few and the pages were old and worn but there weren’t any words. They were blank. He snapped the book closed.

  “Amon, help me out here. There shouldn’t be another necromancer, but there is,” Abel said out loud as though Amon could hear him.

  He sat in Amon’s chair and surveyed everything from Amon’s point of view.

  “That’s it. He wouldn’t put something in his point of view. He’d put it in mine.” Abel stood up from the chair and went to where he would sit when he visited. He grabbed onto the arms of the chair and passively looked around the room.

  He carefully looked in every nook and cranny in the room that he could see from the chair. He stood up and checked the drawers, the shelves, everywhere that there could be something that would help him.

  He sat back in the chair exasperated and threw his head back. “Come on Amon, there’s got to be something.”

  He looked at the ceiling and noticed a black handprint. “What the hell?”

  He stood on the chair and reached up and ran his hands along the ceiling until he felt a tiny groove. He worked his fingers in until a rectangle the size of a shoe box slid out of the ceiling and crashed on the floor. “Shit.”

  Abel scrambled down and picked up the contents of the box. Photographs of Amon and Saul together with children playing in the background at a picnic.

  A picture of Amon, Alizabelle, Saul, and a woman, presumably Stasia’s mother. Abel tried to recall if he knew what happened to her mother. He’d never seen or met her. He looked closely at the picture and was able to see Anabelle, she was around six years old.

  Alizabelle and the woman were in a picture together with their arms around each other. In another photo from the same day Amon was holding an infant. Abel knew it was Ayry. There was a slip of paper at the bottom of the box.

  Abel unfolded it and read it.

  Amon,

  I should kill you for suggesting that my wife, the mother of my children is anything other than a loving mother and friend.

  Stay away from us. Stay away from my child.

  Saul

  Why would he keep these photos hidden? Everything I find leads to more questions, he thought to himself and checked the time. It was nearly noon. The funeral was at six. He had to figure out how to protect Ayry and Maynard and he only had six hours to do it.

  Chapter 12

  Ayry tugged the knot in Maynard’s tie and brushed off his shoulders. “You look ve
ry handsome.”

  “Thank you,” he said shuffling his feet. “But these shoes are uncomfortable.”

  “I know honey. Mine are too. But right after you can take your shoes off for the whole ride home.” Ayry stood up and stuffed her jeans into her suitcase.

  Anabelle stood by the door. “I hate that you’re leaving after the funeral.”

  “I have to.” She took Anabelle by the arm and led her down the hallway. “I’m going to have to go into hiding for a while. I’ll send messages when I can, but I can’t let you know where I am until I can figure out what to do about Abel.”

  “Ayry, you’re completely irrational right now. Abel would never hurt Maynard,” Anabelle argued.

  “You don’t understand what this magic does to you. Some days it’s all I can do to not turn someone into dust when they stiff me on a tip.” Ayry pressed her lips into a tight line. “The power that a necromancer could gain from killing a magus…drunk with power.”

  “Abel would die before he hurt him. After what he did for Dad and you –" Anabelle stopped midsentence.

  “What do you mean?” she said as confusion clouded her expression.

  “Just that Abel did so much for Dad, with Dad. They were true friends and Abel loves you.” Anabelle hung her head. “Dad knew that Abel had to leave and he’s never really explained why.”

  That cut Ayry on a deep level. “Dad told me Abel was no good. He said that he was not what we thought he was. I knew that Dad was the reason Abel left.”

  “Ayry, there are so many things at work here that neither of us understand. Let’s get through the funeral.”

  “You’re not in my shoes. You can’t possibly understand,” Ayry snapped.

  “I’m not in your shoes but give me enough credit that I can understand. I’m the one that was left here with all of this. Abel left, you left. How do you think that made Dad feel that you left without a word or trace?” Anabelle was releasing the anger she felt for her father’s suffering.

  “Dad made me believe that Abel loved me, he bound my magic my entire life, never warned either of us that we could have a child with the power. He put us all at risk and now he’s left us to clean up this mess. Left me to live the rest of my life in fear of my son being hunted.” Ayry struggled to keep her voice as low as possible but her emotion got the better of her.

  “That’s not fair. You don’t know everything.”

  Ayry was beside herself with confusion, grief and fear. She huffed a frustrated breath, knowing that she and Anabelle would never see eye to eye. She was unwilling to accept that there may be a shard of truth in Anabelle’s words, that Ayry was the one that abandoned the family.

  Ayry headed down the hallway to get Maynard. She collected herself before turning into the doorway. “Maynard, honey, are you ready?”

  “Please don’t fight with Auntie Anabelle. It makes the smiling man sad.”

  “I’ll do my best.” She picked up the suitcase off the bed and motioned to Maynard’s backpack. “Get your stuff. We’ve got to get going.”

  Maynard collected his backpack and floppy-eared bunny and followed his mother down the hall.

  “Ayrabelle, you’ve got to stop and think about this,” Anabelle pleaded with her sister.

  “The only thing I need to think about is keeping my son safe. That’s what I’m going to do.” She continued down the stairs and outside.

  Anabelle followed her out to the porch. “What about Aunt Jezabelle.”

  Ayry threw her head up exasperated. “Maynard. Please let Aunt Jezabelle out of the room.”

  “But the smiling man says, ‘no.’”

  Ayry said without thinking, “Tell the smiling man you’re going to get a spanking if you don’t let her out.”

  “But –”

  “No buts. We’re not coming back, and you can’t leave her in there forever,” Ayry explained. “Please let her out.”

  “Okay.” He hesitated. “The door is open.”

  “Thank you.” She opened the car door. “Buckle up.”

  Ayry took one last look at the house she spent much of her life in. It was always here or the ranch. She would never see either again.

  She reminisced to a happier time when Mom was on the porch serving lemonade and Dad was gathering the tourists for trail rides.

  “It’s all in the past now.” She got in the car, started it, and headed for the funeral home.

  Chapter 13

  “Mommy, shouldn’t we go in?” Maynard asked quietly from the back seat.

  “We should,” she answered.

  Sitting in front of this building made it real. Her father was in there, his lifeless body ready to be on display for everyone to see. Once she walked through those doors everything that has changed would be set in stone.

  She sat outside this same building when her mother died. She was numb. Despondent. Pregnant. Lost.

  All of the emotion from that day came flooding back and she was trying to hold it together for Maynard. She wasn’t sure she could do it.

  “Mommy,” he called out again.

  “Okay buddy. I was just…waiting…for Auntie Anabelle.” This excuse was only going to last for as long as it took Anabelle to get there, which wouldn’t be long.

  Anabelle pulled into the parking spot next to her. They exchanged a glance from their cars and got out at the same time.

  “Come on out, buddy,” Ayry called to Maynard.

  Anabelle met Ayry beside her car. “Let’s just get through this, okay?”

  Ayry nodded and hugged Anabelle. She needed her big sister right now if for no other reason than to help her with Maynard. They both sobbed before gathering the courage to go inside.

  “Come on, let’s get inside so we can get the good seats.” Anabelle attempted to make a joke.

  Ayry cringed.

  “Sorry, you know how I am.” Anabelle shrugged and wrapped her hand around her sister’s and they walked up the steps into the building together with Maynard in tow.

  “I do.” She chuckled as they walked through the door.

  Blake and Calvin were waiting in the lobby.

  “Hey Ayrabelle, Anabelle.” Calvin hugged them both. “And who is this handsome gent?” He folded himself down to Maynard’s level and offered his hand.

  “Maynard Price, sir.” Maynard shook his hand.

  “Calvin Thomley, pleasure to meet you.”

  “Your hands are tough.” Maynard studied the old man’s hands.

  “Shows character.” He stood up straight.

  Blake hugged both girls. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you,” they both said in unison.

  “Is there anything I can do for you?” Calvin asked.

  “No, you’ve already done so much. I can’t thank you enough for taking care of all of this.” Anabelle waved her hands around funeral home.

  “Amon didn’t want you girls to have to deal with this. That’s why he put me in charge.” Calvin lowered his head and took a moment. “I always told him I would die long before him. Son of a bitch proved me wrong.” Moisture pooled in Calvin’s eyes.

  Ayry hugged him again and said, “He proved us all wrong in so many ways.”

  “Anabelle, Ayrabelle?” A man came from the double sliding doors to the right.

  They both turned to him. “Hello, Adam.” Anabelle smiled.

  “Would you like to come and make sure the arrangements are to your liking?” Adam gestured for them to follow.

  “I’m sure it’s fine.” Ayry’s feet set hard on the floor.

  “It’s customary,” Adam explained. “It will also give you a private moment to say goodbye before everyone arrives.”

  Blake wrapped his hand around Ayry’s. “I can go in with you.”

  Ayry pulled her hand away. “I’m okay. I can do this. Can you come in and stay with Maynard in the back, I don’t want to leave him out here?”

  “Of course,” Calvin answered for him. “I’d like to get to know him anyway.�
�� He pulled a quarter from behind his ear. “Oh look at that. I found a quarter.”

  “I can show you some real magic.” Maynard smiled.

  “No, no. Just let Calvin do the magic.” Ayry raised her brow.

  They followed Adam in the viewing room. Calvin and Maynard took two seats at the back of the room. At the front of the room was a podium and more flowers than they could have ever imagined piled around a large portrait of their father. “Wow, Dad had some fans,” Anabelle remarked.

  “Yeah, most folks liked him.” Ayry remembered how he was always talking people up at Delight’s Diner.

  She walked up to the front of the room slightly confused. She exchanged a look with Anabelle.

  “What’s wrong?” Anabelle asked.

  “Where’s the…the um…where’s Dad?” Ayry rubbed her hand up and down her arm.

  Anabelle realized that there was no casket. “I don’t know. Adam?”

  “Calvin gave me the file with your father’s wishes. He wanted to be cremated immediately.” Adam was surprised the girls weren’t aware of their father’s wishes. “His remains are here.” He motioned to a simple urn on the table next to the large portrait. “After the funeral you’ll be able to take his remains.”

  “I – I didn’t know that.” Ayry was confused. “Did you?”

  “I had no idea.” Anabelle’s eyes darted toward the door.

  “It’s better this way.” Ayry said squeezing her sister’s hand. “With Mom…”

  “Yeah,” Anabelle agreed.

  Ayry started thinking about how much she didn’t want to take the ashes. It became the only thing she could think about.

  As though Anabelle could read Ayry’s thoughts, she offered, “I’ve got it. There’s a nice place in the B&B where I can put him.”

  Ayry was relieved.

  “Does everything look okay?” Adam asked.

  Ayry and Anabelle looked at the flowers, the portrait, the urn. “Who chose this picture?” Ayry asked.