Sticks and Stones

by Alexie Aaron

  “Enough!” Mia said. “You don’t want to hurt her anymore.”

  “I don’t?”

  “You crave lazy pleasure,” Mia suggested, using carefully chosen words.

  “That’s true.”

  “That seems like a lot of work,” Mia pointed out.

  “It is, but there is a certain satisfaction. You’re new but familiar. I think you’re her.”

  “She’s mine,” Gerard said, pulling Mia close. “You damaged yours. I like mine smooth and inexhaustible.”

  “I can give you pleasure with a touch. How lazy is that?” Mia said, touching Gerald with her hand. He purred in response.

  “I want some of that,” Lucifer said.

  “First let your pet go,” armored Mia said.

  Lucifer picked up the crippled mass, opened the door to the outer chamber, and tossed her into it.

  Gerald moved quickly and put his foot in the door to keep it from closing.

  “My turn,” Lucifer said, crawling on the bed.

  Gerald moved quickly into the torture chamber where he had glimpsed a wall of weapons.

  Mia approached the bed. She generated a small amount of blue energy. She delicately teased the air between her and the object of her nightmares. Mia touched the tip of his talon and sent the energy in waves over his skin. She watched as the King of Hell withered with pleasure, his naked form showing the responses from the stimulated pleasure centers. Mia walked beside the bed trailing a finger along Lucifer’s skin, increasing her energy, sending intense stimulation to all his pleasure receptors, crippling him. She reached behind her and felt the weight of the axe Gerald placed in her hand. Mia turned around and swung with everything she had and sank the axe through Lucifer’s chest into the bed, pinning him there. She then followed Gerald out the door, sealing it behind her. She saw herself hanging by her hair braid. She released the broken Mia and took her out of the chamber where she sealed that door. The other Mia dissolved but not before putting her hand on her heart.

  ~

  Lucifer screamed as he sat up.

  Abigor rushed to his side. “What happened?”

  “I had a very bad dream,” Lucifer said. “I give bad dreams. I don’t have them.”

  “Tell me…”

  One glare from Lucifer shut Abigor up.

  “It’s fading too fast, I can’t grasp it. By all that is holy, what happened to me?” he said, standing up and the sheet falling away.

  Abigor saw a gaping wound in his lord’s chest. “I’ll call the healers.” Abigor rushed out, and Sticks walked in.

  He walked over and helped Lucifer to lay down. He looked at the hole. “Sire, if you had a heart, you would be dead right now.”

  “I have a heart. I just don’t keep it on me. How else would I remain immortal?”

  “That looks like an axe wound.”

  “Has Stephen Murphy been seen in Hell?” Lucifer asked.

  “No. Not since you and Altair dined with him.”

  “Mia?”

  “Last I heard, she was getting chewed out for collaborating with you over the tree-bark demon fiasco. We think they are trying to take her children away.”

  “Stupid birdmen. Check to see if there still exists a fallen named Forneus.”

  “Yes, sire.”

  Abigor, who had been watching the exchange, took note. This fallen may have found a way to kill Lucifer. All that was left was to locate Lucifer’s heart.

  ~

  Gerald watched silently while Baxter listened to Mia.

  “It’s all about Nicholai,” Mia said. “Before he suspended me, I was able to use my primal demon genes combined with my existing angel sight to see the big picture. I was able to put memories together in order to detect lies and to see a conspiracy involving Soren. I may have not quite gotten that right, but that’s a conversation for another time. When I had to face Nicholai again, the memories of how he treated me and how I had lost so much of his regard really hurt. I believe I unknowingly started to purge any good memories of Nicholai from my mind. Little did I know that memories are pivotal in not only the learning process but the containment of other memories.”

  “Memories are linked in time,” Baxter explained. “Sever the links and the mind loses stability.”

  “We need Nicholai to fill in the good memories she has already purged,” Gerald said.

  Baxter didn’t like the word we, especially when it linked him with the fallen Forneus.

  “And I have to forgive him and myself to stop the purge,” Mia said. “I’m not sure where he is?”

  “Varden is still in his flock,” Baxter reminded her.

  “Yes,” Mia said.

  “Where is Varden now?” Baxter asked.

  Mia looked at the time displayed on her iPhone. “He’s just gotten home from preschool.”

  “You need to ask him to try to get ahold of Nicholai.”

  “I’ll have to do it in person.”

  “You have to do it now,” Baxter insisted.

  “I can’t fly you both.”

  “I’ll open a portal. Maybe, to save time, we three should go to the farm,” Baxter said.

  “Murphy’s not going to like it that Gerald’s there,” Mia warned. “No offense, Gerald.”

  “I deserve the distrust. I do not take umbrage.”

  “Mia, now is not the time to support the egos of the males in your life. You have to save yours,” Baxter stressed.

  “Take us all to the farm.”

  Gerald could have done it, but he didn’t know there was a new house standing there. He could have put them in a wall. When he stepped out of the portal onto the porch behind Mia, he was amazed at how much things had changed. “I better stay outside.”

  Murphy was upon Gerald in an angel’s breath.

  Mia was prepared. “NO! Murph, he’s helping me,” she said, reaching for a door that wasn’t there. “Please find Varden and bring him to me. I’m not sure I can navigate the new house anymore.”

  Baxter led Mia to one of the gliders and sat her down.

  Nanny walked out with Varden in hand.

  Varden ran over to Mia. “Mommy!” He climbed up beside her.

  Nanny was about to say something about the stranger when Baxter put his finger to his lips.

  “Varden, I need to find and speak to Nicholai. It’s very important.”

  “Yes, Mommy.” Varden closed his eyes. “He’s sorry, but he says that it isn’t wise to talk to you.”

  “Tell him, Mommy is sick and needs him now.”

  Gerald closed his eyes and touched Varden. He could see Nicholai. “He’s near a sand dune that has a large piece blown out of it.”

  “The practice island,” Mia said.

  “Nicholai said that you should seek out a doctor if you are sick,” Varden said.

  “Mia, I don’t know where this island is,” Baxter admitted.

  Gerald put his hand on Mia’s temple. “Baxter, it’s…” he rattled off the coordinates.

  Mia waved Murphy over. “I need a weapon.”

  “You arrive with a weapon and Nicholai may kill you,” Nanny warned.

  “I arrive unarmed with Gerald, Nicholai will kill Gerald and then me.”

  Murphy disappeared.

  Mia looked at Varden. “Don’t tell him I’m coming. Maybe tell him all about how much you miss him.”

  “I’ll tell you what to say,” Nanny said, picking up Varden.

  “If he asks if Mommy is coming…”

  “Then you have to tell him the truth,” Mia said. “But don’t volunteer the information.”

  “Protect the nest,” Varden said wisely.

  Murphy moved quickly from the office with Mia’s satchel. She looked at the swords inside. “My old heavy stuff. It will have to do. Gerald, here are Romeo and Juliette.” Mia offered him the assassin daggers Gerald gave to her in the Candle timeline.

  “No, don’t give them to me. Nich
olai must see I’m not armed.”

  Baxter opened the portal. Mia tried to stand up and stumbled forward.

  “It’s getting worse. We don’t have much time,” Baxter said.

  “Varden, don’t worry. Baxter will help Mommy,” Mia promised.

  Gerald picked up Mia and walked into the portal. Baxter looked at Murphy. “You can come if you want to.”

  “No, Mia would want me to stay here and protect the farm.”

  ~

  Nicholai didn’t know if he was doing the right thing. Mia was tainted. Her reputation was destroyed. Deep inside, he knew they were lies, but he had to protect himself.

  A flash of light preceded Gerald Shem walking out of a portal holding Mia. Baxter followed.

  It’s a trap. Two wizards and someone masquerading as Mia, Nicolai thought. Nicholai drew his sword. “Why are you here?”

  “I’m here the same reason you are. It’s one year since we did the death spiral,” Mia said.

  “Why have you brought the wizards?”

  “I’m sick. Baxter said I need your help.”

  “I’ll listen, but you stay there.”

  Baxter updated Nicholai on what they thought Mia’s condition was and when they discovered what it really was. He emphasized that Nicholai and Mia had to talk.

  “Take her to the angels. She bears their wings now, which is a slap in the face to every birdman who stayed and fought the frost giants!”

  “You talked about how cowardly the angels were, but you’re fucking worse,” Mia spat.

  Nicholai raised an eyebrow.

  “All of you, including Gerald, left me. I know I’m not the ideal warrior or woman for that matter. It’s easy to dismiss the misfit. Enos was the only one of you bird people to understand me. He said, ‘You are two women. One a mighty warrior who singlehandedly killed a Nephilim, and the other a Little Nell who needs to be rescued,’” Mia said. “Well, Nicholai, I’m Little Nell, and I’m going to lose what little Mia is left if you and I can’t come to an accord.” Mia pulled out her sword from the scabbard and tossed it on the ground before Nicholai. “You win.”

  Nicholai recognized the sword from her first practice session with him.

  Mia fell forward face down into the sand.

  Gerald started to move towards Mia. Baxter held him back.

  “Mia, I’m not falling for that trick. Get up.”

  Nicholai looked at the two wizards and saw the panic in Gerald’s eyes.

  “Are you just going to let her lay here, Baxter? She doesn’t look too good,” Nicholai worried.

  “If she dies, it’s your fault, not mine. I can only do so much. I can patch bodies and try to repair the wounds given by broken hearts, but you’re destroying her with your stubbornness. She loves you. Maybe more than is healthy. Put it together. She would never have sterilized herself if she didn’t have in the back of her mind that it wouldn’t make a difference to you because you wouldn’t want her to have your children because you too are sterile.”

  “Mia doesn’t want anyone but Ted,” Nicholai said.

  “But she still wanted you to be her friend, maybe lover - I don’t know what her fantasies were. She hid them from me. She’s young. To her you’re a prize.”

  Gerald shook away from Baxter’s grip. He ran over and turned Mia’s head so she wasn’t breathing sand. He took her pulse from her neck. He saw the gills and smiled. He cradled her body to his, struggled to stand in the sand, and walked with her to the lake. “I’m not going to let her die. Not when I can help her. Physically, she won’t be the Mia we know, but there’s still enough of her left.”

  Baxter watched as Gerald dropped his persona. He grew to a mammoth height. His skin was thick and black. Ever burning embers lit the stubs of his missing wings. Forneus the fallen was a sea demon. He didn’t like lake water, but it was water. Not the Second Day Sea, but it would have to do. Once he stabilized Mia, he would swim with her through the GSD channel to the ocean. There he would take his chances. They could live near a pirate island so the children could visit their mother.

  “That’s Forneus, if your memory is faulty, old man,” Baxter said. “He has been in hiding for thousands of years. He’s risking reprisal when Lucifer learns Forneus still exists. Why is it that we evil creatures risk without hesitation? Why is it that we are the only ones Mia can depend on? It’s your choice. You put your stubbornness aside and help her or you let her become a monster her children will be frightened of.”

  “Why have you laid this at my feet?” Nicholai asked.

  “Because from my point of view, you trained her, you’re her general, you’re still responsible.”

  “Stop!” Nicholai called. “Forneus, bring her back.” Nicholai dropped his sword and ran the distance between he and Forneus. He took Mia from the fallen. Gerald transformed back into the businessman. “There isn’t much time,” Gerald cautioned.

  Mia felt safe. She ran her hand on the old birdman’s chest and felt the strength that still was there. He was amazing. No wonder Euthymia fell for him with just one look. “Help me.”

  “How?”

  “I need your memories of us. Gerald will patch my mind with your memories. Most of mine are gone. Not your fault, mine. Stupid primal genes are very thorough.”

  “Why me, Mia?” Nicholai asked.

  “I’m a misfit. I don’t know how to react right. Right now, I feel safe. I’m still dying, but I’m in your arms. It’s not sexual, but it is intense. I must have transferred my need to be protected to your strong shoulders. The world is angry and scary. The only constant I had in my mind was this fantasy that if I outlived Ted, you would be there.”

  “You have Murphy.”

  “Not the same thing. I’m sorry, I’m no better than a teenager with unrealistic thoughts about a teen idol.”

  Gerald looked at Baxter. “She has no taste in men.”

  “I agree,” Baxter said. “I was only number six on her fantasy harem list. You were number two.” Baxter walked over. “I know the sun is strong but…”

  Nicholai extended his mighty wings and created shade.

  “Oh my god, I never saw them up close. No wonder Mia feels safe,” Baxter said.

  “I used to have wings,” Gerald said with envy.

  “Sit down,” Baxter instructed. Mia turned to Nicholai. “Nicholai, put your forehead to hers as if you were going to read her but, instead, think about the first day you met her. Gerald, move into her mind.”

  “Which time? Because I don’t remember the Candle timeline,” Nicholai said, “although, I remember her telling me about it.”

  “Stay in this timeline,” Baxter said. “You were asked to train this imp.”

  “Hey,” Mia said. “I don’t call you names.”

  Nicholai thought back and smiled. “She arrived with a sword too heavy for her and big balls.”

  Gerald entered Mia’s mind. He picked up the memories and ran them to patch the holes. He felt like Vanna White on the Wheel of Fortune - walking back and forth, turning letters over - when the memories weren’t exactly linear. Is this my Purgatory? Running around taking care of another Cooper female? he asked himself.

  When he could see no more holes, he pulled out of Mia’s mind. “We’re good. But I think these two need to talk,” Gerald said. “And I need a drink.”

  “I’ll escort her back,” Nicholai promised Baxter. “I’ve also sent word to Varden that his Mommy is fine and with me.”

  “Good enough,” Baxter said. “Mia, I’ll be waiting for you back at the mansion.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Don’t tarry. I’ll probably be explaining to Ted why I let you stay on an isolated island with the object of your desire.”

  Mia blushed and turned her head into Nicholai’s chest.

  “Gerald, you may want to leave when he arrives. Last time the two of you were together, Ted had his hands around your throat,” Baxter remembered.

 
“Happy times,” Gerald said. “Mia, we will talk soon.”

  “Yes, please. Thank you.”

  The two wizards walked through the portal. Nicholai put Mia down. “Feel free to yell at me. No one can hear.”

  “I don’t yell,” Mia said. “I love and forgive too easily. This enables villains to take advantage, and me to attach myself to the oddest of creatures.”

  “Why me, Mia? I’m old, arthritic, set in my ways, and even though I like and admire you for all you’ve done and taken on, I don’t love you.”

  “I know that, now. And I respect you for giving your heart to your wife and to your flock. But you were there for me. I couldn’t have imagined anyone doing all that for me unless there was love involved. Evidently, I have a lot to learn about birdmen.”

  “Why did you try to purge all your happy memories of us?” Nicholai asked.

  “Hurt, shame, embarrassment. I thought if I could put you behind me, I stood a chance to move on and live a happy life. I cried my eyes out on Nanny’s lap after you were brave enough to tell me again that you didn’t love me. Baxter probably has a dozen names and explanations for why I felt the way I did. Ted puts up with a lot from me.”

  “He’s no prize, Little Bird, and he knows that he’s the envy of most of the males you’re around.”

  “But he is a prize,” Mia said. “Oh, you sneaky bastard, you just wanted me to say it out loud.”

  “Mia, you hurt me when you quit.”

  “Nanny said I did.”

  “No one quits on me. Especially not my star student. I thought you’d take the disciplinary action like a warrior and we would work on your obedience problem. But no, you quit, and the next thing I know is Enos is quitting too. I removed him from your farm on Soren’s recommendation. He thought I was too soft on you, that you hadn’t learned anything about loyalty under my wing.”

  “The bastard.”

  “We’re all bastards to you these days.”

  “Victor used to be a double bastard, but now he’s just a bastard.”

  “He likes you.”

  “Don’t tell me things like that, my stomach is sensitive. How could you lose your regard for me?” Mia asked.