Sticks and Stones

by Alexie Aaron

Lazar sneered. “If Mia were driving, he’d be holding on for dear life.”

  ~

  Mia and the boys were shining up the truck in the garage while Murphy watched Mia. She seemed fine around the truck. Walking more than a few feet away became problematic. The boys laughed because Mia would pick up her feet to step over things that weren’t there.

  Ted walked out of the office. He had woken up from getting a few hours’ sleep to find his family gone. Nanny told him they were in the garage playing with the truck.

  “She’s got the girls in the backseat in the car seats. The windows are down and Brian and Varden are singing to some old song Murphy insists on.”

  “Crazy?” Ted asked.

  “Yes.”

  “If you ever drive with Stephen, he will insist on it being played. It’s his favorite. It calms him down.”

  “Grandpa Orion would like to see our new truck,” Ted said to the boys. “Mia, Audrey has invited us over for dinner. I told her you were a bit wobbly. She said bring you anyway. She’s going to put away her good dishes and glassware. One more thing, you have to sit at the kids table.”

  Mia pushed her hair back away from her face. “I’ll go and get some things for the twins. I need to comb my hair and… Varden, where are your socks?”

  “In my pocket.”

  “Put them on, it’s cold out,” Mia said. Mia staggered out of the garage. She stopped dead. She closed her eyes and opened them again.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I swear I just saw our old house standing there.”

  “I’m calling Baxter,” Ted said.

  “I already did. He can see me tomorrow. He says to bring the truck.”

  Nanny walked out of the house with a diaper bag. She strode over to Mia. “You’re looking like you just saw a ghost.”

  “I did. He’s in there. I think he likes the truck.”

  “I got ahold of Dieter. He said he’ll walk over to the Stavros’s from Mark’s,” Nanny said.

  “Are you coming?” Mia asked.

  “Dear, I’m looking forward to having a quiet house for the evening. You go and enjoy your folks,” Nanny said. “I may even get a little crazy…”

  “Scandalous,” Mia said.

  ~

  Orion stood in the drive with Dieter when the Martins pulled up.

  “Can I drive it?” Dieter asked, opening Mia’s door.

  “When you have your license,” Mia promised. “I haven’t driven it yet.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m a bit doolally. Baxter is going to check me out. Here, I’m fine. At home, I’m seeing double or things that don’t exist. The town was strange too.”

  Mia got down and tried to extract her daughters. Ted wouldn’t let her carry them. “I’m sure at least one of them will bounce,” Mia said.

  Orion had Genevieve in hand. “Come on, Mia. Audrey has the soup on.”

  “I think this is too much. Didn’t she work today?”

  “Yes, she took your shift.”

  “Mike’s right, I’m not much of a team member.”

  “You saved twenty teenagers.”

  “I’m not sure I did the world a favor. Yikes, one of them definitely needs to be locked up.”

  “Go into my office. I have a surprise for you,” Orion instructed as soon as they walked inside.

  Enos stood just inside the door. He shut it and put his finger to his lips.

  Mia hugged him. “But how?”

  “Orion requested my presence. I needed to make an official statement before I take a leave of absence from Warrior Flock to spend the winter with Sten and the others.”

  “But…”

  “They won’t let me come home. They won’t let me change flocks, even with Victor’s blessing. There’s some political maneuvering going on. When Angelo asked if I’d be interested in an educational stint in the Porcupine Mountains learning about tree-bark demons, I jumped at it.”

  “You did seem to make friends there easily. Won’t they ask where your partner is?”

  “I’m just going to tell them that you aren’t fond of the snow.”

  “Or the truth,” Mia suggested. “Sten looks like he can handle the truth.”

  “I’ve always wanted to learn Demon, and Sten can speak quite a few dialects. I can monitor the copper mine activity and help them to develop a gas that only seems harmful. Orion wrote me a reference. The high council rubber-stamped it, and I leave after tonight.”

  “He’s staying for a family meal,” Audrey said from the doorway. “Since he is going to miss the winter holidays, I’d thought we’d have a little bit of Christmas tonight.”

  Mia put her hand on her heart. “I’m overwhelmed.”

  “Good. I can’t buy you a truck, but I can make a meal,” Audrey said, hugging Mia. “Do you like it? I helped pick it out.”

  “I love it.”

  Mia and Enos walked out into the Stavros’s large living room. The boys jumped up and ran to Enos. He scooped both boys up. Varden kept kissing the side of his face. Mia felt a hand on her elbow. She turned, and Mark Leighton stood there looking down at her.

  “Hello, Mark. I haven’t seen you in a while. You grew ten inches at least.”

  “And you have your wings back.”

  “Yes. I couldn’t be happier. How is your Dad?”

  “He’s pretty much the same. I’m lucky because I can communicate with him. My mom has only been able to get a few constructive winks out of him.”

  “I wish I could do more,” Mia said.

  “He’s cared for, and he’s loved. When I go to college, would you be able to come over once a week and talk with him?”

  “Yes, I’d love to.”

  “Phew. Dieter said you would. I don’t want him to lock himself away again. I figure you two could share secrets. He’d like that.”

  “Where are you going to go?”

  “I’m hoping for an early entrance to Johns Hopkins. One of the doctors at the clinic has spoken up for me, and the school of medicine has me on their short list.”

  “What will you be studying?”

  “Neuroscience. Is Mr. Martin still renting the cottage next summer?”

  “Yes.”

  “That will be my last summer there for a while.”

  “Then we are going to enjoy ourselves to the max.”

  Ted watched Mia and Mark. She was never so much at ease as when she was speaking with one of her lost boys. She looked over at Ted and smiled. She walked over with only one small misstep. She sat down beside him.

  “You’re pretty quiet tonight,” she said.

  “I’m just watching my family like a proud papa.”

  “Did you know Enos was here?”

  “No, not before Orion called me. Angelo is in Italy looking for a particular book Orion says may turn the tables on this whole mess. He knows the law; he just needs to show it in print to back him up. They can’t take our children, even if you pass on.”

  “That’s a relief.”

  “As long as I live, you can be locked up in the crazy house and the kids are still safe from the socials.”

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Mia said, squeezing his hand. “Thank you.”

  “What are you thanking me for?” Ted asked.

  “Your acceptance of me and the pilot fish I attract.”

  “Interesting way of seeing things. I see them as your ducklings.”

  “Why ducklings?” Mia asked.

  “Because they all fly away, eventually, Mama Duck.”

  “Even Cid?”

  “Even Cid.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Mia sat in the living room, listening to Brian read A Wrinkle in Time. Varden played at Mia’s feet listening while Mia put the finishing touches on Varden’s hero costume. Genevieve and Maeve cooed to each other. It was almost as if they were commenting on the story Brian was reading to them.

 
Lazar came in from the kitchen. “I’m going to head home now.”

  “Thank you for the marvelous meal.”

  “Proof again that I can read instructions,” Lazar said. He leaned down, ruffled Mia’s hair, and fist-bumped with the boys before he left.

  Dieter came in the house. Mark had dropped him off after practice. Mark didn’t complain about the trip. It gave him and Dieter a longer time to talk. Dieter and Mark had fewer classes together this year, and there never seemed to be much time during football practice to speak.

  “Lazar left your meal in the casserole dish in the microwave,” Mia said. “How was practice?”

  “Oh you know, running, catching, and getting knocked down.”

  “Did your cheering section show up?”

  “If you’re talking about Flore, she wasn’t there. She was trying out for the autumn musical.”

  “What are they doing this year?” Mia asked.

  “Bye Bye Birdie. It’s pretty lame, but there are a lot of roles for girls.”

  “I’m sure it has been brought up to date,” Mia said, realizing she sounded like a mother of a teenager.

  “What did you do today?” Dieter asked.

  “Sent a demon to the pit of despair, mended fences with Nicholai, and finished Brian’s and Varden’s hero costumes.”

  “Early too. Well, look at you, Susie homemaker,” Dieter teased.

  “One never knows where my time will be spent as the big day approaches. Speaking of big days, have you asked Flore to Homecoming?”

  “She asked me.”

  “K.”

  “Mark and I are doubling since I don’t drive.”

  “We need to work on that,” Mia acknowledged. “Think about who would make a better driving teacher, me or your dad.”

  Dieter left. Brian continued with his book and stopped after another chapter was finished. Varden yawned as he crawled into Mia’s lap and promptly fell asleep.

  “He’s tired because he was helping Uncle Murphy chop wood.”

  “What? Tell me he wasn’t using an axe.”

  “Uncle Murphy chopped the wood, Varden carried it to the woodpile, and I stacked it.”

  “And you’re not tired because.”

  “All I did was put the pieces on the pile.”

  “You’re a smart kid.”

  Nanny came in and smiled seeing Varden out for the count. “I guess we can forgo his bath tonight.” She picked him up. “Brian, let’s get you started.”

  “Thank you, Nanny,” Mia said. “I’ll bring the girls up. I’m going to sit and eavesdrop on their conversation and watch the fire.”

  Brian kissed his mother and stood and stared at her a moment. “I love you, Mom.”

  Mia reached for him. Brian let her hug him. “I love you too. I am so happy to be your mom. You’re growing up so fast. Remember to take time and be a kid. Play with Noah, sing silly songs, and enjoy all the universe has given you. Daddy works really hard so that we can all be together.”

  “Why do you love Daddy? I hear things… like, you could do better.”

  “Those people are jealous of how magnificent your father is. He came into my life and brought joy. I wasn’t a happy person, I was struggling, but he saw something in me worth saving. You’re going to run into people and beings in your lifetime that do heroic, fantastic things, but none of them will compare to your dad.”

  “You’re a hero.”

  “I was given gifts that make me stronger and faster than most beings, and because I love my family and my husband, I use these gifts to make the world safer. Your father does this with his mind. He runs into harm’s way with no armor. Most important, when I can’t be with you, he stays to protect you and waits. Waiting is the hardest thing to do. Learn patience from him along with math and science. Learn compassion and how to play. He doesn’t quit. If he comes up against a wall, he finds a way around, over, under, or through it. Already I can see lots of your dad in you. You’re generous, loving, smart, funny, and heroic.”

  “Brian,” Nanny’s soft voice called from the stairs.

  “Coming.” Brian gave Mia another hug and kissed her cheek before running off to the stairs. He passed by his father, who was standing unseen in the shadows of the hall, and up the stairs. He skipped down to his room and grabbed a few toys before he met Nanny in the bathroom.

  Downstairs, Ted composed himself before walking into the living room. Mia was leaning over the twins, dangling the end of her braid. Maeve reached up and tried to grab it. Genevieve just laughed as the hair tickled her.

  “Torturing our daughters?” Ted asked.

  Mia looked up. “Their motor skills are coming along.”

  “I wonder how much they understand?” Ted asked. “I looked at the baby websites, and so far, they are on course for human children.”

  “Brian didn’t show his smarts until he started talking early. Varden is more birdman, but he is very bright too. They take after you brain-wise.”

  “You’re no slouch, Minnie Mouse.”

  “I was smart enough to trick you into marriage,” Mia said. “Best thing I ever did.”

  “You really mean that, don’t you?”

  “I’m not much of a flatterer,” Mia said. “I’m sorry if I don’t tell you more often how much I appreciate you.”

  “You show me,” Ted said.

  “Time to feed these girls and see if they will drop off to sleep early.”

  “If they love their daddy, they will,” Ted said, picking up Maeve.

  Mia picked Genevieve up and smiled. “It is so nice to only have one dimension to walk through. I thought I was going to need glasses.”

  “You’d look sexy in glasses.”

  “You are scoring a lot of points, Mr. Martin,” Mia said.

  “I intend on cashing them in tonight.”

  Jake arrived back into the main computer using Cid’s phone. He looked around the room.

  “He’s not here.”

  “Where is he?”

  “I expect, enjoying his wife,” Cid said. “Anything going on at the Carter house?”

  “Just a little activity when Ms. Carter walked in to gather more clothing. The activity definitely is focused on her and is strongest when she is in the house.”

  “The question is, does Ms. Carter fuel the activity or does the house?”

  “Burt says that, if this follows the pattern of other recorded poltergeist activity, we will soon see an increase in events.”

  “Mia left you a couple of notes. Do you want me to read them to you or just type them in?”

  “Read them.”

  “First of all, she thanks you for all you do.”

  “Oh no, she’s buttering me up,” Jake cringed.

  “She would like you to see if there is a defunct demon spur under the Carter house or a lost ley line. She felt a surge of energy when her feet touched the basement floor.”

  “I see where she’s going with this,” Jake said. “If there is an overabundance of energy, it would explain why the witch board worked. Millions of people play with those things, but only a few achieve contact with the demon world.”

  “Ah, and if she is right, she’ll want you to map out the other recorded poltergeist incursions to see if they also fall over places of power.”

  “It kind of puts Burt’s theory of a virus in the column of the absurd.”

  “Let’s not say anything until she has the data to back her up. Besides, Mia has made some tinfoil blunders recently too,” Cid pointed out.

  “If you’re talking about the Soren baby farm theory, I can see her point. I’ve replayed video footage of conversations I’ve been privy to, and she was being pushed by everyone to secure a mate. Judy was pushing Nicholai until she found out the old bird was sterile. Victor has been put in the mix; although, to give him props, he has never approached Mia with it. Soren has told her tales of his successful second marriage. Idra’s success in having M
ia gestate two large children at once was rewarded by Soren.”

  “Where is Angelo in this?” Cid asked.

  “Ah, he’s a half-breed, not in contention.”

  “But according to Mia, he is the best all-around birdman. He can be a warrior and the best mind walker. He’s book smart and has a natural ability to lead and manage vast amounts of assets. Mia thinks he should have Soren’s position.”

  “I hope she’s kept that to herself,” Jake said. “She’s in enough trouble right now with Soren upset with her, the false rumors of she and Enos doing the spiral instead of being in the Porcupine Mountains, and her quitting Nicholai’s flock.”

  “Keep an ear to the dark web. Maybe this time we can head off any problems before they come to our front porch,” Cid said.

  ~

  Altair was settling in for a good read. He had an expensive scotch at his elbow and a nice fire in the grate of the main library of die Zuflucht.

  Peter Neyer, Mia’s cousin, walked in. “You have a visitor.”

  “Are you playing butler today?” Altair teased.

  “No, I’m the first one to find you. I’ll send him up.”

  Peter left before Altair could ask who it was.

  Angelo entered the room. He smiled, not at Altair but at the old books surrounding him. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I had an interesting conversation with Baxter about a subject you may know something about.”

  “I know a lot of things.”

  “I didn’t mean to discount your knowledge, just qualify you as an expert,” Angelo said.

  “Sorry, I just assumed you were taking a potshot.”

  “I think you have me confused with Victor.”

  “Maybe. Pour yourself a drink and sit down.”

  Angelo did so.

  “I find it interesting that Baxter is talking with you. The subject must be Mia.”

  “Indirectly. Can Michael kill Lucifer by attacking him through a thought Lucifer generated or the memory of one? In this case, one Mia can’t seem to purge from her mind.”

  Altair sat up and thought for a moment before he spoke. “I heard a strange thing from Takemi before I left Big Bear Lake. He said he heard that Lucifer was wounded. He only survived because he keeps his heart locked away. I dismissed this as speculation. I see by your eyes, you can’t wait to tell me I’m wrong.”