The Old House (Haunted Series Book 16) (15 page)

Orion’s patience was wearing thin.  It was a simple request.  He wanted to visit the Dark Vault, a place where the most sensitive documents and artifacts were kept.  He had been there before, and it wasn’t as if he needed a guide.

Over and over, he answered the same question. “Why do you need to access the vault?”

“Because I have come in contact with a witch tree.  One that has been raised on the blood and bone of children.”

“There aren’t any,” the last guardian said.

“This was not a figment of my imagination.  I have proof.”

“Let’s see you proof,” the guardian demanded.

Orion handed him the flash drive on which Ted had uploaded footage of the tree in action.  He also handed the guardian a lead-lined box in which the blunted tree spike had been contained after it was extracted from Mia’s body.

“I will examine your proof and be right back.”

That was hours ago.  Orion thought the gargoyle had simply taken a coffee break.  Truly, Starbucks had opened a store in the midst of the gargoyle territory of Rome, and the stone beasts flocked there in droves.  Not that he blamed them.  They had so little they could legally enjoy.  Stripping the raw flesh off of mammals had been banned.  “Give them their coffee,” he thought.

Several other beings had walked past him on the way into the meeting room.  One had walked back out and looked at him before going back in.

Finally, the guardian came out and handed Orion the flash drive and the lead-lined box.  “You may enter.  Afterwards, we would like a moment of your time.”

“I may be quite some time.”

“We’ll wait.”

Orion used the washroom.  He cleansed his body and drew on the smallest robe that was offered.  He knotted the cord tightly before leaving the room.  He walked into the chapel and confessed his sins.  He wasn’t sure regret was still considered a sin, but he tossed that in too.  He rose, and the gatekeeper led the way into the Dark Vault of the netherworld.  Here, the large lead coffins of uncontrollable demons were stacked beside old cauldrons and Exeter torture racks.  He ventured deeper, making sure his robe did not trip him, or worse, brush against something most undesirable.

The gatekeeper unlocked the doors to the Great Library.  He handed a small pair of gloves to Orion, instructing, “This is for your protection.  Words can kill.  Please refrain from reading aloud.  If you experience any tingling of any kind, step into the decontamination tube as soon as possible.  We will come and try to resurrect you as soon as it is convenient.”

“I shall take that under advisement.”

He moved quickly to the horticulture section and picked out the first of many books about trees.

~

“About my latest defection…” Ted said, walking into the office.

Cid looked over from his keyboard and asked, “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about?”

Ted’s face softened.  “What would I do without you, Cid?”

“Walk around on all fours, eating out of garbage cans, I imagine.”

“Cute, but deserved,” Ted said, sitting down.  “I still have a chore to do…”

Paul Simon started playing on the speakers.

“No, Jake, don’t, please don’t!” Ted pleaded.

“The problem’s all inside your head…”

Cid started laughing.  “Nah, Jake, he doesn’t need ‘50 ways to leave a lover.’ How about one?  A phone call.  Be honest with the woman.  Short, sweet and direct.”

“I’m still a fan of texting it,” Mia said from the doorway, holding Brian.  “Tell her, I reminded you that it was your turn to take the trash out.”

“Ouch, fifty points for Slytherin,” Cid announced.

Ted looked very uncomfortable.  Mia tried to sympathize, but she never was a good actress.  “You really can’t hurt anyone’s feelings, even evil people, can you?”

“It goes against my nature,” he admitted.  “But it has to be done.”

“Here, hold Brian. I’ll do it,” Mia said, handing him his son.

“No.  I’ll do it.”

The line to the house rang.  Jake displayed the caller. It was a new number, but the name was all too familiar, and it cut into Mia like a knife.  Mia’s sharp intake of breath surprised Brian.  He hugged his mother as if trying to protect her from whatever upset her.  “Thank you, darling.  Let’s go for a walk.  Murphy spotted some baby bunnies.  Let’s see if we can spy on them,” she said sweetly.  She left the office.

Ted picked up the phone, putting it on speaker. “Hello.”

“Hello, Ted, this is Beth.”

“Yes, Beth?”

“I’ve been trying to get ahold of you. I finally figured out that the rat boy had my old number blocked.  Did you know that Mia had the audacity to turn me in to Homeland Security?”

“No, I believe that was Jake.”

“Who the fuck is Jake?”

“He’s a friend.  Why are you calling me?” Ted asked.

“To ask you when I should move my stuff into the farmhouse.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Someone has to take care of Brian when you’re working.”

“I think you have your wires crossed, Beth,” Ted said coldly.  “I’m no longer under the influence of Roumain or you.  I think you should get on with your own life and leave me alone.”

“But I need you, Teddy B…”

“Shut up!” Ted yelled.  “No one calls me that but Mia!”

Beth laughed.  She knew she had gotten to him.

Cid looked at Ted and could see that his friend was very angry.

“Come on, Ted, loosen up.  You don’t need a woman like Mia dragging you down.  You’re going to be rich. How is it going to look when you have Crazy Cooper on your arm?”

“I think it’s going to look wonderful.  Beth, the moment I saw her, my world was rocked.  Here was this tiny thing handling problems bigger than I ever imagined.  She had a heart. She cared for the ghosts and the haunted.  And she was very kind to you. Don’t you remember that?”

“She stole you from me.”

“Beth, I never was yours to steal.  You were a pal, just one of the guys.”

“You liked me. I know you did,” she argued.

“No, I’m sorry you got the wrong idea.  I treated you the same as I treated Amber.  I never touched you, and I never wanted your attention.  You had no claim on me.  You owe Mia a giant apology.  She never did you any harm. She saved your life in Lucky’s, risking her life to untie you before you were violated.”

“I don’t remember any of that.”

“Ask Burt.”

“He’s a waste.”

“No, he’s not,” Ted defended.

“Why her and not me?” she asked.

“You’ll understand when you meet the one you’re supposed to be with for the rest of your life.  It knocks the crap out of you.  Mia wasn’t even mine, but I hung on every cuss word she spouted.  She didn’t look my way, but I wanted so to walk up to her, turn her face towards me, and tell her that she was going to marry me.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Beth asked, irritated.

“Because contrary to your past actions, you’re not a bad sort.  Examine your life.  Make some changes, and get back on track…”

“Will you help me?”

“No,” Ted said firmly.  “I’m not interested in ever talking to you again.  You have no idea of the heartache you have caused.  You almost lost me my wife, my child and my life.  You planned and schemed.  That’s not what a friend does.  You’re no friend of mine, Beth.  I will not be talking to you further,” Ted said and hung up.

“That was cold, dude,” Cid said, getting up.  He walked over and picked Ted up out of his chair and hugged him.  “I couldn’t be prouder.  How do you feel?”

“Like a tremendous weight has been lifted.  I should have set her in her place right away.”

“We live and learn.  Hard lesson though.”

“I don’t think she’s done,” Ted said as the phone rang and her phone number was displayed.

The new outgoing message played.  “Hello, this is the Martin residence.  We’re busy working on our happily ever after.  Leave your message after the tone,” Ted and Mia’s voice said in tandem.

“Argh, pick up, you moron.  Come on, you stupid geek.  Ah shit, you can go to hell!” Beth said, ending the call.

“Isn’t it a pity that we don’t have handsets to slam anymore?” Cid said.

The phone rang again. This time it was Mia.

“Hello, Minnie Mouse,” Ted said sweetly.

“Brian and I are on the south side of the hill, and we have found a veritable nursery of rabbits and chipmunks.  Come and play, you won’t regret it.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I wrap up here,” he promised.

“Good,” she said and ended the call.

Ted looked at Cid.  “I almost lost that.”

“You came very close.  No one was more surprised than me when Mia sprouted wings and flew after you.  Just before she left, she said, ‘I’m getting my husband back.  He’s got some misguided comic book idea of what a man of caliber is all about.  He thinks that you sacrifice what you want in order to be a hero.  Well, fuck that.’  Then she runs and flies.  Murphy said she nearly crashed into the hill, but she kept going.”

“She said that?”

“Yes, I think she understood what you were going through more than any of us did.  Mia loves you, Ted.”

“Yes she does.  And I’m going to go look at some baby bunnies.  You can hold the fort, can’t you?”

“I’ll do my best,” Cid said, holding the door open for Ted.

Ted shook Cid’s hand on the way out the door.  He followed the northwest trail to the hill and did his best to arrive as quietly as possible.  Below him was Mia, sitting still with Brian on her lap.  He was with them in seconds.  He sat down behind Mia, and she leaned against him.  They sat for a while watching Brian ooh and ah over the antics of the small creatures.  Soon Brian tired and turned his head to Mia’s chest and fell asleep.  Mia looked up at Ted.

“He’s such a gentle boy.  Were you like this?” Mia asked.

“No, I was a hellion.”

“Me too.”

“I think the stork delivered the wrong kid.”

“Can we keep him?” Mia asked.

“I’m not trading this child in for one like us.  We’d be crazy in hours.”

Mia chuckled softly. “I think you’re right.”

“Let’s take Brian home, put him down for a nap, and then you can tell me about your mystery date.”

Mia nodded and waited for Ted to get up.  She handed Brian to him as her legs were asleep.  She walked a bit drunkenly until she got the feeling back.  “I’m all about the grace, about the grace…” she sang.

Ted watched the petite creature as he followed her to the farmhouse.  Mia was a contradiction.  Her best disguise was being herself.  She was a bit clumsy and her social skills were improving but had a long way to go, but when they needed her, she changed.  He’d seen her fight alongside Murphy, moving with a grace that couldn’t be choreographed.  When she stood there in front of him, wings spread out to stop the car, he felt as if an archangel had come to kill him.  She was small, but she was mighty.  She had the biggest heart but could turn vicious when protecting the innocent.  Yet, if asked, she would give it all up and just be Mrs. Theodore Martin.

“Careful, Mia, there’s a gopher hole,” he warned her and laughed as she veered out of the way and walked into a small sapling.  “Come here,” he said.  She did as was asked, and he picked the leaves out of her hair, planting a kiss on the new bump on her forehead.  Brian slept through it all.  They finally managed to make it to the farmhouse where Susan Braverman stood on the porch talking with Cid.

“I bet you forgot, didn’t you?” she said to Ted.

“Oh my god, I did.  Mia, I promised Susan that she could take Brian to a Blanket to Bear party today.”

“Cool, let me gather his things,” Mia said.

“Don’t bother, I have everything I need,” Susan said.  “Even the most precious outfit.”

“Take lots of pictures,” Mia said.

Ted walked Brian over to Susan’s car.  They managed to get him situated in the car seat, only waking him briefly.

Mia sighed as she watched her husband.  Cid put an arm around her and said, “You don’t have anything to worry about. He finally grew up and took responsibility for the situation.  Beth will never be welcomed by him again.”

“This has reminded me of something too, Cid.”

“What?”

“That the greatest adventure is family.  Never take them for granted.  Forgive them as they will forgive you.  Don’t hold on to them with an iron fist, but don’t set them adrift either.”

“You didn’t have a great example to follow.”

“Ted and you did, and I’ll depend on you guys to set me right when I veer off the path.”

“Mia, answer me truthfully,” Cid said, turning Mia so he could see her face.  “Is my being here a problem?  Because say the word and…”

“No, oh no, Cid, don’t even think thoughts like that.  You are so dear to us.  Part of the fear of losing Ted was that I would be losing you.  You’re the brother I never had.  Don’t leave us, Cid. We would be lost without you.”