Burt watched Mia cross the room with the heavily-laden tray. She would never be graceful, but she was strong. She set her tray down in front of him.
“Coffee?”
“Please.” He was about to tell her what he wanted in his coffee when she automatically put the right amount of everything in, and as if she was reading his mind, she said, “There are some things I’ll never forget.”
“Thank you, Mia, me too.”
Mia walked over to what she called the geek booth. “Okay, nerds, here’s something to keep you awake.”
Ted smiled as he tasted what Mia created, having had to make do with the instant creamer. She handed him some painkillers. “Chase them with the coffee. You’re going to need them.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ted said and tried to wait Mia out, but she wouldn’t leave until he took the pills. She even had the audacity to have him open his mouth to make sure he swallowed the pills.
She walked over to where Mike had settled himself and slid in the booth with the remaining coffee. The two of them sat in companionable silence for a while.
“You’ve got feathers on your back,” Mike said finally.
“I’m sure they’ll fade as soon as I learn to control things. Now these,” Mia said, taking off a glove and holding out her wrist to display the two black feathers on the underside, “aren’t going anywhere.”
“What are they?”
“Scribe feathers. They identify my family. My grandfather is Orion.”
“I bet that came as a surprise.”
“Yup. You see, the facts are that you and Burt coming to the hollow didn’t start anything that wasn’t going to happen anyway, so put those fears away. As Popeye was fond of saying, ‘I yam what I yam and that’s alls that I yam.’”
“But, Mia, you’re so much more. Don’t forget that the best part of you is your ability to forgive and see things from the perspective of all creatures, big and small.”
“Thank you, that was very kind. Any idea on how we’re going to get out of this situation?”
“Once we get the geek squad to get around to providing us with good info and backup, I think that we need to go on the offensive. I figure the only reason they haven’t come in and shot us is that they are under the incorrect assumption that you are the only one left alive. The storm that is approaching will keep them occupied for a while, but after it lets up, they are coming to hurt you, Mia. We need to be prepared for them. How long until our injured can safely be moved?”
“That’s the big problem, Mike. I may have jump-started the healing process, but they are human males and will heal at a human’s pace. I think, aside from them using their brains, we can’t count on them in a fight. You’re stuck with me, Murphy and Audrey.”
“Two amazons and a ghost. Well, that certainly increases the odds,” he joked. “Where is Murphy?”
“I imagine he’s scouting things out. He wasn’t here when I woke up.”
“Probably Cid sent him out for some intel. I’ll wait until he comes back before trying to get to our rooms to pick up some needed things.”
“Audrey and I can do that. You stay here and protect the nerds,” Mia insisted. “Make a list of what you need. I’ll wake Audrey and ask the others what they can’t live without.”
Mike nodded.
Mia left the table and walked over to wake Audrey. “Audrey,” Mia said as she gently nudged her friend.
“Morning, Mia. Do I smell coffee?”
“Yes, I’ll grab you a cup while you wake up.”
“Where’s the ladies…”
“Better let me go with you. I haven’t checked it out yet. Mia walked over and grabbed a flashlight from the equipment bag and met Audrey on the far side of the bar. They walked down past the men’s room to the door displaying a stick figure representation of a female. Mia opened the door and was pleased to find a fresh-smelling bathroom. It had two stalls. Mia insisted Audrey go first while she kept watch. “The last place you want to be trapped in is a stall.”
Mia stared in the mirror while Audrey took care of business. She caught a glimpse of the faint black lines moving on her back. “Stop, please stop,” she said.
“I would, but I’ve never been good mid-stream,” Audrey said from the stall.
“I’m sorry, I was talking to the tats on my back.”
“Seems to me that Angelo’s don’t show all the time. Perhaps he can help you to hide them.”
“I know the answers to a lot of things can be found by spending some time with Angelo, but I’m not ready. My marriage is still not as sound as it once was. My son needs my attention. And above all, I’m scared.”
Audrey flushed the toilet and exited the stall. She washed her hands silently. She turned to Mia and said, “I know I don’t have the same concerns, Mia, but after my husband first started beating on me, I lost something I have yet to find again. I used to be so brave.”
“I think you’re brave,” Mia said.
“But, Mia, that’s because I’m around you guys. When I’m on my own, I’m still quite skittish. When people rush at me, I cringe. I expect the blows. I went to counseling, but I’m still not the girl I was. I’m thinking, I’ll never be the same again.”
Mia didn’t know what to say. “I guess we have to learn to appreciate the women we are now.”
Audrey smiled. “Exactly. The woman who saved us in that cavern, not thinking for one moment that she was putting herself in danger, is a wonderful, special person, I’m
