“Yes, I know how they work,” Orion said. “First, my wife. Where is the art store?”
“There. The place with the large window overlooking the street,” Dieter pointed out.
Orion rushed to the place. He banged on the door, shouting, “I’m Audrey’s husband Orion. Let me in!”
Grandma Z, who was now brandishing her umbrella, unlocked the door.
Orion brushed past her and ran up the steps.
Audrey was bruised and battered. She had her face pressed against the window. She turned her tearstained face to her husband and asked, “Why?”
He took her in his arms and held her, whispering, “He’s a threat to those who want to see the angels disappear from the Earth. They tried to be humane at first and tried to stop us from meeting. But Mia righted time, so they are taking a more direct approach. We think there is a rogue gargoyle involved.”
“He’s here,” Audrey said. “Brian saw him. Dieter and Mark were talking to him when the Others tried to take the children. Oh my god, Mark was left alone to deal with him. Would he kill Mark?”
“I can’t answer that. Murphy has the children hidden away in the graveyard. Do you know where?” he asked.
“Mia talked of a Countess. Mary Sue Deschamps is her real name. The graveyard is her kingdom. That is where Murphy would have taken the children. Take me there. I want to be with my son.”
“It’s too dangerous. I can’t lose you too,” Orion told her.
“I need to be with him,” Audrey insisted.
“Very well.” Orion nodded to the angel who put a calming hand on the artist and his grandmother. Orion grew in size, produced his wings, wrapped them around his wife, and disappeared.
Dieter found his friend lying unconscious on the ground. Chambers radioed for the EMTs while Dieter tried to rouse him.
“Mark, wake up, dude. Come on. Hell of a time for a nap.”
Mark’s eyelids fluttered.
“I know you’re in there. I need you awake.”
Mark groaned as he accepted that Dieter was not going to let him sleep. He opened one eye; the other was already swollen shut.
“What happened to you?” Dieter asked.
“Tried to tackle a piece of granite. I don’t recommend it. I think my shoulder is out of the socket.”
The EMTs arrived, and Dieter was asked to give them room. He walked over and collected Mark and his books and bags. He knew Mark’s mother would be called, but he didn’t want his friend to be alone. “I’m riding with him to the hospital,” he insisted.
The lead EMT objected, but Chambers vetoed him. “Let him ride to the hospital with Mark. He probably should be looked at too.”
The EMT looked at the tall kid who was sporting large contusions on his face and knuckles. “What have you two been up to?”
“Fighting crime, sir, fighting crime,” Dieter answered.
Mia and Murphy arrived at the Deschamps mausoleum at the same time as Orion and Audrey.
“Gather the kids, and let’s get out of here…” Orion ordered.
A strange shriek, accompanied by the liquid batting of leather wings, echoed from the between.
“Nephilim,” Mia said. “The Others could have one on retainer for just this kind of operation. We can’t bug out of here, and it could be what’s keeping our help from arriving. I’m afraid, folks, we have to intrude on the Countess’s magnanimous protection for a while longer.”
The marble door pivoted open, and Audrey saw the Countess for the first time. She was skeletally thin, wearing a decaying expensive gown of faded rose-colored satin and lace. She wore a dead rose bloom in her hair. Her eyes were glowing. Behind her sat a jolly fellow dressed in a tux holding both babies on his knee.
“Mr. and Mrs. Stavros, may I introduce the Countess and Maurice Deschamps.”
Audrey was either going to cry or scream. She ended up curtsying. Orion bowed.
“Mom!” Brian cried, running. He launched himself at Mia. She picked him up and hugged him. “You were so brave. My hero.”
“Hero!” Varden agreed.
“May I?” Audrey asked, approaching Maurice with her hands out.
“Take him by all means. We were just trying to figure out these paper diapers when we heard you outside.”
Audrey hugged Luke to her chest. “I was so scared.”
Luke clung to his mother.
Mia set Brian down, lifted Varden up, and sniffed his behind. “Hello, Mr. Stinkpants.”
This caused the child to giggle. She turned to the Countess and said, “I owe you so much. You have my heart.”
“Not yet, but if you put it in your will, I’ll be sure to collect,” she said in her reedy voice.
“We can’t leave here yet,” Mia said and told the ghostly couple the situation with the gargoyle, the Others, and the Nephilim.
“It’s time for me to take over this situation,” the Countess said. “First, we need a little cover.” She walked out of the crypt and knelt, putting her hand in the ground, and chanted, “Turn the ground cold in the warm evening air. Bring about a fog so thick, there’s no compare.”
A thick swirling fog rolled into the cemetery blanketing the ground. It burbled and bubbled until it had risen ten feet. “Now quick, change those babies and get out there and do some damage. Stay off the paths. My minions are craving a snack.”
Tom followed the trail of carnage to where the parkland bordered the graveyard. He held up his
