“Yes,” Mia said. She closed her eyes.
She felt herself be lifted from the water and opened her eyes. She wound her hands around Roumain’s neck.
“Did you receive the angel’s envoy yet?”
“He arrived the minute I fell asleep at the picnic table,” Mia said.
“Can you share with me the information?”
“Yes. Be gentle, my mind has been abused,” Mia warned.
Roumain slipped into her mind, and Mia sighed.
“Mom, wake up,” Brian demanded.
Mia opened her eyes. Brian stood eye level with his mother. “I want to know how the story ended.”
“What story, honey?” she asked, quietly listening to Ted sleeping beside her.
“After you rescued me, and Daddy took me home.”
“Murphy and I sent the hellhounds back to hell. I threw up the poison. Then I helped Orion catch the tall Other. He canceled the contract, and Victor, Seth, and Enos caught Quazar and brought him here.”
“Seth and Enos!”
“Oh, I had forgotten you made friends with them. If you promise not to bother them, you can go down and visit them at the barn. They may not talk back to you because they are on duty. A duty they take most seriously. Give me a moment to go to the bathroom, and we’ll go together.”
Mia crawled out of bed and was pleased to feel refreshed. She took care of her needs without looking in the mirror. She pulled on her boots and walked out to see Brian studying Ted’s large Roman nose.
“I’m ready,” Mia said, holding out her hand.
Brian took it and waited until they were on the stairs to speak. “Will my nose be that big?”
“Yours may not be as large but still impressive. Varden most definitely will have your father’s nose.”
“Grandma Glenda calls them beaks.”
“Does she? How charming.”
Lazar rushed out of the kitchen. “There you are, Brian. I turned around, and he was gone. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I got enough rest. Hello, Lazar, how is life treating you today?” Mia asked.
“Varden has a new word. But we shouldn’t react to it.”
“It’s a bad word,” Brian said.
“It was probably me,” Mia said. “I wasn’t feeling very well and sunk to the lowest of the low.”
“It’s understandable,” Lazar said. “Mia, come here, your bandage is falling off.”
Mia walked over obediently.
He lowered his voice so the kids couldn’t hear, “I know I’m not supposed to see this, but because of our connection, I can see a deep C cut into your cheek. Why are you leaving it here when you could otherwise be rid of it?” he questioned.
“I think I need it to remember the day I stood up to these…”
Varden filled in the word which dropped Mia’s jaw. “Varden Martin!”
She walked over and knelt so her face was even with his and said, “Don’t parrot Mommy. I think your own words are better.”
“Hero!” he chirped.
“Yes, that makes Mommy so happy!” she said, lifting him out, and grabbed Brian and danced around the room with both of them. She then lightly tossed Brian to Lazar, and they danced again.
Brian looked up at his friends and saluted.
Mia smiled and moved her son quickly past the young birdmen.
“Argh, it’s him,” Brian said, pointing to Quazar. “He gives me a headache.”
“Me too. As soon as I get an invitation to the Council of Women, I’ll be taking him with me. Until then he’s our…”
“Guest,” Brian filled in.
Cid looked over from the project he was working on while watching Quazar.
“Hello, Martins.”
“Hello, Cid,” Mia said. “You can go and get some rest. I’m here to watch Quazar.”
“Altair is coming soon to do just that,” he said. “He said that he had some explaining to do with Michael.”
“Well then, we may never see him again,” Mia said wryly.
Varden kissed Mia’s cheek.
“Murphy told us about your and Victor’s epic battle.”
Brian looked up, interested.
“It was more of a discussion with swords,” Mia explained to her son.
“Who won?”
“According to Dis Pater, we both lost and won.”
“Who’s Dis Pater?” Brian asked.
“He’s the Roman god of the underworld. He protects the graves of the poor and forgotten. We were making a lot of racket in the graveyard and got told off.”
“The Countess said we should be respectful of the dead,” Brian said. “She also said that I ask too many questions.”
“The Countess isn’t used to children,” Mia said.
“I liked her and Maurice. They helped Aunt Audrey to not to feel afraid.”
“I’m glad.”
Altair walked in. Mia locked eyes with him.
“I’m in one piece,” he said, revealing his wings.
“Those are like your new ones, Mom,” Brian said.
“Yes, we’re twins,” Altair said. “But I’m prettier.”
“Well, I’ll let you girls battle it out,” Cid said. “I’m going to get some sleep.”
Varden watched Cid climb all the stairs. Mia was pleased that her children had so many good role models.
Altair walked by Mia, stopped, and backed up. He picked up Varden and smelled his pants.
“Lazar just changed him,” Brian said.
Altair set Varden on the ground, pointed to him, and told Brian, “Watch him.”
He then pulled Mia to him and sniffed her. “It’s your mother. She stinks.”
“I do?”
Altair whispered. “You smell like a fallen. Abigor?”
“No. Roumain sent me to the mages to heal.”
“Uh huh,” Altair said, shaking his head. “Careful. Does he know how you objectified the Nephilim?”
“Why are you here?”
“I’m Heaven’s emissary for the big meeting.”
“Who’s normally the emissary?”
“My sister, but I convinced her she had a headache.”
“When is the meeting? Roumain didn’t tell me.”
“Sometime today. Once they heard that you have a witness
