The priest walked down to confront Yann to see if he was lying, “What are you doing out of school?”
“I’m on work study. I’m waiting for a shipment,” he said.
The priest looked at the back door of the paint store. “You work in there,” he confirmed.
“Go on in and ask my uncle.”
“Father McKinney, there was a black sedan that dropped the child off,” Sister Mary Margaret told him. “I think we lost her.”
“Was it a black car she got into?”
“It was a fancy black car like the ones you see old men use,” Yann confirmed.
“Thank you, son. Sorry to disturb you.”
Mia heard the priest walk back up the alley, and then the two walked in the direction of the school.
“Stay down,” Yann said before he jogged down the alley and looked down the street. He returned and said, “They’re gone. Now, how do you know me?” he asked, looming over Mia.
Murphy scratched the pavement to remind Mia that she had help if she needed it.
Mia fought for words to use: what she couldn’t say, what she could, what was a lie, what was the truth. And behind it all, she wanted to warn him about hacking into the demon ley line. Would he even listen, or would he become too focused on it because of the warning? Would this be enough to change the future if Mia wasn’t successful in her quest? That’s it. “I’m on a quest.”
“You on Lobo’s team?”
“Nah, I’m on my own.”
“You Princess Pea?”
Mia didn’t confirm it; she just shrugged. “I just heard about you. I didn’t think you hung around down here. That’s why I was surprised.”
“I don’t normally. My uncle owns the store. His help called off, and my mother had me stay home from school to help him out.”
“Thank you for helping me out.”
“Are you going to explain why you were being chased?”
“Nope.”
Murphy tapped his axe on the ground by the entrance to the alley.
“I’ve got to go. Take care of yourself, Yann,” Mia said and ran down to the end of the alley.
Nordin pulled up, and she dove in the open door.
Yann shook his head. “You’re not Princess Pea, are you?”
Mia kept her head down until they were on the highway heading back to Big Bear Lake. She sat back and closed her eyes a moment, recouping.
“Well?”
“We can cross Audrey off the list. I was thinking about Orion. Wouldn’t he know what happened too? He’s not human.”
“But he hasn’t died either.”
“How did you know?”
“I was in your head. You’re a sensitive who died. Did the light take you?” he asked.
“No. Murphy brought me back…”
“Twice,” Murphy said from the front seat.
“Neither time did I see the light, but each time I previously crossed people over, the light pulled me. I’m very confused,” Mia said.
“The second time Mia died, it was my fault,” Murphy admitted.
“Was it?” Wyatt asked.
“I don’t know… I remember giving him some of my life force and…”
“I was scared and took too much,” Murphy said. “It messed up her heart. I had to restart it again.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Mia insisted.
“Moving on to Orion. If he is responsible for the candle, he would know, and if he made the wish, he would know. If he’s a victim of the wish like you are, he would not know. Tell me, when do you meet him in the future?”
“I was pregnant with Brian.”
“Did he know of your connection when you met?”
“I’m not sure. I know he read my file prior to meeting me, but if he had put together that we were related through Charles at that time, he didn’t let on.”
“He could be an agent for the Council of Women. After all, he was Fredericka’s lover.”
“And chance losing his infant son in the process?” Mia asked. “Remember, Orion has as much to lose as I do,” Mia said.
“We still need to speak with him. Nordin, arrange a meeting. Tonight, if possible. Mia, you’ll stay with me. Stephen, you’re welcome, or you can go back to the farm.”
“I stay with Mia,” Murphy said firmly.
“Very well. Is anyone hungry?” Wyatt asked.
“I could eat,” Mia said. “I’m always hungry.”
“I’m always hungry too,” Wyatt commiserated.
“Is it because we’re demons?” Mia asked.
“No, I just think we’re hungry,” Wyatt said.
“Mia, you’re not a demon, just bad,” Murphy said.
“I can’t argue with him,” Mia said.
Wyatt looked at the girl and saw the demon who shifted just slightly inside of her. If what he saw in her mind was true, the demon wouldn’t last beyond her thirtieth year. The strength it would take her to exorcise herself would be immense. She would not be able to attempt this for some time to come. Mia needed to succeed in her quest. If she lost all she had in the first timeline, Wyatt doubted that Mia would come out the victor when she and the demon fought. Because when you have no one to fight for, you don’t fight as hard or as well. “Mia, you’re not bad, just misunderstood,” Wyatt said as his stomach growled.
Chapter Seven
Murphy followed Mia up to the room Nordin had assigned her. It was a suite of rooms overlooking the lake. Mia stood staring out the window. “I’m having a hard time right now, Murph,” she said. “I’m this far from crying or flinging myself off the balcony or both.”
“I remember you as a very dramatic teenager. Maybe it’s just hormones?”
Mia turned around and asked, “How much do you remember?”
“Most of all our interactions.”
“Good. I may need you to remind me of a few things if I screw this up.”
