“Who’s this Sticks?” Burt asked.
Altair reached for a book and opened it. “This isn’t his exact picture. It’s one of his grandfather when he was a young demon,” Altair said.
“My god, that’s the Ted I met in the other timeline.”
“It’s not just the looks. Theodore Martin would and did give his life for Mia, and so would Sticks. They may be different species, but they are made to be self-sacrificing heroes. When Mia was in Hell, Sticks would have helped her escape if she had wanted it. Hell would have destroyed him, and he knew that.”
“I can’t imagine all the things you’ve seen in your existence. You have the unique perspective of being a demon and an angel.”
“It doesn’t make life easier,” Altair said. “This is why I drink. Speaking of… Mia!”
“Yes?” she asked, annoyed when Varden’s eyes popped open.
“Where did you hide my whiskey?” Altair asked.
“Visky!” Varden said.
“No, you’re too young,” Mia said, getting up. She walked into the kitchen and unearthed the bottle. She looked over at Burt and asked, “Are you joining him?”
“Why not.”
“Viskey!” Varden demanded.
“No. How about a bottle of milk?” she asked her son as she balanced a tray with the bottle and two glasses on it with her free hand. She set it down by Altair who had found a comfy place to sit. “You’re a bad example,” she scolded.
“It wasn’t I who took the kid to the liquor store,” Altair said.
“Everybody is a critic,” Mia said. “If you will excuse me, I’m going to put Varden down for his nap.” Mia set Varden down and put his jacket on. She pulled on a hoodie that was way too large for her and grabbed the diaper bag.
“Come back once the kids are napping. I would love to have a flight with you. You need to test out those wings after your transition,” Altair said.
“Not if you’re drunk. Last time you flew drunk, we ended up in Green Bay. You know how I feel about Green Bay…” she said as she left.
“I forgot she was here. We’re going to catch hell for talking about her love life that way,” Burt warned Altair.
Altair smiled. He said what he said so she would hear things loud and clear. He knew it would open a discussion the two of them had to have.
Mia met Ted on the stairs. She leaned over and kissed him as they passed. She put Varden down and smiled as he fell asleep right away. She looked in on the sleeping Brian. She rushed down the stairs with hopes of catching Ted before he left the house. She found him in the kitchen pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“Hello, spouse,” he said. “You want some coffee?”
“I’ll pass. How’d Brian and Jake do?”
“Actually, not too bad. There was some name calling, but once I got Jake calmed down, we did fine.”
Mia laughed. “I hate it when Jake calls me poopoo head.”
“I left a voice message with Ralph. I think we have identified the building, but I want to confirm it with him.”
“It seems to be too coincidental for my comfort. I liked Quazar as much as one can like a gargoyle. I hate to think that he was in league with my grandmother.”
“We haven’t talked about that. I know you loved your grandmother.”
“One can love villains. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many of them,” Mia said.
“Cute, Mia. Um, I was wondering if you would mind if Cid and I played Bayonetta 2 in the living room?”
“You’re going to fight angels and demons while Altair is here? Brave man,” Mia commented. “Actually, he wants me to test out my wings. How about you listen in for the boys. Lazar goes on the clock in an hour.”
“Happy flying. Bring me back something French,” Ted teased.
“Don’t be so glib. It could happen.”
~
Mia and Altair broke through the canopy of clouds into the between. She hovered there a moment and said, “K, the wings work. Time for me to go…”
“Wait. We have to talk.”
“I agree, but talking and flying is like walking and chewing gum,” Mia said.
“Cut it out,” Altair said. “You need the practice, and I need you to bring me up to date.”
“Brian saw Quazar a week before the candle thing happened.”
“But he seemed so genuine. Gargoyles are usually so upfront,” Altair worried. “I think there is another element at play here. Yes, Quazar seems to be involved, but although a merchant of magic, I don’t see him planning something like this.”
“Could he be in league with the council?” Mia asked.
“Gargoyles and the council? That’s something to ponder. Let’s see if Orion has any thoughts.”
“Do you trust him?” Mia asked.
“Don’t you?” Altair countered.
“Right now, I’m ashamed to say that, aside from you, Murphy, Ted, Cid, and my children, I don’t completely trust anyone anymore.”
“Not Michael?”
“Please, I wouldn’t put it past him to send me back in time in order to give me an It’s A Wonderful Life moment so I would appreciate all that I have, especially him.”
“Now that sounds more like Roumain to me.”
“Last time I was in Purgatory, Roumain was frightened of me,” Mia reported. “He could have sent me backwards to delay the assassin coming out.”
“But evidently nothing stops that,” Altair said.
“Which brings me back to my engineers, aka the Council of Women. Roumain dissuaded me from facing them. He said that they would destroy me. He pointed out that Mother Nature was protecting me, and they would never go against her.”
“Have you ever spoken to her?” Altair asked.
“No. Have you?”
“You don’t seek Mother Nature out; she seeks you,” Altair said. “I’ve been on the naughty list, so I don’t think I’ll ever get an audience
