Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
Erasmus
Much to Franklin’s dismay, he was back home by a little after one. Plenty of time to eat lunch with Momma, Pops, Aurelia, and myself. Franklin wasn’t the only one struggling. Throughout the entire meal, Pops kept looking at Aurelia like she was going to pull out a knife and end each and every one of us that minute. Every time Momma fussed over Aurelia, Pops sent her a glare. Momma caught that icy look a time or two and simply fluttered her eyelashes and gave Pops an innocent grin.
Franklin noticed and his stiff posture relaxed into one of amusement.
“What is this?” Aurelia poked at a green bean, her expression confused.
“It’s green bean casserole,” Momma happily said. “It’s one of Erasmus’s favorites.”
In point of fact, it was not one of my favorites. I’m not sure when Momma got that notion into her head but every year it was the one and only thing she personally made because she thought it was my favorite. And each and every year, I shoved it down my throat and thanked her for going to the effort. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I’d been lying all these years.
Aurelia’s eyebrows rose as she stared down at the soggy beans. “It is edible?” she innocently questioned.
Pops nearly choked on his turkey. It was pretty dry this year, but I didn’t think that’s why he had trouble getting it down.
“It’s very edible, dear,” Momma proudly said. “Try it. If you don’t like it, that’s okay. My feelings won’t be hurt.”
Aurelia raised her head and blinked at Momma. “Why on earth would they be?”
Momma started to say something. Instead, her lips pinched and she shook her head. “You’re right. Never mind and give it a try.”
I think everyone at the table stopped eating so we could stare, wide eyed and open mouthed as Aurelia brought a limp green bean up to her lips. She sniffed it first, her nose wrinkling with a distinct lack of appreciation. The nibble she took of the overcooked bean was positively priceless and was only dwarfed by the horrified face she made after getting that minuscule taste.
“That is horrid,” Aurelia pronounced while staring at the green bean casserole as if it meant to do her bodily harm. Dropping her fork, Aurelia proceeded to make a gagging noise before reaching for her glass of water and downing the entire thing. Her face was still scrunched when she finished the water.
Despite Momma’s words, her large, round eyes and crestfallen features made me think Aurelia had indeed managed to hurt her feelings.
Still, if there was one thing Momma was, it was resilient. Pulling herself up, shoulders thrusted back and smile plastered on her face, Momma looked to me and said, “Well, I suppose it’s not to everyone’s taste.” Reaching out, she patted my hand and beamed. “The important thing is that you like it, honey.” Momma released my hand, and I dutifully shoved a forkful of green bean casserole into my mouth, chewing quickly and swallowing even faster. The trick was to eat it as one would drink a shot. The less time on the tastebuds, the better.
Pops’s gaze darted between Aurelia and me, and I caught the hint of a smile. Franklin was staring at his green bean casserole, pushing the lifeless beans around his plate. Deciding suffering alone was never as much fun as together, I said, “Franklin told me last night how much he misses his nana’s green bean casserole. He said it’s one of his favorites.”
Sweet Gaia , the look on Franklin’s face was priceless. I had no idea someone could appeared horrified and betrayed all in one glance. That expression was quickly overthrown when Momma turned her attention to Franklin and gushed, “Oh, I’m so happy to hear that, Franklin. Let me know how my recipe stacks up.” Momma’s gaze was expectant, indicating Franklin was to take a bite right then and there.
With a begrudging grin, Franklin speared several beans, held them aloft in a type of tribute to Momma’s cooking, and stuffed them into his mouth. Franklin’s first mistake was actually chewing. His second was not swallowing immediately.
Eyes watering, Franklin finally swallowed and somehow forced a smile. “They’re excellent, Lydia.”
Momma clapped, Pops stared at Franklin with a whole new level of respect, and Aurelia’s raised eyebrows clearly indicated Franklin and I were absolutely insane. “I’m so glad. Please eat as much as you like. Since Erasmus is the only one that really likes my green bean casserole, there’s always plenty left over.”
“Thank you, Lydia.” Franklin’s voice was a little hoarse, and he immediately drank half a glass of water. My man glared at me over the rim of his glass. I barely contained a belly-busting laugh. The situation was made all the more surreal when Aurelia’s hamster rolled its way back into the kitchen, thudding against the cabinet before turning and rolling off in a different direction.
Pops’s eye twitched at the sound of the hamster ball and I kicked his shin under the table while giving him a meaningful look. Thankfully, Pops was fluent in wordless communication across the dining table. We’d had over twenty years to perfect it, and my expression clearly said to keep his mouth shut and go with the flow.
Pops’s grunt let me know he understood.
Thank Gaia for Momma. She kept the conversation flowing, mostly by attempting to tease information out of a reluctant Aurelia.
“So, dear, are Peaches and Lucroy doing anything special for Harvest Day?”
Poking at a glob of cherry Jell-O, Aurelia barely glanced Momma’s way as she answered, “Philodendron is hosting a large gathering.” Aurelia jabbed at the Jell-O again. “This is fascinating. Does one truly eat this?”
“Surprisingly, yes,” Franklin answered while Momma asked, “Who is Philodendron?”
Clearing my throat, I gave Momma the abbreviated version. “He’s a home and hearth pixie bonded to his home and his mate, a werewolf named Sedrick. He’s friends with several other pixies, and Sedrick’s pack is…” I struggled to find a word and finally came up with “eclectic.”
“It is an odd pack,” Aurelia agreed while slicing into the red Jell-O. She appeared to be carving it instead of extracting a bite. “I do not understand the concept.” Aurelia didn’t sound terribly upset about that.
Pops gave another grunt and said, “I can’t believe I’m agreeing with the djinn, but Aurelia’s right—Sedrick Voss’s pack is odd. I can’t believe a warlock actually considers himself a part of a were pack. It’s borderline disgraceful.”
I already knew what Pops thought about Warlock Vander Kines and simply rolled my eyes. “I think it’s nice. It shows the species really can work together and get along. Besides, Warlock Kines’s one and only is Parsnip whose bread and butter is the TV show, Interspecies Habitat . If there was ever a warlock that didn’t mind being a part of other species’ lives, then it would probably be Vander.”
Pops cocked his head to the side, considering my comment. With a firm nod, he said, “I stand corrected.”
I would have beamed, but that was the moment Aurelia decided to place the Jell-O in her mouth. The look of wonder lighting her Caribbean blue eyes was blinding. Without hesitation, Aurelia snagged a larger piece and shoved it in her mouth. She didn’t chew. She simply allowed the Jell-O to melt in her mouth.
“Do others know of this?” Aurelia asked, awed joy filling her voice.
Franklin and I shared a confused look, and I asked, “About Jell-O?”
Aurelia aggressively nodded while shoving an even larger piece into her mouth. Thankfully she waited until she’d swallowed before answering, “It is divine. You should guard the recipe and only sell it to the highest bidder.” Pointing her fork at the remaining Jell-O, Aurelia confidently said, “Others would kill for this.”
My mouth dropped open. There were words; I was certain of it. They were simply lost to the WTF part of my brain .
Pops stared, dark eyes wide. Franklin did too. Only Momma came through. Patting Aurelia’s shoulder, Momma said, “I’m glad you like it, dear. I’ve been telling Erasmus for years that Jell-O is magical. Unfortunately, someone already beat us to the recipe and release.”
Aurelia looked momentarily stunned. “This is readily available?”
“Cheap too.” Franklin finally contributed to the conversation.
Eyes narrowing, Aurelia appeared genuinely miffed. “Unfortunate.”
“I suppose so?” It was more question than statement when those words left my mouth. Thankfully, the rest of lunch was fairly uneventful. I’ll give Aurelia credit, she tasted everything on the table and went back for seconds on a few. The cherry Jell-O was a definite favorite and Momma promised Aurelia she could take the rest of the pan home with her when she left. I swear, it was like Momma had promised Aurelia the whole North American continent as a reward for some perceived good deed.
I walked over to Mrs. Hart’s house after lunch to let Miss Pattycakes out. She ran around my feet yipping and bouncing here and there, and when I went to put her back inside, Miss. Pattycakes sat on her rear and refused my gracious invite.
Feeling bad for her, I picked Miss Pattycakes up and walked back to my house. The dog had been inside before, and I knew Mrs. Hart wouldn’t mind. I failed to consider Aurelia’s hamster tooling around the house in its plastic bubble. As soon as Miss Pattycakes’s small feet hit the floor, she darted off in the direction of the noise. High-pitched yips and excited barks filled the house.
Pops was up out of his chair before I could get to Miss Pattycakes. The charm he activated surrounded us in blissful silence. It was weird, watching Miss Pattycakes jump around, her mouth opening and closing and yet hearing nothing.
“Thank God,” Franklin said as he joined our little group.
“That ankle biter is a menace,” Pops accused. “I have no idea what possessed you to bring it into this house.”
“She seemed lonely,” I defended while walking forward and snagging a very wiggly Miss Pattycakes. “Mrs. Hart is enjoying the day with her friends.”
“You are a bleeding heart, just like your momma,” Pops said, but it lacked the heat of an accusation.
“It’s unlike you to be so full of compliments, Nikodemus,” Momma said as she too joined us.
Pops grunted and growled out a barely audible “not a compliment.” If Momma heard, she ignored him. Instead, she walked over to the terrified hamster, picked up the ball and cradled the thing in her arms. With a look of alarm, Momma asked, “Is it supposed to be so still?”
Four sets of eyes stared into the hazy sphere, each of us holding our breath as we looked for any sign of life. The combined exhale of relief when we saw the tiny chest rise and fall was loud in my small hallway.
“Oh, thank Gaia,” I wheezed. “I thought for sure Miss Pattycakes scared the little fellow to death.”
“One should be so fortunate,” Pops said, and Momma smacked him in the gut.
“Don’t be such an ass, Nikodemus,” Momma scolded.
“Maybe it’s time to put the hamster back in Aurelia’s backpack,” I said while setting Miss Pattycakes down on the ground. She jumped around Momma’s legs, trying to get at the hamster.
“Good idea, honey,” Momma easily agreed, and the four of us headed back to the kitchen. Aurelia was still seated, her mouth stuffed full of cherry Jell-O, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. Obviously, she was the least distressed regarding the hamster’s wellbeing.
“I think you need to speak to Peaches,” Franklin leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Otherwise, that hamster’s not long for the world.”
I gave a slow nod. “I’ll call him tomorrow, after Harvest Day.”
Pops grunted, and Momma looked sad but resigned. Aurelia barely gave the hamster a second glance as she shoved yet another spoonful of Jell-O into her mouth. At this rate, there wouldn’t be anything left to take with her.
Thirty minutes later, the kitchen was cleared, leftovers were stored in the refrigerator, and we were minus one djinn, a hamster, and Miss Pattycakes, as I’d taken the dog back over to Mrs. Hart’s house.
Franklin was helping Momma wash dishes. Pops and I’d offered to help but there was only so much room. Franklin shooed us out of the kitchen and told me it would be a good time to discuss our latest necromancer find.
The day was warmer than its predecessors. The sun was out and warmed the air to a comfortable sixty-seven degrees. It was a lovely late November day, perfect for Harvest Day. Pops and I found our way to the porch. I sat on the swing while Pops leaned against the railing.
Pops listened, his dark eyes hooded as he silently waited for me to finish explaining what Franklin and I’d found regarding Leander Dun. When I was done, I asked, “What do you think?”
Pops looked stumped. “About what?”
I barely refrained from rolling my eyes. “About Franklin and me driving to Alabama to see if Leander really lives on that plot of land.”
Pops was really good at what humans called “resting bitch face.” Franklin said humans could learn a few pointers from Pops and I didn’t think he was wrong. Currently, Pops was working that look to perfection.
“Pops?” I questioned.
With a heavy sigh, Pops rubbed his palm over his suddenly tired looking face. “I am uncertain. You know I understand your desire to find other necromancers, but I am concerned. If Leander Dun is still alive, he fell off the radar on purpose. Leander obviously doesn’t want to be found.”
I couldn’t disagree. “But some need to be found, Pops, despite what they want.”
Pops blew out a deep breath. “You are far more intuitive than me, Erasmus. I have yet to decide if this is a fortuitous trait or not. It makes you an excellent being, but it has its drawbacks.”
“Like placing me in danger.”
Pops gave a slow nod. “You feel the need to assist others. It is a powerful force within you, driving you forward and down paths I would not choose. It is difficult to remember that you are your own individual and that I do not have ultimate say in how you live your too-short life.”
“I know, Pops.” Sadness filled me. I never wanted to make Pops worry, and yet, he was correct. My need to help others outweighed my self-preservation.
“You will be careful,” Pops ordered. “Detective O’Hare will accompany you and you will take your charms with you. Do you still have a shield charm, or do I need to make another?”
“I still have two,” I reassured Pops.
“Excellent. I will still send you more when I get home.”
I said the only thing I could. “Thank you.”
Pops didn’t say, You’re welcome . He was lost in thought. “I’ve been tweaking the shield charm. I don’t like that you can’t move once contained within it.” Pops waved his hands in the air as he paced and thought. He was talking to himself more now than me, and I let him be. Pops was a powerful warlock. Not all of that strength came from natural gifts. Pops was smart and he used his brain like the weapon it was by creating new charms and perfecting existing ones.
I sat there, content to let Pops ruminate. When he was finished and had stopped pacing, Pops surprised me by saying, “I am surprised this is the first necromancer you are trying to contact. If he is truly alive and in his late twenties, then most likely he is stable and not in need of assistance.”
I toed the ground and answered, “He’s the only one I can find. At the moment.”
Pops went rigid. “ At the moment? ”
I inhaled deeply before diving into the shallow end of the pool. Clearing my throat, I said, “I, uh, spoke with Tenzen Huxley.”
There was quiet and there was still . Pops had gone completely still. “What did Director Huxley have to say?”
I shrugged. “Not much. I asked if the Magical Usage Council has any sway over the Warlock Council.”
“Oh? And what was his response?”
“Tenzen said the Magical Usage Council didn’t, but he might.” My head was down as I stared at my sneakers. Lifting my eyes just enough, I could see the stark lines of Pops’s shoulders. He was turned away from me, staring out into the dormant yard.
Silence permeated the porch. It wasn’t the comfortable kind and finally I asked, “Pops, did you hear what I—”
“I heard you.”
“And?”
Just like that, Pops deflated. His shoulders rounded and he slumped against the post leading to the porch steps. Gaze still turned away from me and distant, Pops finally answered, “I am afraid of what that truly means.”
As far as I knew, there were only two things that scared Pops—contemplating my mortality and djinn. Knowing there was a third didn’t do my heart any favors.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have called him, but I didn’t see another solution. We need that list of names.”
“I know.” Pops’s voice was soft. “Gaia help me, I know.” Finally turning, Pops’s dark eyes landed back on me. Most found Pops’s gaze difficult to hold. I never had. Those inky pools were warm when they fell on me. Three strides placed Pops back in front of me. Long fingers slid beneath my chin, gently raising my head and gaze. “You must follow your heart, Erasmus, no matter where that leads you. If you do not, then you will merely be existing, not living. However, following your heart does not have to mean self-sacrifice. Have a care, pay attention, be aware, and do not allow yourself to be lulled into false promises. Do not let your guard down. Trust in yourself, your momma, and me.”
“You left someone out,” I said.
Pops huffed. “Of course. The human as well.”
“The human has a name. A perfectly lovely name.”
Pops dropped my chin and placed his hands behind his back. “I am aware.”
Without missing a beat, I said, “And I love that human.”
Pops’s icy mask cracked as his lips twitched into a soft, sad, smile. “I am aware of that also.”