MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 29

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 29

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

Mia noticed Finola’s face turn pale. The older woman stumbled back and leaned against the metal fence that surrounded the tarmac.

“Aintin, are you alright? What’s happening?” she asked worriedly. She knew it couldn’t have been the speed of the portal transport that affected her great aunt, so what was it?

Finola bent slightly to catch her breath. “Oh, Mia, mo stor, I should have felt this long ago. Alistar and I, while close as children, drifted a bit apart as the years passed. Yes, we kept in touch but not nearly often enough. I’ll never let that happen again.”

Mia instinctively knew there was more to this story but allowed Finola the time she needed to tell it. However, she still worried. Something was wrong and thought to herself, “I wish my witchy instincts were stronger. Unfortunately, no matter how they improve, they’ll probably never be as strong as Aintin’s.”

The door to the plane opened and Tony descended the stairs.

Finola and Mia walked to where he stood. “Are they all here?” Finola successfully hid the dismal sound of her voice.

“Yes, ma’am. Eight, plus Beverly, the housekeeper. All as you instructed, plus the one my brother brought home the day before yesterday. Ten, in all.”

“Good, now, give the signal for them to come down the stairs with their totes.” She knew they had no luggage - just one small tote bag for each. Just enough to carry the small essentials they were allowed to own: toothbrush, hair brush, deodorant, underwear, and one change of clothes. Their only shoes were the ones they wore.

As she looked at the faces descending their plane’s stairs, the sad look in her eyes quickly changed, once again to anger. “Mia, I swear, I don’t understand how anyone could treat another person as the Morretti’s treated these young women. How I wish the God and Goddess would allow me just one minute of violence.”

Mia reached for her aunt’s hand. “I know exactly how you feel.”

They watched each young woman step cautiously and Mia noticed her aunt anxiously scanning each face. Finola’s silence was concerning to Mia. She rarely kept her feelings to herself and yet, now, she silently wished the God and Goddess would grant her aunt the biggest with she could have ever made. “Yeah, I can wish but it’ll never happen,” she thought.

“Aintin, they don’t look very well.”

“Let’s hurry and get them home,” was all she said.

With the women finally on the ground, she gathered them and said, “Ladies, please form a circle and hold hands. I’ll be right back.”

Keeping her temper in check, Finola walked to Tony. “Tony,” she said angrily, “the spells I placed upon you will be your fate for the rest of your life, however, now that we’re alone, I have one final question.”

There was no difinace in his eyes, only numb acceptance, when he looked at her.

“Was there ever any chance you might have considered being a father to Julie’s baby?”

He lowered his head slightly and answered, “No, Ma’am. I was hoping she’d lose it. I have no time or patience for kids.”

“Okay, then, Julie is now far out of your control and the baby is not your concern. While the spells remain part of you, you are free to return home. Your new love is waiting. You’ll meet her, oh, let’s see,” without giving too much away and always allowing him to wonder, she continued, “let’s just say you’ll meet her before the end of next month.”

Sadly, because he knew his fate, he looked at Finola, nodded and replied, “Yes, ma’am,” then turned to climb the stairs to board the plane.

Finola and Mia waited until the plane left the airport, then Finola joined the group of women and walked in the center of them.

“Ladies, are you ready to get your lives back in order?” She wasn’t about to ask if they were ready to go home. She had no doubt that the Morretti’s kept instilling in them that they were “home” and refused to use the same reference, in fear it might bring back horrid memories. She knew they’d need physical care and counselling to help them heal.

With dazed eyes, they nodded. Finola looked at the young woman who had been the last to exit the plane.

“Mia, the last one? She’s so young. I can reach into her mind and see they hadn’t had the chance to, let’s use the word ‘initiate’ her. Let’s get them home.”

She called out to the young women, “Hold on tightly to each other, ladies. This will be a fast ride.”

From the pocket of her slacks, she pulled out a small pulsating orb, tossed it over her head and watched as it opened to engulf them all. In a heartbeat, they stood in the gathering room of Tus Nua (New Beginnings).

As the women stood silently, still holding hands and still numb from the drug Tony had given them for their ride to Ireland, Finola, raised her arms and called out, “Alistar, Evangiline. You’re needed. Hurry.”

Finola’s family looked bewildered but waited for Finola to explain.

Finola explained. “I needed to call Alistar and his wife. Mia, I knew you wondered about my mood when we arrived at the airport. Now, you’ll understand why.”

She walked towards the young woman who’d been the last to exit the plane and announced, “This is Ivy. Alistar’s and Evangaline’s daughter.”

The family gasped as, within a second, Alistar and his wife appeared in the gathering room. There was no need for Finola to explain why she called them so urgently. One look at the women and they knew.

Alistair and Evangaline flanked Ivy and enfolded her in their arms.